Len Goodman, a famous ballroom dancer and TV personality, met his first wife, Cherry Kingston, in 1970 on a dance program where she was also a professional dancer. The couple tied the knot two years after dating.
The slogan “Seven!” made Len Goodman, a judge on the BBC series from 2004 to 2016, famous.
On Saturday evenings, he would yell out the number while holding up his seven paddles and scoring participants on their dance routines, quickly becoming “TV gold.”
It is with great sadness that I report that Len Goodman has gone away peacefully at the age of 78,” his manager Jackie Gill stated in a statement released on Monday (April 24).
“A dearly loved husband, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
“Len was at the very centre of the success that Strictly enjoyed. His many friends, family members, and the general public will miss him very much.
Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC, pays tribute to Len Goodman, who passed away at age 78.
According to a report from The Mirror, Len is survived by his wife, Sue Barrett, whom he married in a surprise ceremony in 2012.
Additionally, the entertainment legend is survived by his son James, whom he had with a woman named Lesley during a prior relationship.
Who is Len Goodman?
Len Goodman was born on April 25, 1944, he started dancing at the late age of 19, when his doctor prescribed it as rehabilitation for a foot injury.
Goodman got professional, won many events, and retired from dancing after winning the British Championships at Blackpool in his late twenties.
He received the Carl Alan Award in appreciation of his excellent contributions to dance in 2006 and 2007.
A show in which he appeared was nominated for the Emmy Award in the Outstanding Reality/Competition Program category.
Goodman appeared as chief judge on the BBC One dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing from its launch in 2004 until 2016.
His final appearance was on the Christmas Day Special. On May 9, 2017, it was announced that Shirley Ballas would follow Goodman as head judge.
Goodman also appeared as chief judge on the television dance competition, Dancing With The Stars from 2005 to 2022.
During the season 31 semifinals broadcast, he revealed that he would be resigning from the show (Dancing With The Stars) to spend more time with his family in Great Britain.
Between 2013 and 2018, Goodman periodically presented a Sunday afternoon music show on BBC Radio 2 during some of Paul O’Grady’s weeks off.
You may also read: Who is Len Goodman’s Wife, Sue Barrett?
Who is Cherry Kingston, the ex-wife of Len Goodman?
Len Goodman met his first wife, Cherry Kingston, on dancing programs in 1970.
Cherry Kingston was a professional dancer, and the pair were originally dance partners who dated for two years before getting married at the age of 28 – Len and Cherry tied the knot in 1972.
The BBC says their first tournament was a Pontin’s sponsored event at the Royal Albert Hall.
By 1973 the couple decided to drive up and down the country presenting the cha-cha-cha and rumba to beginner dance schools.
Len and Cherry also launched their dance school in Dartford.
The duo won a rising star competition in Blackpool but decided this would be their last time competing together professionally again.
How did Cherry Kingston & Len Goodman get married?
In 1970, Cherry and Len participated in one of the dancing programs, where they first became acquainted with one another.
They became dance partners after first becoming acquainted with one another in this way.
Cherry and Len married on April 27, 1972, after dating for two years before becoming engaged.
The quick choice to be married was made with little thought. Her former husband, Len, is active in the ballroom dance community as a performer, instructor, and judge.
There were many occurrences leading up to the wedding day, each of which has the potential to cause difficulties in the subsequent stages of their marriage.
After suffering a severe heart attack, Len’s father was taken to the hospital right before the couple began their new life together as husband and wife.
Because we had everything planned out in advance, there was no way we could call off the wedding.
Because of a fire in the hotel kitchen where the receptions were being hosted, they were forced to move the site ten miles away, which presented another challenge.
However, when everyone spoke positively about the location in Bromley, known as “Bickley Manor,” they decided to go ahead and accept.
Because of everything that had to be taken care of in connection with the wedding, Len was forced to spend a significant amount of time on the phone.
He had used up all his energy and was at his wit’s end. Even his father had some reservations about the impending marriage.
Even his father questioned him about it, “Are you positive that getting married is your best choice at this point in your life?”
On the morning of their wedding, he stopped by the hospital before going to the chapel.
However, Len eventually responded with a ‘yes.’ Therefore, despite the upheaval, the couple ultimately decided to get married and found joy in being together.
They were doing so well professionally, and the pair even founded a dancing studio together while they were doing so well.
The pair was also winning major events and doing rather nicely financially.
Why Did Cherry Kingston Divorce Len Goodman?
In 1987, Len and Cherry decided to divorce. The vacation trip to Monte Carlo with the couple’s other pals has become a cherished annual tradition for them.
Also, in 1977, the pair went there for their vacation. While drinking at the casino one evening, they met a wealthy French man named “Michael.” While they were there, the couple became romantically involved.
Soon after, he joined their group and provided them with two tickets to see the Manhattan Transfer, which they decided to take advantage of.
They all sat down to eat together and had a fantastic time.
After that, Len did not leave the apartment and remained inside while his wife Cherry went out to do various errands, including shopping.
Cherry and Len have a tradition where they spend the holidays together sunbathing and chatting, but she behaved very differently this year.
She has a good time there and enjoys going with her other pals. After that, they were about to leave home, but Cherry received a call from the owner of the dancing class in Paris, and he offered them a dance exhibition together.
Unfortunately, the date conflicted with her father’s trip to Johannesburg, so she also went to Paris with her mother.
After a few days, one of his friends informed him that Cherry had gone there to meet Michael and introduce him to her mother. Cherry had gone there to introduce Michael to Cherry’s mother as well.
When he found out about it through his buddies, he was devastated. As a result, he went through the house and replaced all of the locks before posting a letter that read, “Don’t come back; I know everything.”
When she returned from her trip, Cherry immediately began the divorce process, and soon after, the two of them were no longer living together.
Cherry is married to Michael, and the couple has two children. They got together for coffee when she finally ran into Len several years later.
After a delay of three days, Cherry likewise extended her apologies in writing to him. After that, the two of them were fine.
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