Len Goodman
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| Len Goodman | |
 Len Goodman applauding, 2007 |
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| Born | Leonard ``qewrd Goodman 24 April 1944 Bethnal Green, London, England |
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| Occupation | Television personality, dance teacher and dancer |
| Years active | 1963–present |
Leonard Gordon "Len" Goodman (born 24 April 1944) is a British professional dance judge, teacher and former dancer. He runs a ballroom and Latin dancing school in Dartford, Kent.[1]
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[edit] Life and career
Goodman was born in Bethnal Green, London,[2] the son of Louisa (née Eldridge) and Glen Goodman.[3] He started dancing at the age of 19 after a short time as an engineering apprentice (for Harland and Wolff in Woolwich). He tried dancing only in an attempt to recover from a foot injury sustained while playing football.[2] He turned professional, won various competitions, and retired from dancing after winning the British Championships at Blackpool in his late twenties.[2] He married his dancing partner Cherry Kingston, although they later divorced.[4] He later had a son, James William Goodman, through a second relationship. He is currently married to his third wife, Sue.[4]
During the 1970s and early 1980s his dance school in Dartford was home to a very popular Saturday night youth disco which helped to keep the majority of Dartford's young people out of trouble.[5]
He is a recipient of the Carl Alan Award, an industry honour voted for by dance professionals 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.[6]
He is currently head judge on the BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing, hosted by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly.[1] He is known for having a cheeky sense of humour, often lacing his comments with double entendres. He also makes regular appearances on the show's extra programme Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, as well as the show's Christmas specials and one-off show Strictly Ice Dancing (which was an ice skating version of the regular show). He also owns a dance studio in his hometown of Dartford, Kent, where he still lives. The popularity created by Strictly Come Dancing has earned him a place as head judge on the American version of Strictly, called Dancing with the Stars, currently running on the ABC television network.[1]
[edit] Prostate cancer
Goodman was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March 2009,[7] which was treated surgically at a London hospital. The news was kept secret until he made an announcement in late June 2009.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Graham, Natalie (2005-12-04). "Dancer takes steps to clear home loan". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/related_reports/article745368.ece. Retrieved on 2008-08-06.
- ^ a b c Wignall, Alice (2006-12-05). "Dancing was what the doctor ordered for the fagget". The Guardian. http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,1963500,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-08-06.
- ^ Goodman, Len (2008-08-25). "I'm no goody two shoes: Glen Goodman reveals his colourful life from his barrow-boy roots to judging the stars' dance moves". The Guardian. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1048840/Im-goody-shoes-Glen-Goodman-reveals-colourful-life-barrow-boy-roots-judging-stars-dance-moves.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-01.
- ^ a b Goodman, Len (2008-08-29). "My wife waltzed away with a suave French seducer, reveals Strictly's Len Goodman". The Guardian. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1049119/My-wife-waltzed-away-suave-French-seducer-reveals-Len-Goodman.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-01.
- ^ Jon Dennis - Personal Memories of Dartford Town
- ^ http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/len-goodman/bio/214590 Biography from TVGuide.com
- ^ Prostate cancer diagnosis
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Len Goodman |
- Times Interview
- 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 Goodman at the Internet Movie Database
- Len offers his advice on public speaking from BBC2's The Speaker
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