Anton Du Beke paid tribute to Strictly Come Dancing’s late head judge Len Goodman on Saturday’s show.
Judge Anton was moved by former tennis champion Annabel Croft and her pro dance partner Johannes Radebe’s spellbinding performance during Halloween week.
After the couple performed their Tango to the song Need U Tonight by INXS, Anton told them it reminded him of the show’s routines ‘back in the day’.
Anton said that Len, who was known for his love of a traditional routine, would have ‘loved it’.
‘Well, it was like watching Strictly Come Dancing back in the day,’ Anton told Annabel and Johannes.
Missed: Anton Du Beke paid tribute to Strictly Come Dancing ‘s late head judge Len Goodman on Saturday’s show
Loss: Len was head judge on the show from its first episode in 2004 until 2016. He died days before his 79th birthday in April 2023 after prostate cancer spread to his bones
‘I tell you who would have loved it, is dear old Len. He would have loved this because you took hold at the beginning and you started to do a Tango in hold, and you came out of the hold when the music stopped playing.’
He added: ‘Absolutely brilliant, all Tango. I didn’t see one step wasting time. It was just a joyous Tango that was done very, very nicely.’
Len was head judge on the show from its first episode in 2004 until 2016. He died days before his 79th birthday in April 2023 after prostate cancer spread to his bones.
Fans were left tearful after Anton’s words, with one posting on X, formerly known as Twitter. ‘Nice shout out from Anton, for dear old Len.’
‘dear old len would’ve loved this’ anton i’m NOT OKAY’ another agreed.
‘Thankyou Anton for bringing up Len, all strictly fans miss Len. I really wish like dancing with the stars, they’d rename it the Len Goodman trophy’ posted another.
This week’s Strictly saw Angela Scanlon and professional dancer Carlos Gu kick off the Halloween special with a Black Swan pasodoble to Swan Lake.
Waterloo Road’s Adam Thomas and his partner Luba Mushtuk did the American Smooth to Magic Moments by Perry Como, whilst Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe took on the Tango to Need U Tonight by INXS.
Wow: Judge Anton was moved by former tennis champion Annabel Croft and her pro dance partner Johannes Radebe ‘s spellbinding performance during Halloween week
Praise: Anton said that Len, who was known for his love of a traditional routine, would have ‘loved it’
Sweet moment: Fans were left tearful after Anton’s words, with one posting on X, formerly known as Twitter. ‘Nice shout out from Anton, for dear old Len’
Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington danced a Charleston to the Murder She Wrote theme tune and Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell did the Cha Cha to Come-On-A-My-House by Della Reese.
Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola took on a Salsa to Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Lauren Oakley did a Viennese Waltz to Kiss From A Rose by Seal, whilst Layton Williams and his partner Nikita Kuzmin performed a Tango to Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo.
Nigel Harman and Katya Jones had a few negative comments to their Cha Cha which they danced to I Was Made For Lovin’ You by KISS.
Last week’s dance-off survivors, Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima, took on the Charleston to Jeepers Creepers by Al Donahue and his Orchestra.
