The late Goodman was known for his one-liners and enthusiastic delivery of the score \u201cseven!\u201d, which is still often quoted by fans of the BBC dance programme.<\/p>\n
Shirley Ballas<\/a>, 65, stepped in as head judge when Goodman left the show in 2016. He died years later, aged 73 in 2023. <\/p>\n Judge Revel Horwood, 61, paid tribute to the star at a statue unveiling over the weekend \u2013 taking a comedic jab at Ballas in the process. <\/p>\n \u201cFor me, he was Strictly Come Dancing,\u201d he told an audience gathered at the Goodman Dance Academy in Dartford, according to The Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHis sayings… \u2018A 10 from Len\u2019 was a huge one. Shirley has tried to replicate that one, but sadly, she failed.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cI 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\u2019d have a pally drink together.\u201d<\/p>\n Revel Horwood, who is now the same age Goodman was when Strictly started in 2004, said the show wouldn\u2019t have \u201csurvived\u201d without him, as he was the one who turned it into what it is.<\/p>\n \u201cI miss him from the bottom of my heart. Whenever I hear the Strictly theme music, I always think of Len Goodman and Bruce Forsyth,\u201d he said. Forsyth hosted the show alongside Tess Daly. <\/p>\n The Independent has contacted Ballas for comment. <\/p>\n Goodman died days before his 79th birthday<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Ballas, who was a world champion during her professional career, has often spoken candidly about the toll judging the show takes on her mental health.<\/p>\n The head judge traditionally has the deciding vote if a dance-off results in a deadlock, and Ballas has frequently found herself on the receiving end of relentless messages about her decisions.<\/p>\n![\"Shirley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Strictly-Shirley-Len.jpg\")
Shirley Ballas replaced Len Goodman as \u2018Strictly\u2019s head judge in 2017 (BBC)<\/p>\n![\"Craig](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PA-71887791.jpg\")
Craig Revel Horwood and Len Goodman were good friends (PA)<\/p>\n![\"Shirley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2025-12-19-at-11-10-13.png\")
Shirley Ballas often has the deciding vote on \u2018Strictly\u2019 (BBC)<\/p>\n