At the moment, the entire world is mourning the loss of professional ballroom dancer Len Goodman. The expert best known for serving as a judge on dance reality competitions like Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars has died.
The former British exhibition dance champion took his last breaths at a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, England on April 22, 2023, Saturday while surrounded by his family. He passed away at the age of 78 after a battle with bone cancer just a couple of days before his 79th birthday.
The unfortunate news of Len’s death was confirmed by his representative Jackie Gill via a statement that read, “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.”
For those of you who are unaware, let us share with you, Len was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the year 2009 and at that time, he won his battle against the disease. In the year 2020, he underwent surgery for a small facial melanoma. Later on, he was diagnosed with bone cancer.
Gill went on to say, “He retained his sense of humor during his illness and dealt with it with great dignity.” Goodman is survived by his wife of one decade, Sue Barrett, and son James. Read on further to delve into the two marriages of the star.
Len Goodman was married twice
Yeah, you read that right. Throughout his remarkable career, the Dancing with the Stars judge walked down the aisle a total of two times. At first, he tied the knot with Cherry Kingston in the year 1972.
Len and Kingston pulled the plug on their romance in 1987 after 15 years of marriage. Soon after, he moved on in his life with Sue Barrett. He said ‘I Do’ again, this time to Sue Barrett in 2012.
Here’s all you need to know about Len Goodman’s wife Sue Barrett
As per a report by The Sun, Goodman and his second wife Sue Barrett crossed paths for the first time at a golf club. Just like Len, Sue also had a passion for dance. According to various media outlets, she is a dance instructor who runs a ballroom dancing school out of their home in Kent.
It seems like Barrett is a private person and she likes to enjoy her life out of the public eye. Media outlet Daily Mail reported that Len mentioned that his partner didn’t share his taste for fame. He said, “She likes to stay out of the limelight.”
The Strictly Come Dancing alum spilled the beans on his ladylove and went on to say, “She’s gorgeous and makes me very happy.” At that point, he also joked around that she was lucky to fall in love with him because he’s so good in bed. He said, “I don’t snore. I don’t take the duvet. I just lay there and go straight off to sleep. That’s all you want out of a bloke.”
Nearly after ten years together, Len and Sue walked down the aisle in the year 2012. The pair exchanged their vows in a secret ceremony in December 2012. As per Daily Mail, he talked about his wedding day and said, “I’ve had a marvelous day, and now my gorgeous Sue is the new Mrs. Goodman.”
He further added, “Did I pickle my walnuts? Of course, I did! I wanted it to be a low-key affair, so we didn’t tell anyone except my 96-year-old mum as I didn’t want her having a heart attack with the surprise.”
Goodman continued, “I knew I’d found the woman I wanted to be with for the rest of my life, so why not get married? I’ve said before I’m selfish, and that doesn’t equate well for marriage, but My Wonderful Sue got that out of me. I’ve become totally unselfish, and I think that’s because it’s true love.”
When the dancing pro was asked if he got down on one knee to propose to his wife Barrett, he replied, “At my age, no way! I made her go four stairs above me on the staircase, so at least she was taller than me, does that count? We’ve had a marvelous day, with marvelous food surrounded by all my dearest friends – and it didn’t go on for too long, so it didn’t get boring!”
During their relationship which spanned over 2 decades, the pair didn’t welcome any kids together. However, Len had a son named James from a previous relationship.
Meet Len Goodman’s ex-wife Cherry Kingston
Before sparking a romance with Sue Barrett, Len was married to his first wife Cherry Kingston. The two of them got hitched in the year 1972 after just two years of dating. Back in the day, she was his dancing partner and she was five years younger than him.
Goodman gave up dancing in his late 20s after winning the British Championships in Blackpool. In the 1970s, he went on to win British Rising Stars, Dual of the Giants, The British Exhibition Championships four times, and the World Exhibition Championships.
During a 2008 interview with Daily Mail, he said, “I’ve been the luckiest man in the world. I became British Dance Champion [in his late 20s] only because the bloke who should have won it had broken his leg skiing, otherwise, I’d have been second.”
When Len got retired, his marriage with Cherry began to fall apart. Then, he told Daily Mail, “The dancing was the glue that really held us together. Once that finished, she looked at me and thought, ‘What am I doing with him?’”
According to The Sun, while on a trip to Monte Carlo, Goodman and Kingston met a rich French man named Michael in a casino. She fell head over heels in love with Michael and soon after, she asked Len for a divorce.
He told the publication, “I can’t blame her. He was a multi-millionaire. That helped, I guess. It wasn’t a tragedy, although it was a shock because I always thought I’d be the one who would shove off.”
Len Goodman welcomed a son with Lesley
Shortly after, Len got separated from Cherry, he found love in a woman called Lesley. The former couple’s divorce got finalized in the year 1987. Lesley was described as the ex-wife of “a bloke called Wilf Pine who had managed Black Sabbath.” Goodman and Lesley had a brief romance until the early 1980s.
In an earlier interaction, he told Daily Mail, “I was going out with a girl who got pregnant. and because of that, my wonderful son came along when I was almost 40. He’s a marvelous boy. Children give life a reason to be – they make life.”
Sending love, light, and strength to the entire family of Len Goodman during this tough time. May his soul rest in peace. Don’t forget to stay tuned with us for the latest updates from showbiz.
