‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ star Len Goodman has passed away at the age of 78 from bone cancer.
The beloved judge had been in Tunbridge Wells hospice in Kent after an illness and died only six months after he retired.
A spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline: “I can confirm he died peacefully over the weekend surrounded by his family.”
The spokesperson added that the professional dancer and teacher was “a much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him.”
The Strictly Come Dancing judge was popular for his humor and vast knowledge. He became a national treasure after auditioning for the show in 2004 at the age of 60.
He also appeared on Dancing with the Stars from 2005 to November 2022, when he was last seen on TV. At that time, he announced that he was retiring to spend more time with his family.
“This will be my last season judging Dancing With the Stars,” he announced last year.
“I’ve been on the show since it started in 2005, and it has been a huge pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful show but I’ve decided I want to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain.”
Len ruled Strictly before he appeared on Dancing with the Stars.
“Some of the things I came out with did confuse them (the Americans) a bit. I remember saying: ‘Give it some welly’, and they said ‘Willy? What’s a willy?’ But someone said to me, early doors: ‘Be yourself, and be honest’ and I’ve stuck to that, as much as you can,” he told the Mail.
Len also founded the Goodman Dance Academy in Kent and had been an examiner for the National Association of Teachers of Dance, an adjudicator for the World Dance Council, and a fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance.
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