Darcey Bussell reveals why she's stepping down from her Strictly Come Dancing judge role

Dame Darcey Bussell has finally revealed the secret behind her departure from primetime BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing.

The Sun reports that the former ballerina spoke out at the launch of her new book Evolved. Bussell said that she’s stepping down “for my daughters, as I want them to remember me as a classical dancer and not just a judge on Strictly.”

Read more: Craig Revel Horwood denies Darcey Bussell quit ‘Strictly’ over pay disputes

She told The Sun: “It is not a decision that came easily at all.

“But I knew I had the most amazing time for seven years and it is like pushing your luck to think that I could even do another seven years.

“So I just knew it was time for me to finish and to give that place for somebody else to judge on that wonderful show.”

Read more: ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ eyeing ballet dancer Carlos Acosta to replace Darcey Bussell

Bussell has been a judge on the BBC One show for seven series. When her departure was announced last month, the BBC released a statement including her assurances that it was not due to an on-et dispute:

“I am not leaving because of any upset or disagreement at all, I am just stepping away to give more focus to my many other commitments in dance, after seven truly wonderful years that I can’t imagine having gone any better.”

Bussell was a guest judge on the programme in 2009 and joined the panel permanently in 2012. It is not yet known who will replace her alongside judges Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood.

Lots of famous names have been thrown about to replace Bussell, such as Nicole Scherzinger, Oti Mabuse and Carlos Acosta, but no replacement has been confirmed yet.