This Morning’s Phillip and Holly reveal shock over Len Goodman’s death

The information of Strictly star Len Goodman’s demise was revealed simply as This Morning got here on air on Monday.

The present’s former head decide handed away from bone most cancers aged 78 and This Morning’s hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield revealed their shock over the information. 

Phillip stated: ‘We got here on air to the saddest information. That got here as such a shock.’

Brendan Cole, who left the present in 2018, after 15 years of engaged on it, was on This Morning and stated: ‘ Stunning. Unhappy for all the nation.’

He revealed that Len had solely just lately retired with a purpose to spend time along with his grandchildren. 

‘We got here on air to the saddest information’: This Morning’s Phillip and Holly revealed their shock over Len Goodman’s demise on Monday as dancer Brendan Cole detailed the Strictly star’s poignant retirement plans

Heartbreaking information: Strictly icon Len handed away after a brief battle with bone most cancers aged 78. His followers weren’t conscious he was ailing 

And Brendan stated:  ‘As a persona he was large – not solely as a decide on Strictly however as an individual – with a chunk, which I liked.’

Holly Willoughby stated: ‘He trademarked seven… Even when he went to America, every time anybody obtained a seven, you could not not consider him.’ 

Brendan added: ‘He was the final word decide. He knew what to say and when to say it. The smile, the power. Strictly has not been the identical with out him.’

Holly concluded by saying: ‘Our  ideas and love go to his spouse Sue.’ 

Len  had been in a hospice in in Kent and handed away on Saturday night time – simply six months into his retirement. He would have been 79 on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for Len instructed MailOnline: ‘I can verify he died peacefully over the weekend surrounded by his household’, including that he was ‘a a lot liked husband, father and grandfather who will probably be sorely missed by household, buddies and all who knew him’. 

Bethnal Inexperienced-born Len Goodman, who grew up in Blackfen, Bexley, was an expert dancer and instructor who had additionally been a welder and dreamed of being an expert footballer. He turned a nationwide treasure after auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing aged 60 – when most individuals need to retire. 

Len was head decide of Strictly from its launch in 2004 the place he was massively widespread with followers for his information, wry humour and enthusiastic marking, particularly his catchphrase ‘seven’. He was changed as head decide on the BBC present by Shirley Ballas in 2017. 

Talking extremely: Brendan Cole, who left the present in 2018, after 15 years of engaged on it, stated that Len had solely just lately retired with a purpose to spend time along with his grandchildren

House is the place the center is: Len, pictured along with his spouse Sue Barrett was keen to make use of his retirement to be along with his family members

Love: Len retired final yr and stated he needed to spend extra time along with his spouse Sue, and his grandchildren. Pictured: Len along with his grandson, Jack

Household is all the things: Len (left) along with his son James and father, Leonard

Coronary heart: Len and his son James, whose mom was Len’s first spouse Cherry

In addition to Strictly, he additionally appeared on the US model of the present, Dancing With the Stars from 2005 till November 2022, the place he was final seen on TV, declaring he was retiring to spend extra time along with his spouse Sue, and his grandchildren.

In December Len revealed how he spends his Saturday nights since retiring – shouting on the TV whereas watching Strictly and particularly Craig Revel Horwood — or ‘bl**dy Craig’ as Len referred to as him

He instructed the Mail: ‘My dad had the appropriate thought, too. He liked gardening and he had a stroke whereas he was out within the backyard. He was 79 so if I’m going the way in which of my dad, that’ll be subsequent yr.’

Talking about his personal obituary, he stated: ‘Simply write: “He was a dance instructor from Dartford who obtained fortunate” As a result of that is simply in regards to the reality of it.’

His demise is being mourned by main figures in showbiz, after a stellar profession spanning six many years.

Though Len liked giving a ten on Strictly, thousands and thousands across the nation knew him finest for the way in which he delivered a seven to dancers throughout his 12 years on the present

Holly Willoughby stated: ‘He trademarked seven… Even when he went to America, every time anybody obtained a seven, you could not not consider him’

BBC director-general Tim Davie paid tribute to Len Goodman following his demise aged 78. He stated: ‘Len Goodman was a beautiful, heat entertainer who was adored by thousands and thousands. He appealed to all ages and felt like a member of everybody’s household. Len was on the very coronary heart of Strictly’s success. He will probably be massively missed by the general public and his many family and friends.’

Final November he introduced on Dancing With The Stars that he could be hanging up his scoring paddle for the final time on the finish of that sequence, telling viewers: ‘This will probably be my final season judging Dancing With the Stars.

‘I have been on the present because it began in 2005, and it has been an enormous pleasure to be part of such a beautiful present however I’ve determined I wish to spend extra time with my grandchildren and household again in Britain,’ Goodman added.’

Goodman was recognized with prostate most cancers in March 2009, which was handled with surgical procedure at a London hospital.

In September 2021 it was reported that he had undergone surgical procedure the earlier yr for a small facial melanoma.

Beforehand Len had married his dancing companion, Cherry Kingston, however they have been later divorced. He then had a long-term relationship with a girl named Lesley and so they had a son, James.

He instructed the Mail final yr that it nonetheless tickled him that he auditioned for Strictly on his sixtieth birthday, a time when most individuals could be considering of retirement. He nonetheless had a mortgage and his dance college, he tells me, was making solely a small revenue.

Then the nice glitterball appeared from the sky, ‘and it modified my life’.

‘I keep in mind coming residence to [my wife] Sue saying: ‘They wish to pay me £1,000 an episode and they’ll choose me up in a automotive, and take me residence once more.’

For 12 years, he dominated the helm of Strictly, then he was lured to the glossier, US model, Dancing With The Stars. It was an unlikely export, however he quickly gained them over.

‘A few of the issues I got here out with did confuse them [The Americans] a bit. I keep in mind saying: ‘Give it some welly’, and so they stated ‘Willy? What’s a willy?’ However somebody stated to me, early doorways: ‘Be your self, and be sincere’ and I’ve caught to that, as a lot as you may.’