Who is Len Goodman’s wife Sue Barrett and does he have children?
Len Goodman’s death devastated the entertainment world after it was announced Monday that he had died of bone cancer on Saturday, April 22.
The news of Len’s death at the age of 78 shocked his legions of fans, who were unaware that he was ill.
The beloved Strictly Come Dancing judge had been in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells in Kent after a short illness.
Born in Bethnal Green, Len Goodman, who grew up in Blackfen, Bexley, was a professional dancer and teacher who became a national treasure after auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing at the age of 60 – when most people are about to to retire.
Len was the head judge of Strictly from its launch in 2004, where he was extremely popular with fans for his knowledge, dry wit and enthusiastic markings, especially his catchphrase ‘seven’. He was replaced as head judge on the BBC show by Shirley Ballas in 2016.
In addition to Strictly, he also appeared on the US version of the show, Dancing With the Stars from 2005 to November 2022, where he was last seen on TV, stating that he was retiring to spend more time with his wife Sue and his grandchildren. .
If various stars from the entertainment world pay tributeMailOnline takes a look at Len’s relationship history with his wife Sue and his role as father to son James.
Marriage: Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars chief judge Len Goodman, pictured with his wife Sue Barrett, has died aged 78
Who is Sue Barrett, Len Goodman’s wife?
Sue is a former professional dance instructor, nearly 20 years younger than Len.
Not much is known about her, as Len previously said, “She likes to stay out of the limelight.”
There’s no doubt they had a close relationship though, as Len regularly referred to her as ‘my wonderful Sue’ and told the Mail ‘she’s gorgeous and makes me very happy’.
He also joked that his wife was lucky enough to share a bed with him as he fell asleep right away.
He said at the time: ‘I’m good in bed – I don’t snore. I’m not taking the comforter. I lay there and immediately fell asleep. That’s all you want from a guy.’
Beloved: Bethnal Green native Len Goodman, who grew up in Blackfen, Bexley, was a professional dancer and teacher who became a national treasure after auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing at the age of 60 – while most people are looking for a pension
When did Len Goodman and Sue Barrett get married?
The couple were together for 10 years before getting married in December 2012.
According to The Telegraph, they got married in a surprise ceremony.
They invited some close friends to a “quiet Sunday lunch” and surprised the guests when the clerk arrived and a short ceremony began.
“I wanted it to be a low-key affair, so we didn’t tell anyone except my 96-year-old mother because I didn’t want her to have a heart attack from the surprise,” Goodman said.
Speaking to the Daily Mail about his decision to marry his wife, he said: ‘I knew I had found the woman I wanted to be with for the rest of my life, so why not get married?
“I’ve said before that I’m selfish and that doesn’t sit well with marriage, but My Wonderful Sue got that out of me. I’ve become totally selfless and I think that’s because it’s true love.”
Earlier: Len was previously married to his dance partner Cherry Kingston when he was 28. (Pictured in 1970)
Does Len Goodman have children?
Len Goodman and his wife Sue never had children together.
In fact, Len was previously married to his dance partner Cherry Kingston when he was 28.
He admitted in his autobiography ‘Better Late Than Never’ that it was ‘a dancing marriage, one that lacked the spark of true love’.
However, when she left him for a French millionaire, he was ‘hurt; hurt that she did it, hurt by the way I found out…”
After his split from Kingston, Goodman had another long-term partner: “a very attractive girl whose name was Lesley,” according to his autobiography.
Goodman wrote that she was the first woman he had ever fallen in love with.
Family man: Len retired last year and said he wanted to spend more time with his wife Sue and his grandchildren. Pictured: Len with his grandson Jack
Three generations: Len Goodman (left) with his son James and father Leonard
Close: Len Goodman and his son James, whose mother was Len’s first wife Cherry
He was 36 when she told him she was pregnant and gave birth to their son James William Goodman in 1981.
“However, life was not as happy as it should have been,” Goodman wrote via the Daily Mail.
“Unfortunately, it got to a point where being with Lesley was just impossible for me, and she couldn’t stand being with me either.”
James followed in his father’s footsteps and trained as a dancer.
He is now a Latin and ballroom dancer and teaches at his father’s dance hub, Goodman Dance Academy.
James is married to Sophie Goodman and has two children together, Alice and Than.
Where is Sue Barrett now?
On April 24, 2023, it was announced that Len had died of bone cancer at the age of 78.
A spokeswoman for Len told MailOnline: “I can confirm he passed away peacefully over the weekend surrounded by his family,” adding that he was “a much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and everyone who knew him. ‘.
The star spent his retirement days with Sue, at their home in Kent, where they ran their own ballroom dancing school.