Len Goodman’s Dancing With The Stars colleagues were ‘kept in the dark’ about his terminal battle with bone cancer during the ‘perfect showman’ final appearance
Len Goodman’s colleagues on the hit US show Dancing With The Stars have been blindsided by the longtime judge’s death after being kept in the dark about his bone cancer diagnosis.
The beloved English ballroom dancer and talent show judge passed away Saturday at the age of 78, but those who worked with him in the United States claim he was “laughing and joking” during his last season on Dancing With The Stars in November.
While some acknowledged that the typically jovial Goodman was “slowing down,” they attributed it to his advanced years and were completely unaware that he was battling a terminal cancer diagnosis.
That’s what an insider told me The American sun: ‘Len was such a professional that as soon as the cameras and lights came on, he became the consummate showman.’
According to the source, he told show bosses, “Don’t ask me to do a little dance for my goodbye because that’s not happening, I just like shuffling around these days!”
Tragic: Len Goodman’s colleagues on hit American show Dancing With The Stars have been blindsided by the longtime judge’s death after being kept in the dark about his bone cancer diagnosis
Farewell: The beloved English ballroom dancer and jury member for talent shows passed away on Saturday at the age of 78
A second show source added, “The news about Len surprised a lot of the production team today. There was a huge sense of sadness and sadness because Len had brought so much joy and joy to the show, but also because he was a perfect professional.
“Last fall Len was definitely less present and while he looked thin, that weakness was just thought to be getting older.
“Obviously it is now implied that he was dealing with something very aggressive and kept it to himself.”
Goodman was a successful professional ballroom dancer, winning the British Championships in his late twenties before retiring from the sport and opening a dance school.
Much later in life, he chaired the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing from its launch in 2004 until 2016, and its American counterpart for most of its run from 2005 to 2022.
Unaware: Those who worked with him in the United States claim he was “laughing and joking” during his last season on Dancing With The Stars in November
Beloved: While some acknowledged that the characteristically jovial Goodman was “slowing down,” they attributed it to his advanced years
He adopted a warm, supportive yet critical demeanor as he watched celebrities perform tangos and waltzes, lending a level-headed touch to the otherwise often flamboyant jury.
“Len… appealed to all ages and felt like a member of everyone’s family. Len was at the heart of Strictly’s success. He will be greatly missed by the public and his many friends and family,” said BBC Director General Tim Davie.
Goodman was born and grew up in London, and said he only reluctantly started dancing at age 19 after a doctor said it would help him recover from a foot injury.
As a teacher, he said his priority was to make ballroom dancing “fun and sociable”.
Speaking in 2012, after treatment for prostate cancer, he said he most hoped to be remembered as “genuinely kind”.
“I wish there were people who could honestly say, ‘Len! Oh yes, there was more good than bad in him,” he said.
Strictly was one of the BBC’s most popular entertainment shows, averaging over 11 million viewers at its peak in 2010.
As many as 27 million viewers watched some episodes of “Dancing with the Stars” in the first seasons. (Reporting by David Milliken; editing by Andrew Heavens)