Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke broke down on The One Show as he paid tribute to former judge of the show Len Goodman following his death.
Len died on Saturday at a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, surrounded by his family after battling bone cancer.
READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing stars’ tragic deaths – suicide, pneumonia and cancer battle
Anton, 56, welled up as he told how he missed his pal during Monday’s episode (April 24) and his emotional tribute also left viewers in tears.
He said: ”I have know him for 40 years as a man, as a boy. I remember him judging me as young boy.
“I would value his comments above everyone else because he knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was lucky to have known him for 40 years. He was a great friend.
”We would spend hours chatting and laughing he was a joy to be with. That was the thing about Len, he was a joy to be with and he gave off so much joy.
”One of the things he said to me when I got the job was say what you see and be yourself and that was exactly as Len was, he was himself.
”I was luckily enough to know him and I miss him.”
Viewers rushed to Twitter to tell how the judge’s moving words had left them emotional.
One wrote: ”Anton De Beke crying on The One Show has really got to me.”
(Image: PA)
Another said: ”Well after that emotional tribute by Anton Du Beke on the One Show I think I may have something in my eye.”
A third wrote: ”Flip sake, I’m in bits watching Anton du Beck on the One Show.”
A fourth added: ”Oh heck, Anton on The One Show talking about Len Goodman has just set me off – never mind the personalities involved, that was just a lovely tribute from one person to another.”
Among stars paying tribute to Goodman was Strictly’s longest-serving judge, Craig Revel Horwood, who described him as a “gorgeous colleague and dear friend”.
He added: “Len Goody Goodman is what I always called him and ‘It’s a ten from Len & seveeeeern’ will live with me forever.”
Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman said: “There was nobody like him because he was so humble.
(Image: PA)
“He was adorable – on camera, off camera, and to everybody who took part.”
Co-host Tess Daly said Goodman was “a beautiful man, genuine, warm and humble, who left an impression on everyone he met”.
“I’ll never forget the fun we had on set, his love and passion for dancing and that wonderfully cheeky smile lit up the screen.
“You were never a 7 for me, Len you were always a 10.”
Goodman was head judge on Strictly from its launch in 2004 until 2016.
He was also the only judge in the US version of the show Dancing With The Stars for 17 years – until he announced he would be stepping down a few months ago.
Len’s dancing career spanned over six decades.
He wanted to be a footballer but started dancing aged 20 after a doctor said it would aid his recovery from a foot injury.
The star later turned professional and won dance competitions around the world.
Len made numerous TV and radio appearances in the UK and was also been a very successful presenter of several shows, as well as starring in the Strictly Live Tour for many years.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
