Judge and dancer Len Goodman, who suffered from bone cancer, lost his life on April 22 surrounded by loved ones.
“But Harry is not going to hang around,” he added.
Len Goodman, a British judge and ballroom dancer who had been diagnosed with bone cancer, died on April 22 in Kent, England, surrounded by his family, his manager confirmed in a statement to the ‘BBC’.
“It is with great sadness that he announced that Len Goodman passed away peacefully, aged 78,” Jackie Gill reported, adding that he was “a much loved husband, father, and grandfather who will be greatly missed by family, friends, and all who knew him.”
From 2004 to 2016, the British star was a regular judge on Dancing With the Stars. He was also a judge on the American adaptation, which aired on ABC from 2005 to 2022. Her most recent appearance was in the season 31 premiere of the Disney+ streaming service platform last fall.
For her part, showrunner Claudia Winkleman said goodbye to her former coworker on Twitter, writing, “I’m so sad for Len. He was a one-of-a-kind, brilliant, and compassionate man. Brimming with brilliance, warmth, and wit. All my love to his family and friends.”
Goodman worked on the Titanic
Goodman also hosted BBC radio shows and produced television documentaries, including one on the Titanic’s sinking in 2012. Goodman had worked as a welder in a shipyard for the company that built the doomed ship as a young man.
Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, described Goodman as “a wonderful, warm-hearted performer who was adored by millions.” He appealed to people of all ages and made everyone feel like he was a member of their family. Len was the driving force behind Strictly’s success. He will be greatly missed by the general public, as well as his many friends and family.”
Goodman was also the owner of the Goodman Academy dance school in the south of England and received the Carl Alan Award for his outstanding contributions to dance.
