Len Goodman, a long-serving judge on B次元官网网址淒ancing with the StarsB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪trictly Come DancingB次元官网网址� who helped revive interest in ballroom dancing on both sides of the Atlantic, has died, his agent said Monday. He was 78.

Agent Jackie Gill said Goodman B次元官网网址減assed away peacefullyB次元官网网址� on Saturday night. He had been diagnosed with bone cancer.

A former professional ballroom dancer and British champion, Goodman was head judge on B次元官网网址淪trictly Come DancingB次元官网网址� for 12 years from its launch on the BBC in 2004. The dance competition, which pairs celebrities with professional dance partners, was a surprise hit and has become one of the networkB次元官网网址檚 most popular shows.

GoodmanB次元官网网址檚 pithy observations, delivered in a Cockney accent, endeared him to viewers. B次元官网网址淵ou floated across that floor like butter on a crumpet,B次元官网网址� he remarked after one foxtrot. He praised a salsa-dancing couple as B次元官网网址渓ike two sizzling sausages on a barbecue.B次元官网网址�

Goodman was head judge on the U.S. version of the show, ABCB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淒ancing With the Stars,B次元官网网址� for 15 years until his retirement in November. For several years he judged the British and American shows simultaneously each autumn, criss-crossing the Atlantic weekly.

Buckingham Palace said Camilla, the queen consort, was B次元官网网址渟addened to hearB次元官网网址� of GoodmanB次元官网网址檚 death. The wife of King Charles III is a fan of B次元官网网址淪trictly,B次元官网网址� and danced with Goodman at a 2019 event celebrating the British Dance Council.

Prime Minister Rishi SunakB次元官网网址檚 spokesman said Goodman was B次元官网网址渁 great entertainerB次元官网网址� who would be B次元官网网址渕issed by many.B次元官网网址�

British broadcaster Esther Rantzen said Goodman had been B次元官网网址渁stonished and delightedB次元官网网址� by his late-life fame.

B次元官网网址淥ne of the reasons he succeeded so well in the States is that he was quintessentially British,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淗e was firm but fair, funny but a gentleman and I hope the nation will adopt his favorite expostulation of `pickle me walnuts.B次元官网网址滲次元官网网址�

Goodman also presented BBC radio programs and made TV documentaries, including a 2012 program about the sinking of the Titanic. As a young man, Goodman had worked as a shipyard welder for the company that built the doomed ship.

BBC director-general Tim Davie said Goodman was B次元官网网址渁 wonderful, warm entertainer who was adored by millions. He appealed to all ages and felt like a member of everyoneB次元官网网址檚 family. Len was at the very heart of StrictlyB次元官网网址檚 success. He will be hugely missed by the public and his many friends and family.B次元官网网址�

Goodman was also a recipient of the Carl Alan Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to dance, and owned the Goodman Academy dance school in southern England.

By Jill Lawless

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS