‘If I go the method of my papa, that’ll be next year’: How Strictly legend Len Goodman anticipated his own death in last 2022 interview and lost his bone cancer fight simply days prior to his 79th birthday

Len Goodman anticipated when he retired 6 months ago that he anticipated to pass away in 2023 due to the fact that his own dad died unexpectedly when he was 79, MailOnline can expose today.

The much-loved Strictly Come Dancing judge has actually passed away aged 78 in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells in Kent following a brief health problem, stimulating a profusion of sorrow from his household, fans and his Strictly co-stars.

The dance master had bone cancer and passed away on Saturday night. He would have been 79 tomorrow.

In December 2022, simply weeks after retiring as head judge on Dancing with destiny, the United States variation of Strictly, he informed the Mail: ‘My papa had the ideal concept. He liked gardening and he had a stroke while he was out in the garden. He was 79 so if I go the method of my papa, that’ll be next year.’

Len stated he was retiring to invest more time with his spouse Sue, and his grandchildren, Alice, 7, and Jack, 4. He then recommended that his job interviewer, Jenny Johnston, might compose his obituary. He informed her: ‘Simply compose: “He was a dance instructor from Dartford who got fortunate”. Since that’s almost the fact of it.’

Fans have actually contemplated whether he currently understood he was seriously ill. Goodman was detected with prostate cancer in March 2009, which was treated with surgical treatment at a London health center. In September 2021 it was reported that he had actually gone through surgical treatment the previous year for a little facial cancer malignancy.

He informed the Mail: ‘I do not make a difficulty about things like that. It resembles when you have a vehicle– you keep it serviced however nevertheless, you’ll have some problem with your carburettor and you’ll require to get it repaired, and ultimately the entire thing will conk out, and there you go. It’s more about the journey, and mine has actually been beautiful.’

Len Goodman and his kid James, whose mom was Len’s very first spouse Cherry

Len Goodman, aged 25, dancing with Cherry Kingston in 1970. He would later on wed Cherry however they separated after 15 years of marital relationship

Len retired in 2015 and stated he wished to invest more time with his spouse Sue, and his grandchildren. Envisioned: Len with his grand son, Jack

In the exact same interview he likewise exposed how he had actually invested his Saturday nights because retiring — screaming at the television while seeing Strictly and particularly Craig Revel Horwood– or ‘bl ** dy Craig’ as Len called him.

Bethnal Green-born Len Goodman, who matured in Blackfen, Bexley, was an expert dancer and instructor who had actually likewise been a welder and imagined being an expert footballer. He ended up being a nationwide treasure after auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing aged 60 – when many people are aiming to retire.

A spokesperson for Len informed MailOnline today: ‘I can verify he passed away quietly over the weekend surrounded by his household’, including that he was ‘a much liked spouse, dad and grandpa who will be sorely missed out on by household, pals and all who understood him’.

Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood explained Len Goodman as a ‘beautiful associate and dear good friend’ in his moving homage.

He tweeted: ‘I have actually simply awakened to the unfortunate news that my beautiful associate and dear good friend Len Goodman has actually died. My heart and love head out to his beautiful Sue and household. Len Goody Goodman is what I constantly called him and ‘It’s a 10 from Len & & seveeeeern’ will deal with me permanently. RIP Len’.

Strictly speaker Claudia Winkleman stated judge Len Goodman was ‘filled with twinkle, heat and wit’. She tweeted: ‘I’m so unfortunate about Len. He was among a kind, a dazzling and kind male. Filled with twinkle, heat and wit. Sending out all love to his friends and family. X’.

Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli stated he will ‘treasure’ the memories of the ‘amazing experiences and numerous programs’ he participated in with fellow judge Len Goodman in reaction to his death.

In an Instagram post, Tonioli composed, ‘Hart (sic) damaged my dear good friend and partner for 19 years the one and just ballroom legend #lengoodman died

‘ I will treasure the memory of our amazing experiences and numerous programs we did together @bbcstrictly @dancingwiththestars. They will never ever be anybody like you. We will miss you’.

Commemorating Len Goodman, Dame Esther Rantzen informed the PA news firm: ‘I believe he was astonished and thrilled by what had actually occurred to him at an age when dancers retire or have actually long retired.

‘ I believe it actually pleased him that ballroom dancing had actually ended up being the flavour of the month, the nation had actually fallen for it once again.

‘ Among the factors he was successful so well in the States is that he was quintessentially British. He was company, however reasonable amusing, however a gentleman and I hope the country will embrace his preferred expostulation of ‘marinade me walnuts’.’

Dame Esther likewise remembered Goodman screaming out his signature number 7 on repeat when they took a chairlift with the exact same number while shooting on BBC travel program Vacation Of My Life Time on the Island of Wight.

Reviewing the journey she stated: ‘He was plainly the fully grown ladies’s crumpet due to the fact that matronly girls were tossing themselves in his course, most likely continuously however definitely on that journey.

‘ We were on the beach together roaming around going over beach vacations, and I was looking relatively dishevelled and he was perfectly dressed, you understand, stunning striped scarf and tie and socks all coordinating completely.’

Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with destiny head judge Len Goodman, visualized with his spouse Sue Barrett, has actually passed away aged 78

Len’s last look on Dancing with destiny in the United States last November

Len Goodman with Camilla, the Queen Accompaniment, throughout a celebratory tea dance at the Success Provider Club in London in 2019

Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood explained Len Goodman as a ‘beautiful associate and dear good friend’

Although Len liked providing a 10 on Strictly, millions around the nation understood him finest for the method he provided a 7 to dancers throughout his 12 years on the program

Len was head judge of Strictly from its launch in 2004 where he was extremely popular with fans for his understanding, wry humour and passionate marking, particularly his catchphrase ‘7’. He was changed as head judge on the BBC program by Shirley Ballas in 2016.

In addition to Strictly, he likewise appeared on the United States variation of the program, Dancing With destiny from 2005 till November 2022, where he was last seen on television, stating he was retiring to invest more time with his spouse Sue, and his grandchildren.

Previous BBC speaker Dan Walker, who contended on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and was pals with Len Goodman, likewise paid homage. He tweeted: ‘So unfortunate to become aware of the death of Len Goodman. He was an extraordinary male & & a remarkable skill. Liked making telly with him, being daft with him, playing golf with him & & will always remember the little suggestions he would send out each week on Strictly. All my love to his household.’

television speaker Susanna Reid explained Len Goodman as ‘a gorgeous male’ after the previous Strictly judge’s death.

She tweeted: ‘Oh this is such a terrible shock therefore unfortunate. Len was an outright legend & & the meaning of an appropriate gent.

‘ He was a gorgeous male with a big sense of humour who had such a naughty turn of expression.

‘ I’ll always remember ‘all bounce, bottom & & bongos’. My love to his household’.

Strictly participants, dancers and pals have actually offered their homages

The King with Charles Dance and Len Goodman (ideal) in 2018

Born in London, on 25 April 1944, he started his working life as an apprentice welder at Harland and Wolff in Woolwich, and wished to be a footballer.

He just began dancing aged 20, after his physician suggested it to assist him recuperate from a foot injury.

He turned expert and delighted in an effective competitive dancing profession, that included winning Double of the Giants, British Increasing Stars, The British Exhibit Championships (4 times) and the World Exhibit Championships in the early 1970s.

After retiring he established the Goodman Dance Academy in Kent. He has actually been an inspector for the National Association of Educators of Dance, a Fellow of the Imperial Society of Educators of Dance, and an adjudicator for the World Dance Council.

His incomparable understanding of Latin and Ballroom, in addition to his fondness for well-turned metaphors, made him a preferred with countless Strictly fans in later years, where his hallmark cry of ‘7!’ points is heard long after he left the program.

Len made various television and radio looks in the UK and was likewise been an extremely effective speaker of a number of programs, in addition to starring in the Strictly Live Trip for several years.

He produced lots of DVDs for the dance mentor market in addition to an educational DVD for the public called ‘Dance With Len Goodman’.

He released his autobiography ‘Much better Late Than Never Ever: From Barrow Kid to Ballroom’ in 2009, which was followed up by 2 other books, ‘Len’s Lost London’ and ‘Dancing Around Britain’.

His last words on television were: ‘ He was a dance instructor from Dartford who got fortunate. Since that’s almost the fact of it’

He stated just recently that he chuckles each time he considers how he auditioned for Strictly on his 60th birthday, a time when many people would be thinking about retirement

Len Goodman has actually just been retired for a matter of weeks, however he’s found a brand-new pastime– screaming at the tv while Strictly is on

Len ended up being a home name to a generation of fans after signing up with Strictly – however was likewise a renowned dancer as a more youthful male

The ballroom star was chuffed with the difficulty made from him on his last program in LA. ‘Even donkeys require a carrot’ he stated in 2015

Last November he revealed on Dancing With Destiny that he would be hanging up his scoring paddle for the last time at the end of that series, informing audiences: ‘This will be my last season evaluating Dancing With destiny.

‘ I have actually been on the program because it began in 2005, and it has actually been a big satisfaction to be a part of such a terrific program however I have actually chosen I wish to invest more time with my grandchildren and household back in Britain,’ Goodman included.’

Formerly Len had actually wed his dancing partner, Cherry Kingston, however they were later on separated. He then had a long-lasting relationship with a female called Lesley and they had a child, James.

He informed the Mail in 2015 that it still tickled him that he auditioned for Strictly on his 60th birthday, a time when many people would be thinking about retirement. He still had a home loan and his dance school, he informs me, was making just a little revenue.

Then the terrific glitterball appeared from the sky, ‘and it altered my life’.

‘ I keep in mind coming house to [my wife] Take legal action against stating: ‘They wish to pay me ₤ 1,000 an episode and they will choose me up in a vehicle, and take me house once again.’

For 12 years, he ruled the helm of Strictly, then he was enticed to the glossier, United States variation, Dancing With Destiny. It was a not likely export, however he quickly won them over.

‘ A few of the important things I brought out did puzzle them [The Americans] a bit. I keep in mind stating: ‘Offer it some welly’, and they stated ‘Willy? What’s a willy?’ However somebody stated to me, early doors: ‘Be yourself, and be sincere’ and I have actually stayed with that, as much as you can.’

‘ I’m simply a dance instructor from Dartford who got fortunate’: How Len Goodman went from Cockney welder and aiming footballer from the East End to expert dancer who landed among the most significant tasks on television as a Strictly Come Dancing judge

An unintentional dance star, Len Goodman made ballroom dancing available to countless individuals with his own cockney design.

Born in Bethnal Green in London’s East End, Goodman would work offering vegetables and fruit on his grandpa’s stall.

He later on ended up being a welder in the London docks and he was training to end up being a footballer.

Goodman’s previous headteacher anticipated he would be a failure in life, and cautioned him: ‘If you believe you are just in this world to have a laugh and enjoy yourself, you will remain in for a huge shock when you get a task.’

However Goodman developed into an unanticipated star after ending up being a dancer by mishap.

A photo of Len Goodman aged 18 months, which included in his bio. He accompanied it with the caption: ‘Me at 18 months, although my papa constantly stated I looked Chinese’

Len Goodman is seen on his 11th birthday in a jumper he stated was knitted by his grandma

Len Goodman, visualized dancing with his very first spouse Cherry Kingston. He won numerous competitors and retired from dancing after winning the British Champions in his late 20s

Len Goodman used up ballroom dancing aged 19 and specialised in exhibit programs, carrying out a range of lifts. He is visualized dancing with his very first spouse Cherry Kingston

When an injury ended his football profession, Goodman used up ballroom dancing aged 19 and specialised in exhibit programs, carrying out a range of lifts.

He won numerous competitors and lastly retired from dancing after winning the British Champions in Blackpool in his late twenties.

In his extra time he would wear his finest threads and struck the dance flooring for what he refers to as ‘crumpeteering’.

Appearing on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs in 2011, Goodman explained himself as a mod in the 1960s and would wear tonic matches and well fitted coats.

Goodman ended up being head judge on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and likewise signed up with the American variation Dancing With Destiny in 2005, as soon as again as head judge.

Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli at the Strictly Come Dancing launch in September 2013

Goodman’s lavish expressions and contrasts in his thick cockney accent on the BBC Program made him a fan favourite.

The judge was popular for his special method of screaming ‘7’ when dancers had actually carried out well on the dance reveals.

Far from the ballroom, Goodman’s love of music result in a number of unique programs on BBC Radio 2. He was likewise a routine deputy for Paul O’Grady on the station.

Goodman, who was a recipient of the Carl Alan Award in acknowledgment of impressive contributions to dance, was likewise the owner of the Goodman Academy, a dance school in Dartford, Kent.

In December Len exposed how he was investing his Saturday nights because retiring screaming at the television while seeing Strictly and particularly Craig Revel Horwood– or ‘bl ** dy Craig’ as Goodman called him.

Len Goodman, visualized in April 2015, revealed his retirement from television 6 months back

Strictly Come Dancing judges (delegated right) Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli in 2019

He informed the Mail of his dad: ‘He liked gardening and he had a stroke while he was out in the garden. He was 79 so if I go the method of my papa, that’ll be next year.’

Goodman recommended at the time that his job interviewer, Jenny Johnston, might compose his obituary.

He informed her: ‘ Simply compose: ‘He was a dance instructor from Dartford who got fortunate’. Since that’s almost the fact of it.’

Goodman ended up being a judge on Strictly in 2004 and his last look was on the 2016 Christmas Day unique. He was changed as head judge on the BBC program by Shirley Ballas.

He revealed his retirement from television 6 months back and would have commemorated his 79th birthday tomorrow.