Len Goodman calls for free TV licences for pensioners

Len Goodman has urged the BBC to give free TV licences to pensioners.

The former \'Strictly Come Dancing\' judge, 76, has called for the Beeb to reverse their decision to start charging those over 75 to watch the small screen, which they were due to do at the beginning of the year before pushing it back until August due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Gordon Brown, all those years ago, said, \'Right, if you\'re over 75, you don\'t pay for a TV\', which I thought was terrific.

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"Listen, I\'m an old person. So I thought, not for me personally, but lots of older people, that\'s all their connection is, watching a bit of \'Homes Under the Hammer\' and a bit of telly.

"I hope the BBC decide that, \'OK, fair enough. We\'ll continue to pay for the over-75s\'. But who knows? I\'m not a policy maker. It\'s only my opinion, and Helen Mirren\'s, so I\'m in good company."

It comes after Dame Helen Mirren slammed the move to charge pensioners, and she has penned an open letter - along with Len, Sir Lenny Henry, Angela Rippon, Lionel Blair and Christopher Biggins - to the government asking them to continue funding.

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The 73-year-old actress said: "I would urge all those involved, including the government, to do the right thing and to carry on funding free licences for all over-75s - the cost of which is surely a small price to pay for keeping so many vulnerable older people connected."

Len has been "enjoying [himself]" after quitting the BBC Latin and ballroom show 2016, but wouldn\'t mind returning to work if the opportunity presented itself.

He said: "Who knows? I\'m enjoying myself. Listen, I\'m 76 now. If I never do another job, it don\'t matter because that\'s how it is.

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"However, you want to do a bit of work. If something turns up and I fancy doing it, then of course, I will."