Strictly judge Anton Du Beke pays tribute to friend of 45 years Len Goodman

Strict judge Anton Du Beke has paid tribute to his friend of 45 years, Len Goodman, after learning of his shock death from bone cancer on Monday.

The beloved chief judge had been in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, after a short illness.

He died peacefully on Saturday night, just six months into his retirement, and would have turned 79 tomorrow.

Shortly after hearing the news, Anton took to Instagram and paid tribute to his close friend, who he said had “a roguish about him – he had a twinkle.”

He wrote, “Forgive my stream of consciousness, but I have just received the devastating news that my dear friend of nearly 45 years, Len Goodman, has sadly passed away.

‘I’m going to miss you, Len’: Anton shared these touching words alongside his post about Len on Instagram

It’s incredibly hard to find the words to sum up Len because he was everything, but he was also just Len.

“I first knew him when I was a young lad and was dancing, he was my dance judge. Len was unlike anyone else in the dance world – he had great character, he had something mischievous – he had a twinkle.

“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.”

Anton continued, “He was one of the few people who was just Len wherever he went and everyone knows exactly what that means. He had a little bit of magic and that always made him so popular.

Spending time with Len was great. We played golf together a lot – 40 years of golf. He was funny and entertaining, but he was also thoughtful and extremely interesting.

“He led an exciting life. He was smart, eloquent, wonderfully well-read, and a great lover of poetry.

And, of course, he had incredible appeal — as evidenced by his massive success in America. They begged him to continue and calls like that are so rare.

“Certainly a national treasure, but more importantly to me he was my friend. I was very lucky to know him. I’m gonna miss you, Len. Anton.’

Born in Bethnal Green, Len Goodman, who grew up in Blackfen, Bexley, was a professional dancer and teacher who had also been a welder and dreamed of becoming a professional football player.

He became a national treasure after auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing at age 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 appearance on TV, he announced that he was retiring to spend more time with his wife Sue and his grandchildren.

Len was the head judge of Strictly from its launch in 2004, when he became extremely popular with fans for his knowledge, wry humor and enthusiastic markings, especially his catchphrase ‘seven’. He was replaced as head judge on the BBC show by Shirley Ballas in 2016.

Strictly host Tess Daly led tributes to her former colleague, referencing his “seven!” catchphrase: “You were never a seven to me, Len you were always a ten.”

Beloved: The tributes for Len have been pouring in all morning

Sad times: The beloved Strictly Come Dancing judge had been in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells in Kent after a short illness

Looking back: Len recently said he laughs every time he thinks about how he auditioned for Strictly on his 60th birthday, a time when most people would be thinking about retirement

A huge success: the ballroom star was overjoyed at the fuss made about him at his last show in LA. “Even donkeys need a carrot,” he said last year