Len Goodman's final goodbye Scrapbook

  With the premiere of season 32 of Dancing with the stars I felt it was only right and a good time to make this latest blog entry. As everyone knows Len Goodman had died from Bone cancer in April just 2 months into his retirement which he had announced during the Semifinals. Everyone associated with the dancing with the stars and Strictly come dancing had expressed their sadness with a lot of tribute messages on both Facebook, Instagram and twitter. Now that season 32 had started this past Tuesday the premiere held tribute to him around week 5 the pro dancers would dedicate a routine dance to him in his honor. Of course, they had no intention of replacing him as many feel that he is irreplaceable as he is a true legend in the ballroom. 1 last thing before you read this, they even had renamed their winner’s trophy as the Len goodman Mirrorball trophy no doubt every moment in the ballroom now would be an emotional one Len’s death really impacted me in a way that it’ll stay with me for a long while and I would like to say to all the pro dancers Derek Carrie Ann and Bruno from the bottom of my heart I will always be there for you every step of the way and I know how this major loss  has impacted both your lives and your heart I love you guys so much and it pains me to see you guys this heartbroken and I wish I could be there with you through all of it. On a happier note a major congratulations to the gorgeous Derek Hough on his marriage to the beautiful Hayley Erbert  wishing you guys the ultimate in the future that you have ahead of you.   

                                   A final goodbye to 

                                   

                          Leonard Gordon Goodman (78) 

                                      Rest in Peace 

Len Goodman is a professional ballroom dancer, dance teacher and dance competition Adjudicator born April 25th, 1944, to Leonard Gordon Goodman Sr. and Louisa in Farnborough Kent England but had grown up in Bethnal Green east London. He started Dancing at age 19 using it as therapy for a foot injury he turned professional, winning many competitions retiring after the British championships in Blackpool in his 20's. He was a recipient of the Carl Alan award in recognition of his contributions to dance. He runs a ballroom dance school in Dartford Kent. In 2005 he was in Dartford when he got the call from Hollywood 3 days before filming the first ever episode for dancing with the stars when he first met Carrie Ann Inaba 1 year after making it as a judge for strictly come dancing which was filmed In the UK when he first met his best friend, Bruno Tonioli.   

                             

                             

Len did Strictly come dancing in 2004 till 2016 in its 14th season he was replaced with the queen of Latin Shirley Ballas she’s the mother of Mark ballas who he would meet on dancing with the stars in 2007 in the shows 5th season. His best friend Bruno did the show with him Bruno would be absent on its 5th week for 3 seasons and throughout the entire 18th season he would video call during a result show due to travel restrictions when the  pandemic was at its tipping point it was due to this that Bruno called it quits after it became apparent that he no longer wanted to travel back and forth which he ultimately chose to judge dancing with the stars and Anton du Beke was brought in to replace him.  

                             

1 year after his 1st season on Strictly Come Dancing Len was asked to also judge Dancing with the stars with Bruno which was their first meeting with Carrie Ann the show gave him a reputation of being the tough one with brutal honesty and tough love Carrie Ann was the supportive and strict one with Bruno as the comic relief. Lisa canning Brooke burke and Samantha Harris at 1 point were co hosts before Tom and Erin became permanent, they brought in Tyra Banks due to a major change for 3 seasons which caused backlash and the hiring of Alfonso Ribeiro after recent news that Tyra was leaving to focus on her business Derek’s sister Julianne will be coming back this time as a co-host while Derek had gotten promoted to Len’s position as head judge. 

                                    Tribute pictures 

            

                             

  Len had an episode in the UK version of the show Who do you think you are? He learned that one of his ancestors was a silk weaver who died a pauper in the Benthal green workhouse. His great great grandfather Josef Sosnowski was from Poland which he had fought in the anti-tsarist November uprising being awarded Virtuti Millitari for heroism and courage. 

                                          

In October 2021 Len starred in many episodes of the reboot of the show Hollyoaks; some of his episodes just featured his voice but not his face. 6 pro dancers along with Carrie Ann and Bruno had television appearances. Carrie Ann and Karina Smirnoff were in Hannah Montana Bruno along with val and maks were in fuller house and Cheryl burke Ashly Del Grosso and Louis Van Amstel were in the suite life of Zack and Cody this year the group will get 1 person bigger with the announcement that newbie pro dancer Gleb Savchenko got cast in the movie Swing into romance with hallmark’s resident couple Danica McKellar and David Hydn jones which Danica had done dancing with the stars before with Val as her pro partner.

                                        Final thoughts 

Watching Len on Dancing with the Stars was always awesome to see. his relationship with Carrie Ann and Bruno was always so beautiful to watch especially with Bruno and Derek he would be funny on occasion when he wants to be sure he is the tough one of the 3 but those moments are what I’m going to miss the most especially his one-on-one time with the celebrity in the redemption round so goodbye Len goodman happy retirement and rest in peace. Once a legend always a legend.

                                

                                     Tribute quotes 

Pickle my walnuts 

"It was like a cowpat on Countryfile - hot and steamy" and "You flew across the floor like a rampant crab."

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!"

There you were, like two sizzling sausages on a barbecue. 

your bum was bionic."

all bounce, bums and bongos".

It was like watching a stork who'd been struck by lightning". 

You floated across that floor like butter on a crumpet." 

"You were like a chess master - you plotted your way around that floor. That was a mango of a tango. Delicious." 

"For me, you can't waft enough."

I’m giving you a sitting down standing ovation.”

“I’ve got to say this. I’m sorry, but Bruno shouts a lot.”

“Your bum was bouncing around like a ball on a roulette wheel.”

Remember. If it is to be, it is up to me.” 

If you’re in the bottom two tomorrow, I’ll show my bum in the supermarket.”

• Kill it, sunshine.”

• “Parts were magic, parts were tragic.”

• “It was like a match. Hot at the top, wooden at the bottom.”

• “You look good, you dance good, and watching you does you good.”

• “There are two things I don’t like in this world: babies crying and hip hop.”

• “Three words: Fab... u... lous!”

• “The only thing that has to be large on Dancing with The Stars is determination.”

• “You don’t win #DWTS in the ballroom, you win it in rehearsals. The more you sweat, the better you get!”

• “Remember, success comes in CANS not CAN'TS.”

• “If you were playing poker, you went all in.”

• “Hey, look who’s here...the grumpy judge.”

• “Careful doesn’t win Dancing with The Stars.”

That was scary. I'm so glad I've got on my rubber underpants." 

More rise and fall than an auctioneer gavel 

“Tutti frutti what a booty” 

“You’re the hunk with some junk in the trunk.”