Len Goodman brought “magic” to Strictly Come Dancing for 12 years – but, according to Craig Revel Horwood, his replacement has failed to match it.
The Strictly judge was known for his one-liners and enthusiastic delivery of the score “seven!”, which is still often quoted by fans of the BBC dance programme.
Shirley Ballas, 65, stepped in as head judge when Goodman left the show in 2016. He died years later, aged 73 in 2023.
Judge Revel Horwood, 61, paid tribute to the star at a statue unveiling over the weekend – taking a comedic jab at Ballas in the process.
“For me, he was Strictly Come Dancing,” he told an audience gathered at the Goodman Dance Academy in Dartford.
“His sayings… ‘A 10 from Len’ was a huge one. Shirley has tried to replicate that one, but sadly, she failed.”
He continued: “I loved Len. If you looked at the TV we were constantly fighting like cat and dog, but as soon as we came off stage, we’d have a pally drink together.”
Revel Horwood, who is now the same age Goodman was when Strictly started in 2004, said the show wouldn’t have “survived” without him, as he was the one who turned it into what it is.
“I miss him from the bottom of my heart. Whenever I hear the Strictly theme music, I always think of Len Goodman and Bruce Forsyth,” he said. Forsyth hosted the show alongside Tess Daly.
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Goodman died days before his 79th birthday in April 2023, after being admitted to a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
As well as Strictly, Goodman served as a judge on Dancing with the Stars, the US version of the competition from 2005 to 2022.
He announced his retirement from TV work six months before his death.
Born in Woolwich, southeast London, Goodman was an aspiring footballer growing up. He then worked as a welder and began dancing in 1963, when he was 19, to aid his recovery from a foot injury.
This proved to be the start of a professional dancing career, which saw Goodman win events including the British Exhibition Championships, and the World Exhibition Championships.
He retired from competing in his late twensties after winning the British Championships at Blackpool, before going on to found the Goodman Dance Academy in Dartford, where he has been commemorated with the new statue.