Strict judge Anton Du Beke paid tribute to his friend Len Goodman (45) after learning of his shocking death from bone cancer on Monday.
The beloved chief justice was in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, after a short illness.
He died peacefully on Saturday evening, just six months after his retirement and would have turned 79 tomorrow.
Shortly after hearing the news, Anton took to Instagram and paid tribute to his good friend, who he said “had a mischievous way with him – he has a wink.”
He wrote: “Forgive my flood of consciousness but I have just received the devastating news that my dear friend of almost 45 years Len Goodman has sadly passed away.
‘There was something mischievous about him – he had a wink’: Strict judge Anton Du Beke paid tribute to friend Len Goodman, 45, after learning of his shock death from cancer on Monday
“I will miss you Len”: Anton shared these touching words alongside his post about Len on Instagram
It’s incredibly difficult to find the words to sum up Len because he was everything, but he was also just Len.
“I first met him when I was a young boy dancing, he was my dance judge. Len was different from everyone else in the dance world – he had a great character, he had something mischievous – he had a sparkle.
“There was a way about him that you really wanted him to like you. If Len liked you, it was more important than anyone else to like you.”
Anton continued, “He was one of the few people who was just Len everywhere, and everyone knows exactly what that means. He had a bit of magic and that’s what always made him so popular.
Spending time with Len was wonderful. We played a lot of golf together – 40 years of golf. He was funny and entertaining, but he was also thoughtful and extremely interesting.
“He led an interesting life. He was clever, eloquent, well-read and a great lover of poetry.
And of course he had incredible appeal – as evidenced by his massive success in America. They asked him to move on and such calls are so rare.
“Definitely a national treasure, but more importantly to me he was my friend. I was very lucky to know him. I will miss you Anton.’
Born in Bethnal Green, raised in Blackfen, Bexley, Len Goodman was a professional dancer and teacher who was also a welder and dreamed of becoming a professional footballer.
He became a national treasure after auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing aged 60, when most people might want to retire.
In addition to Strictly, he also appeared on the American version of the show Dancing With the Stars from 2005 to November 2022.
In November, during his last television appearance, he announced that he was retiring to spend more time with his wife Sue and grandchildren.
Len has been Strictly’s main judge since its inception in 2004, when he became hugely popular with fans for his knowledge, wry humor and enthusiastic markings, particularly his catchphrase “seven”. In 2016, he was replaced as lead judge on the BBC show by Shirley Ballas.
Source: Daily Mail
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
