https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/len-goodman-dies-at-78/story?id=98795191

Len Goodman, the long-serving head judge of "Dancing with the Stars," has died at 78, his manager told ABC News.

"Len died on Saturday evening surrounded by his family in a hospice in Kent. He has bone cancer. He kept his sense of humour throughout his illness and was a 'true gentleman,'" his manager said in a statement Monday.

Goodman, who was also a judge on the British reality competition "Strictly Come Dancing," stepped down as head judge on "Dancing with the Stars" in November 2022.

"I've been with the show since it started in 2005 and it has been a huge pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful show," he said at the time.

He added, "But I've decided I'd like to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain."

So saddened to learn of this!

The late (and always-good-natured) Goodman was, as far as I could determine, pretty much the ONLY reason* to ever tune into the hit ABC series, once: (1) skilled (and witty) host Tom Bergeron was replaced by that narcissistic nitwit** Tyra Banks; and (2) the producers were no longer able to interest any REAL stars*** in competing.

BRYAN STYBLE/Florida
==================* Well, also maybe judge Bruno What'sHisName's often-entertaining histrionics.
** Not to mention usually attired in some silly, supposedly-hip fashion; models should dress in ATTRACTIVE fashions, not look-at-what-my-designer-whipped-up-for-me threads.
*** When you're but a fourth- or fifth-banana on a some poorly-rated sitcom or procedural drama you're not a true "star", but rather just another workaday actor or actress that only dedicated TV addicts will recognize.

Jason <jsnsmith565@gmail.com> wrote:
> https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/len-goodman-dies-at-78/story?id=98795191
>
> Len Goodman, the long-serving head judge of "Dancing with the Stars," has died at 78, his manager told ABC News.
>
> "Len died on Saturday evening surrounded by his family in a hospice in Kent. He has bone cancer. He kept his sense of humour throughout his illness and was a 'true gentleman,'" his manager said in a statement Monday.
>
> Goodman, who was also a judge on the British reality competition "Strictly Come Dancing," stepped down as head judge on "Dancing with the Stars" in November 2022.
>
> "I've been with the show since it started in 2005 and it has been a huge pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful show," he said at the time.
>
> He added, "But I've decided I'd like to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain."

So he likely knew his health problems were serious and decided to gracefully yield his post without explaining them.
An angle that better prepared those he worked with than Elisabeth Sladen,who signed a contract for a new season
of Sarah Jane Adventures just days before her death from cancer.

-=-=-
The World Trade Center towers MUST rise again,
at least as tall as before...or terror has triumphed.