Strictly icon Len Goodman passed away on Saturday night after a battle against bone cancer.
The dance legend and former head judge of the BBC's flagship Saturday night show had been staying at a hospice in Kent and was surrounded by his family when he died at the age of 78.
Len's agent Jackie Gill confirmed the devastating news today in a statement.
She said: "It is with great sadness to announce that Len Goodman has passed away peacefully, aged 78.
"A much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him."
Tributes have been pouring in from his co-stars and friends, with Strictly Come Dancing legend Brendan Cole appearing on This Morning on Monday, praising the TV icon over his "wonderful" career and working with him on the show.
Tim Davie, the BBC's Director-General, said: "Len Goodman was a wonderful, warm entertainer who was adored by millions. He appealed to all ages and felt like a member of everyone’s family. Len was at the very heart of Strictly's success."
The London-born television host began his working life as an apprentice welder and aspired to be a footballer in his younger days.
He only started dancing at the age of 20, after his doctor recommended it to help him recover from a foot injury.
He turned professional and enjoyed a successful competitive dancing career, which included winning Dual of the Giants, British Rising Stars, The British Exhibition Championships (four times) and the World Exhibition Championships in the early 1970s.
Len joined Strictly in 2004 and his final appearance was on the 2016 Christmas Day special He was replaced in his role by Shirley Ballas.
As well as Strictly, Len also appeared on the US version of the show, Dancing With the Stars, from 2005 until 2022.
He announced on Dancing With The Stars last November that he would be hanging up his scoring paddle for the last time at the end of the series, telling viewers: "This will be my last season judging Dancing With the Stars." He wanted to spend more time with his grandkids and family.
In 2019, Len revealed that had been through an operation to remove a cancerous mole and in 2021, he spoke about how the cancerous mole was spotted by a friend while he was playing golf, and he got it checked out.
He said: “I went and they took it out and it's gone. It was a little thing on my forehead… probably because I play a lot of golf and I don't wear a hat, which I do now."
In 2009, Len had surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in his prostate gland, telling his close friends and family, but not the BBC.
He explained how he was confined to hospital for four days, and then spent a few weeks recuperating.
He urged middle-aged men to get regular check-ups, saying: "Men, probably more than women, tend to ignore their health.
"As long as you get checked up every year, then medicine is such now that if you do get something, then hopefully they can catch it early and you have a good chance.
"I think that’s the most important thing – men of a certain age should have their check-up every year."
