London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2025

Len Goodman: Tributes pour in for the 'class act' from Strictly and Dancing with the Stars

Len Goodman: Tributes pour in for the 'class act' from Strictly and Dancing with the Stars

Len Goodman has been remembered as a "kind and brilliant" man who "lit up the screen", following his death at the age of 78 due to bone cancer.

Friends and co-stars all paid tribute to the former dancer, who became head judge on Strictly Come Dancing and its US counterpart Dancing With The Stars.

Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman called Goodman "a class act" who was full of "twinkle, warmth and wit".

Respects were also paid by the British Royal family and UK government.

Former Strictly judge Dame Darcey Bussell said: "He had the gift of the gab, and I will never forget his use of fruit and veg and sticky toffee pudding as descriptive phrases of dance.

"He was always professional: grounded, funny, loveable, supportive and respectful… but never shy to say how it was.

"For Len, Strictly and Dancing with the Stars was never about the fame, it was about keeping his world of dance true and relevant. As I go in to coach at the Royal Ballet today, I think of him so fondly and try to follow his example."

A former welder, Goodman became a dancer on the advice of his doctor and never looked back.

After winning the British Championships in his 20s, he became a dance instructor and joined Strictly for its launch in 2004.

Popular with viewers for his wry humour and avuncular critiques, he managed to turn the act of giving scores into a source of catchphrases: From his comedically elongated pronunciation of "seveeeen" to the much sought-after "10 from Len".

Strictly's longest-serving judge, Craig Revel Horwood, referenced that showmanship while paying tribute on Monday, describing Goodman as a "gorgeous colleague and dear friend".

"Len Goody Goodman is what I always called him and 'It's a ten from Len & seveeeeern' will live with me forever," he added.

Winkleman told BBC News: "There was nobody like him because he was so humble.

"He was adorable - on camera, off camera, and to everybody who took part."

Her co-host Tess Daly agreed that Goodman was "a beautiful man, genuine, warm and humble, who left an impression on everyone he met".

"I'll never forget the fun we had on set, his love and passion for dancing and that wonderfully cheeky smile lit up the screen," she said on social media.

Bruno Tonioli shared a picture of him and Goodman together, declaring: "There will never be anyone like you. You will always be my perfect 10."



Current head judge Shirley Ballas said that her "past teacher" was a "dance legend" and "a true gentleman" as well as a "shining star in the ballroom that everyone loved."

Anton Du Beke, who was a dancer and judge on the popular celebrity dancing show, recalled having first met Goodman when he was just a young lad, as he was his dance judge.

"Len was different to anyone else in the dancing business - he was a wonderful character, he had a roguishness about him - he had twinkle," he said in a statement online.

"He had a way about him that you really wanted him to like you. If Len liked you, it was more important than anyone else liking you."

He went on to call his old friend "a national treasure".

Current judge Motsi Mabuse posted a black-and-white picture of Goodman on her Instagram story, alongside the letters "R.I.P."

Her sister, the dancer Oti Mabuse, added: "My heart breaks. You will forever be missed. Thank you for your honesty, integrity and a pleasurable presence."

Former Strictly contestant Susanna Reid said the news of Goodman's death was "such an awful shock and so sad".

"Len was an absolute legend and the definition of a proper gent. He was a beautiful man with a huge sense of humour who had such a mischievous turn of phrase."

She said she would never forget the time he described her Samba as being "all bounce, bum and bongos".

The Queen Consort said she was "saddened" about Goodman's death


Camilla, the Queen Consort, who danced with Goodman at a public engagement in 2019, was "saddened to hear the news", according to a Buckingham Palace spokesperson.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described Goodman as "a great entertainer, a popular face on TV screens up and down the country".

"He will be missed by many and our condolences go to his friends and family," he added.


Some of Goodman's best remarks to Strictly contestants


:: "You floated across that floor like butter on a crumpet."

:: "It was like watching a stork who'd been struck by lightning."

:: "You were like a chess master - you plotted your way around that floor. That was a mango of a tango. Delicious."

:: "For me, you can't waft enough."

Goodman made his final appearance on Strictly during the 2016 Christmas Day special.

He also served as head judge on Dancing With The Stars for more than 15 years, announcing his retirement in November last year saying he wanted to "spend more time with my grandchildren and family" in the UK.

He died on Saturday at a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, having had cancer, surrounded by his family.

A statement from his manager, Jackie Gill, on Monday described him as "a much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him."

He leaves his wife Sue Barrett, who he married in 2012, and his son, James, from a previous relationship.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
×