Anton Du Beke admits ‘I find it hard’ as he breaks down in tears during moving Len Goodman tribute: ‘I loved him’

BBC Strictly judge and former dancer Anton Du Beke became emotional as he remembered “incredible” former Strictly head judge Len Goodman.

The Strictly family paid tribute to the late Ballroom legend as they celebrated Strictly’s 20th anniversary on Saturday.

To mark Strictly’s two decades on air, former and current judges, contestants and hosts gathered to reflect on the show’s history.

Ballroom dancer Goodman was a show stalwart, serving at the head of the judging panel from the first show in 2004 until 2016.

He quickly became a fan favourite for his cheeky cockney witticisms and warm encouragement to the celebs.

Goodman passed away three days before his 79th birthday in 2023 following a battle with metastasised prostate cancer – which he had also suffered from in 2009.

Fellow Strictly icon Anton Du Beke, who also started on Strictly in 2004, broke down as he remembered Goodman.

“I find it hard… Look at me, I must be getting old,” the dancer and judge trying to hold back tears.

His voice quivering, Du Beke admitted: “I find it hard to talk about Len without getting emotional because he was there at the beginning, and I loved him. “

“He was incredible. If I could be half a good judge as Len, I’ll have done all right,” he concluded.

Another show veteran and fellow judge Craig Revel-Horwood glowed that Goodman: “Was fantastic. A very charitable, very loving, very generous human being.”

Shirley Ballas, who replaced Goodman as head judge in 2017, declared: “His are shoes that could never be filled. There’ll only ever be one Len Goodman.”

“Oh, my lovely Len. I mean, a very, very close friend. Len totally allowed me to be me. He supported me 100 percent,” former judge Bruno Tonioli also said in tribute.

Also remembering the beloved Ballroom icon, Strictly host Claudia Winkleman said: “Len was the most special. He was kind, he was twinkly, he was naughty, but more than anything he was so supportive to everybody”

Co-host Tess Daly agreed, adding that: “Len was just exactly like you saw him the ballroom, on the judging panel, an absolute gentleman. Always had that mischievous glint in his eye.”

Former contestants and pro dancers also paid tribute to Goodman.

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DJ and former It Takes Two host Zoe, who competed in Strictly’s third series, remembered fondly: “He could take you in his arms and put you into a ballroom hold and spin you around, and it would feel like a little bit of magic dust had been sprinkled on you.”

“Every single time that I do a ballroom dance till now, I would look up and would say to myself: ‘That was for you, Len,” pro dancer Aljaz Skorjanec revealed.