Len Goodman has died at the age of 78 from bone cancer. The TV personality - widely remembered for being one of the judges on the UK reality competition show Strictly Come Dancing - was in a hospice in Kent, UK, following a brief illness. He died on Saturday night. A spokeswoman for Goodman confirmed his passing to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/usshowbiz/article-12006659/Len-Goodman-dies-aged-78-Strictly-star-passed-away-peacefully-hospice.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline">MailOnline</a>: "I can confirm he died peacefully over the weekend surrounded by his family." As reported by <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65373373">BBC News</a>, a statement from his manager, Jackie Gill, read: "It is with great sadness to announce that Len Goodman has passed away peacefully, aged 78. A much-loved husband, father, and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him." <img class="size-full wp-image-1263207953" src="https://img.vt.co/2023/04/2KEYT95-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1743" height="2560" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images / Alamy]] As well as the UK dance reality show (for which he was head judge from its launch in 2004 until 2016), he was also a judge on its US counterpart, Dancing with the Stars from 2005 until 2022. In November, he announced on that he would be leaving the show: "This will be my last season judging Dancing with the Stars. "I've been on the show since it started in 2005, and it has been a huge pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful show but I've decided I want to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain." As a young teen, Goodman aspired to become a soccer star and began dancing in 1963, around the age of 19, in order to help him recover from a foot injury. This is when his interest in a professional dancing career blossomed and saw him take part in a number of competitions. He retired from dance competitions after he won the British Championships at Blackpool in his late twenties. He then went on to found the Goodman Dance Academy. Goodman was one of Strictly Come Dancing's most popular judges and helped catapult the show to the success it enjoys today. Paying tribute to the late TV personality, his fellow Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood penned on Twitter: "I’ve just woken up to the sad news that my gorgeous colleague and dear friend Len Goodman has passed away. My heart and love go out to his lovely Sue and family. "Len Goody Goodman is what I always called him and ‘It’s a 10 from Len and seveeeeern’ will live with me forever. RIP Len." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/CraigRevHorwood/status/1650424372031545344]] Piers Morgan also took to the platform to mourn the TV legend's tragic passing, writing: "More very sad news from the world of entertainment… RIP Len Goodman, 78 - welder, dancer, judge, and devoted cricket & West Ham fan. Always had a laugh with Len, and swapped a few strong opinions. A quintessential Londoner and a top bloke." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1650420362352508933]] <h6>Featured image credit: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy</h6>

'Dancing with the Stars' star Len Goodman dies at 78

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