Though he left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry, Len Goodman did not start out with a passion for dance. When he was 19, Goodman suffered a foot injury that healed a little too slowly. To hasten his healing process, doctors recommended he take up ballroom dancing classes. Though he was initially resistant to the idea, Goodman soon had a change of heart. "I really didn't want to go, I kicked up a right fuss. But once I'd been for a couple of weeks, I really loved it," he explained in a 2006 interview with the Guardian. Goodman would later make a career of the surprise hobby, winning several competitions including the British Championships. 

It was not, however, until 2004 when Goodman assumed his role as head judge on BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing" that he entered the limelight beyond the world of dance. After twelve years, the veteran dance coach announced he was leaving the show — a move he once admitted came with some hesitation. "There's always a twang [of regret]," he told Scottish journalist Lorraine Kelly during a 2017 appearance on her eponymous talk show.

Similarly, Goodman served as head judge on "Dancing with the Stars" for 17 years before announcing his retirement in 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. "But I've decided I'd like to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain."

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