Anton Du Beke chokes back tears during onstage tribute to Strictly's Len Goodman

25 April 2023 , 20:59

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Anton Du Beke with Len Goodman (Image: FilmMagic)

Strictly’s Anton Du Beke broke down on stage as he paid tribute to mentor Len Goodman.

The star’s voice cracked as he did a slow foxtrot in Len’s honour.

Welling up on stage, Anton said: “I have been like this all day, a disaster. My old pal, Lord Len Goodman. We love you, Len.”

Len, from East London, had bone cancer and died on Saturday, aged 78. He was Strictly Come Dancing ’s head judge from 2004 to 2016.

Anton, 56, told Monday’s crowd at An Evening with Anton Du Beke that Len was among his oldest pals, adding: “He is the benchmark for all the judges.”

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Anton has been left devastated by Len's death (BBC)

Speaking at the Corn Exchange Theatre in King’s Lynn, Cambs, on tour, he went on: “I have always tried to take his advice, which is: ‘Be yourself and say what you see’.”

Strictly presenter Tess Daly called Goodman a “genuine, warm and humble. Co-host Claudia Winkleman said he had been “full of twinkle, warmth and wit”.

Tom Bryant