Strictly judge Len Goodman's cause of death explained in death certificate
Len Goodman died after prostate cancer spread to his bones, his death certificate has revealed.
The dance world was left heartbroken earlier this year when it was suddenly announced that the beloved Strictly judge had died in April, just three days before his 79th birthday. He had been staying in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and was surrounded by family when he died.
Queen Camilla, the UK Prime Minister and a whole host of Len's Strictly co-stars were among those who paid tribute to the dancing legend at the time, hailing him as a "one of a kind", "full of warmth" and the "ultimate judge".
Len was secretly treated for prostate cancer in 2009 while filming Strictly, but kept the diagnosis a secret from all but his close family and friends. After his operation, Len revealed in an interview with the Mail on Sunday: “I could have said ‘sorry’ and not done the show, but the doctors felt I wasn’t riddled with it and it wasn’t so far advanced that it was a life-or-death scenario. It takes a few weeks to get everything set up for the operation anyway, so I went ahead and did the show. I had the surgery done as soon as I got back from America.”
Explaining why he chose not to tell anyone at the BBC, Len said: “People generally think ‘bloody hell’. With all the hoo-ha about Strictly coming up, I thought, ‘Just my luck, they won’t want that old f**t on it, the cancer-riddled, bed-ridden old so-and–so’.
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However, sadly, the cancer returned and spread to his bones and his death being recorded as "metastatic prostate cancer", in the death certificate seen by the Express.
Len Goodman with fellow judge Bruno Tonioli (brunotonioliofficial/Instagram)His agent, Jackie Gill previously cited his cause of death as bone cancer, writing: "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."
Len was just six months into his retirement at the time of death. Discussing his retirement plans with a tear in his eye during his last TV appearance in November, Len said: "Whilst we're all getting excited and looking forward so much to the finale next week, it will also be with a touch of sadness as this will be my last season judging on Dancing with the Stars. I've been with 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'd like to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain."
Len was pictured smiling during his final public appearance at a showbiz event last year, as he attended the Celebrity Golf Classic at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire in July.
The former Strictly judge – who quit the show in 2016 – was famed for his role on the hit BBC show, which he held since the show began in 2004. The English professional dancer quit BBC series Strictly after 12 years on the show, but stayed on the US version.
Len with fellow judges Carrie Ann and Bruno (ABC via Getty Images)Len was born in Bromley, Kent towards the end of the Second World War in 1944 to Leonard Gordon Goodman, an electrician, and Louisa Adelaide Eldridge. Len's father and step-mother Irene encouraged him into dancing. The gifted stepper started ballroom dancing at the age of 19 before becoming professional.
He claimed victory in various competitions across the nation during his 20s. The dancer and his partner Cherry even won the British Exhibition Championships in Blackpool four times before retiring and hanging up his dancing shoes in the early 1970s.
Len’s years of dancing took a toll his body however, and he was plagued for years by arthritis. The star even had a partial knee replacement in 2015. But with his “the show must go on” mentality, he refused take a week off from Strictly after the surgery, instead appearing on the show with crutches.
Famous for his familiar “Seven!” score, the head judge was a firm favourite on the dancing show. He warmed the nations’ hearts on Saturday nights thanks to his witty one-liners ad light-hearted banter with the contestants.
The star made his final appearance on the Christmas Day special in 2016 when he left his role to enjoy his twilight years. Len also served as head judge on Dancing With The Stars, the US version of the show, for more than 15 years until announcing his retirement in November last year. He said at the time that he wanted to “spend more time with my grandchildren and family” back in the UK.
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Following the return of the latest series of Dancing With The Stars in September, the show announced that they had renamed the Mirror Ball trophy - their version of the Glitterball - to pay tribute to Len.
After bowing out from the show, Len lived out his days with his second wife, Sue, at their home in Kent, where they ran their own ballroom dancing school along with Goodman’s son, James.
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