Len Goodman dies: Strictly stars lead tributes after his demise aged 78 ‘following a brief sickness’ 

Strictly Come Dancing stars have led the tributes to the present’s former decide Len Goodman following his demise on the age of 78.

Len’s co-judge on the present Craig Revel-Horwood tweeted that he’d ‘simply woken as much as the unhappy information that my attractive colleague and expensive pal Len Goodman has handed away.’

‘My coronary heart and love exit to his beautiful Sue and household. Len Goody Goodman is what I at all times known as him and “It’s a ten from Len & seveeeeern” will reside with me endlessly. RIP Len.’

Len’s co-star on each Strictly and Dancing With The Stars Bruno Tonioli shared a photograph of the pair hugging as he wrote that his coronary heart was damaged.

‘Hart damaged my expensive pal and accomplice for 19 years the one and solely ballroom legend handed away I’ll treasure the reminiscence of our unimaginable adventures and a whole lot of exhibits we did collectively. they’ll by no means be anybody such as you we are going to miss you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Bruno.’ 

Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman wrote that her colleague was ‘a sort and good man. Full of twinkle, heat and wit. Sending a lot like to his household and mates. We love you Len xx.’

The much-loved Strictly Come Dancing decide had been in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells in Kent following a brief sickness.

He handed away on Saturday night time – simply six months into his retirement. He would have been 79 tomorrow.

Dan Walker, who competed on the BBC competitors in 2021 praised Len as an ‘unimaginable man & a unprecedented expertise.’

Dan shared a collection of images on Instagram, writing that he was ‘so unhappy to listen to in regards to the demise of Len Goodman. He was an unimaginable man & a unprecedented expertise.

‘Loved making telly with him, being daft with him, taking part in golf with him & will always remember the little ideas he would ship each week on Strictly. He cared about individuals and made everybody really feel particular. All my like to his household.’

Strictly skilled dancer turned It Takes Two host Janette Manrara known as Len ‘one of many nicest, funniest, and kindest individuals I ever had absolutely the pleasure of working with and calling a pal.’

‘The world misplaced just a little sparkle right this moment. I’ll miss his cheeky jokes, his infectious smile, and his endlessly love and fervour of dance. I hope you’re smiling and dancing nonetheless amongst the clouds. We will miss you.’

Janette’s husband and Strictly professional Aljaž Škorjanec shared a video of the 2 rehearsing collectively, writing: ‘We each liked our ballroom dancing extra then most. One of the individuals I revered and feared most within the @bbcstrictly ballroom, however then we grew to become such superb mates, at all times laughing and cracking jokes.’

‘We solely spoke a few weeks in the past, and I want we might’ve cracked one final joke collectively. And like your final message to me, Len, you have been at all times my favorite too.’ 

Piers Morgan shared a photograph of Len exhibiting him some dance strikes as he paid tribute to the ‘quintessential Londoner and high bloke.’

‘More very unhappy information from the world of leisure… RIP Len Goodman, 78 – welder, dancer, decide, and devoted cricket & West Ham fan,’ Piers wrote on Twitter.

‘Always had amusing with Len, and swapped just a few sturdy opinions. A quintessential Londoner and a high bloke.’

Susanna Reid, who starred on Strictly in 2013, tweeted: ‘Oh that is such an terrible shock and so unhappy. Len was an absolute legend & the definition of a correct gent. He was an attractive man with an enormous sense of humour who had such a mischievous flip of phrase. I’ll always remember “all bounce, bum & bongos”. My like to his household.’ 

2011 Strictly competitor Russell Grant tweeted: ‘The great Len Goodman has left us. He was so type and wonderful to me once I was on Strictly and we met on different programmes together with his personal filmed at BBC Glasgow.’ 

‘The phrase legend is overused however Len and his ‘SEVEN’ grew to become a catchphrase throughout UK & USA. A real character.’

Tim Davie, BBC Director-General mentioned in a press release: ‘Len Goodman was an exquisite, heat entertainer who was adored by thousands and thousands.’

‘He appealed to all ages and felt like a member of everybody’s household. Len was on the very coronary heart of Strictly’s success. He will likely be vastly missed by the general public and his many family and friends.’

Eamonn Holmes wrote alongside a photograph of the 2 sharing a pint that ‘this kind of publish is unfortunately changing into too common. Len Goodman gone.’

‘What an impeccable man in the best way he danced the best way he was groomed. This is us in an Irish pub in Cushendall in The Glens of Antrim . We laughed all day . Total Gentleman.’

Lorraine Kelly paid tribute  because the information of his demise broke reside on air on Monday.

The presenter, 63, paused her ITV daytime present to ship the information – as she advised how he was a ‘smashing fellow’.

Returning from a break throughout her programme, Lorraine paused her reside present to pay tribute to Len.

A photograph of the Strictly star was proven on display as she mentioned: ‘He was a smashing fellow, a very actually good man in order that may be very unhappy information this morning. So many individuals keep in mind them from Strictly – after all they do!

‘All of out ideas are with everyone who loves them together with all of his family and friends who liked him.’

The information of the star‘s demise was revealed simply as This Morning got here on air on Monday with hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield revealing their shock over the information. 

Phillip mentioned: ‘We got here on air to the saddest information. That got here as such a shock.’

Brendan Cole, who left the present in 2018, after 15 years of engaged on it, was on This Morning coincidentally and mentioned: ‘ Shocking. Sad for the whole nation.’

He revealed that Len had solely lately retired to be able to spend time together with his grandchildren. 

And Brendan mentioned:  ‘As a persona he was large – not solely as a decide on Strictly however as an individual – with a chew, which I liked.’

Holly  mentioned: ‘He trademarked seven… Even when he went to America, at any time when anybody obtained a seven, you couldn’t not consider him.’ 

Brendan added: ‘He was the final word decide. He knew what to say and when to say it. The smile, the vitality. Strictly has not been the identical with out him.’

Holly concluded by saying: ‘Our  ideas and love go to his spouse Sue.’ 

A spokeswoman for Len advised MailOn-line: ‘I can verify he died peacefully over the weekend surrounded by his household’, including that he was ‘a a lot liked husband, father and grandfather who will likely be sorely missed by household, mates and all who knew him’.

The former head decide of Strictly Come Dancing from its launch in 2004 till 2016, Len was vastly fashionable with followers for his data and wry humour. He was an expert dancer and instructor who grew to become a nationwide treasure after auditioning for Strictly aged 60 – when most individuals wish to retire.

As properly as Strictly, he additionally appeared on the US model of the present, Dancing With the Stars from 2005 till November 2022, the place he was final seen on TV, declaring he was retiring to spend extra time together with his spouse Sue, and his grandchildren.

In December Len revealed how he spends his Saturday nights since retiring – shouting on the TV whereas watching Strictly and particularly Craig Revel Horwood — or ‘bl**dy Craig’ as Len known as him.

It is believed Len died in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells after a brief sickness.

After retiring he advised the Mail: ‘My dad had the fitting concept, too. He liked gardening and he had a stroke whereas he was out within the backyard. He was 79 so if I’m going the best way of my dad, that’ll be subsequent yr.’