Alja Škorjanec admits he's 'always trying' to make his 'favourite' Strictly judge proud

Alja Škorjanec has lifted the lid on who his "favourite" Strictly Come Dancing judge of all time is. The star made the confession after he and partner Tasha Ghouri made their BBC ballroom debut last weekend.

Fresh from a three-year hiatus from the reality competition, 34-year-old Alja returned to the show last Saturday (September 21) to dance a Cha Cha with Love Island alumna Tasha, 26. The pair earned themselves joint second place with Sarah Hadland, 53, and Vito Coppola, 31, after both couples scored a pair of eights and two sevens from the judges.

The two couples were pipped to first place by JLS singer JB Gill, 37, and returning professional Amy Dowden, 34, who scored 31 points for their Waltz to Leo Sayer's 'When I Need You'. Following his return to Strictly, Alja has revealed which of the show's past and present adjudicators he is trying to make "proud" this season.

"I've always had a favourite judge," he said in an interview with The Radio Times. "His name is Len Goodman. And that is never going to change. Wherever he is - I know he's watching, and I'm trying always to make him proud."

Former ballroom dancer Len served as a judge on Strictly from its launch in 2004 up until his retirement in 2016. He initially headed up the panel with Arlene Phillips, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood.

Len's position was succeeded by Shirley Ballas in 2017.

During his tenure on the reality competition, the late legend was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

In a 2009 interview with The Mail On Sunday, Len admitted he'd had surgery to remove the tumour and that he felt "right as rain".

"I was obviously worried at the start. We all worry if we get something like this," he added.

14 years later, the Dancing with the Stars favourite died from prostate cancer that metastasized to his bones, three days before his 79th birthday.

His agent Jackie Gill told the BBC that he died peacefully surrounded by his family at a hospital in Kent.

At the time, Tim Davie, the director-general of the BBC, said in a statement: "Len Goodman was a wonderful, warm entertainer who was adored by millions.

"He appealed to all ages and felt like a member of everyone's family. Len was at the very heart of Strictly's success. He will be hugely missed by the public and his many friends and family."

Alja made his Strictly debut in front of Len in 2013 with model Abbey Clancy, 38, whom he later lifted the coveted Glitterball Trophy with.

The following year, he placed tenth with Great British Bake Off presenter Alison Hammond before coming in tenth with Helen George, 40.

In 2016, he danced in front of Len for the final time with model Daisy Lowe, 35, before going on to partner with Kate Silverton, 54, Emma Weymouth, 38, Clara Amfo, 40, and Dragons' Den's Sara Davies, 40.

Following the conclusion of season 19, Alja quit the show after nine consecutive years at the helm.

"It took longer to create numbers, it took longer to come up with songs that hadn't been used, that I hadn't used," he told HELLO! Magazine.

"There was even an instance when I got this great idea; I was in the car... I sent the track to [the] producer saying "Oh my goodness this would be an amazing Argentine Tango, could you please find out for me who has done it, when has it been done..."

"They call me back in literally two minutes and go, 'Are you serious? It was you that did it three years ago...'. When those sorts of moments started happening, I was like, you know what, it's time," he continued.

"And I never ever felt like I left anything on the dance floor."

Tonight (September 28), the father-of-one and Tasha will take to the floor to perform a Viennese Waltz to 'Misty Blue' by Dorothy Moore.

Tune into Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday from 6.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.