Len Goodman
Encyclopedia
Leonard Gordon 'Len' Goodman (born 25 April 1944) is a British professional ballroom dancer, dance judge, and coach. He is a leading personality on television dance programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing
and Dancing with the Stars and runs a ballroom dance school in Dartford, Kent.
. He started dancing at the age of 19 after a short time as an apprentice welder
(for Harland and Wolff
in Woolwich
). He tried dancing only in an attempt to recover from a foot injury sustained while playing football. He turned professional, won various competitions, and retired from dancing after winning the British Championships at Blackpool
in his late twenties. He is a recipient of the Carl Alan Award, in recognition of outstanding contributions to dance. In 2006 and 2007, he was nominated for the Emmy Award
in the Outstanding Reality/Competition Program category.
As of 2011, he appears as head judge on the television dance competition Strictly Come Dancing
for the BBC
in the UK and one of three judges on its American adaptation, Dancing with the Stars. He has appeared in all series of each programme since 2004 and 2005 respectively.
In October 2011 Goodman appeared on the 2011 series of the UK's celebrity genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?, in which he discovered that one of his maternal ancestors was a silk
-weaver who died a pauper in the Bethnal Green workhouse
. His great great grandfather Wincenty Sosnowski came from Poland, where he fought for freedom in the anti-tsarist November Uprising
for which he was awarded Virtuti Militari
, Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage.
, the son of Louisa (née Eldridge) and Len Goodman.
He married his dancing partner Cherry Kingston on 27 April 1972, but they were later divorced. He has a son, James William Goodman (born 1981) who is currently teaching dance at the Goodman Dance Centre. His second wife Lesley (mother of James) also taught dancing at his dance schools in Dartford and Gravesend. He is currently married to his third wife, Sue, who is 37 years his junior. He appeared on the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs
in June 2011.
Goodman is a staunch West Ham United fan and was featured on the BBC football magazine show Football Focus
on 26 September 2009.
Goodman was diagnosed with prostate cancer
in March 2009, which was treated surgically at a London hospital.
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
and Dancing with the Stars and runs a ballroom dance school in Dartford, Kent.
Early life and career
Goodman was born in Bethnal GreenBethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
. He started dancing at the age of 19 after a short time as an apprentice welder
Welder
A welder is a tradesman who specializes in welding materials together. The materials to be joined can be metals or varieties of plastic or polymer...
(for Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
in Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
). He tried dancing only in an attempt to recover from a foot injury sustained while playing football. He turned professional, won various competitions, and retired from dancing after winning the British Championships at Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
in his late twenties. He is a recipient of the Carl Alan Award, in recognition of outstanding contributions to dance. In 2006 and 2007, he was nominated for the Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in the Outstanding Reality/Competition Program category.
As of 2011, he appears as head judge on the television dance competition Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in the UK and one of three judges on its American adaptation, Dancing with the Stars. He has appeared in all series of each programme since 2004 and 2005 respectively.
In October 2011 Goodman appeared on the 2011 series of the UK's celebrity genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?, in which he discovered that one of his maternal ancestors was a silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
-weaver who died a pauper in the Bethnal Green workhouse
Workhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
. His great great grandfather Wincenty Sosnowski came from Poland, where he fought for freedom in the anti-tsarist November Uprising
November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
for which he was awarded Virtuti Militari
Virtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
, Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage.
Personal life
Goodman was born in Bethnal GreenBethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
, the son of Louisa (née Eldridge) and Len Goodman.
He married his dancing partner Cherry Kingston on 27 April 1972, but they were later divorced. He has a son, James William Goodman (born 1981) who is currently teaching dance at the Goodman Dance Centre. His second wife Lesley (mother of James) also taught dancing at his dance schools in Dartford and Gravesend. He is currently married to his third wife, Sue, who is 37 years his junior. He appeared on the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs is a BBC Radio 4 programme first broadcast on 29 January 1942. It is the second longest-running radio programme , and is the longest-running factual programme in the history of radio...
in June 2011.
Goodman is a staunch West Ham United fan and was featured on the BBC football magazine show Football Focus
Football Focus
Football Focus is a BBC television show, broadcast on BBC One on Saturday lunchtimes, covering football, presented from the 2009/2010 season by Dan Walker...
on 26 September 2009.
Goodman was diagnosed with prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in March 2009, which was treated surgically at a London hospital.
External links
- Official website
- James Goodman Dance Website
- Goodman bio at his own Len Goodman's Best Of... site
- Goodman bio at BBC site
- Goodman bio at ABC's Dancing with the Stars site
- Interview with Len Goodman in local Dartford Living Magazine
- Len offers his advice on public speaking from BBC2's The Speaker
- Goodman celebrates 25 years hosting competitions at Pontin's