HEAVEEEEEEN!
Longtime Strictly judge Len Goodman has sashayed out of the ballroom, aged 78. Goodman took up dancing in his teens to help recuperate from a foot injury, and was a successful pro dancer in the 70s, retiring on a high note after winning the British Championships. He opened up a dance school, but widespread renown long evaded him.
That all changed in his 60s when he was tapped to steward the Strictly jury just before its 2004 launch. It almost didn’t happen – an unnamed dancing notable was poised to have Goodman’s spot before dropping out at the last minute. Goodman was recommended by Erin Boag on the back of his colourful personality, and became a cherish presence with his cutting wit, chemistry with the other judges, and catchphrases like “Pickle my walnuts”, “It’s a 10 from Len!”, and an exuberant, weirdly-enunciated SEVEEEEEEN.
Strictly proved such a cash cow that it was spun off across the pond into Dancing with the Stars, and once again Goodman was summoned as a last-minute replacement after one of the US judges fared poorly in the pilot. Goodman judged both editions for many years before focusing fully on the more lucrative Dancing after 2016, which he then retired from late last year. In one of the true moments of cosmic serendipity, his last act on this planet was awarding the five DDP teams who picked him SEVEEEEEEN points.
Len Goodman
25 April 1944 – 22 April 2023, aged 78
5 TEAMS (💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 7 POINTS)