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It's a 10 for Len as Strictly artwork unveiled

Chrissie Reidy,in Dartfordand
James McCarthy,South East
News imageBBC Len Goodman, holding a number seven scorecard, in front of a Strictly Come Dancing logoBBC
Len Goodman died in a hospice in 2023 from bone cancer

Hundreds of people have gathered to see an artwork unveiled in honour of the late Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman.

The piece, which features dance steps engraved in the street with some of the star's catchphrases, is outside the 50-year-old dancing school run by his family in Dartford, Kent.

It also includes an image of star in a circle beneath a pair of footprints and the years of Goodman's birth and death.

Around the star are the words: "Len Goodman. Dancer, teacher, Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing With The Stars head judge, cup of tea in a world of lattes."

News imageDartford Borough Council An emgraving on the floor showing a series of dance steps Dartford Borough Council
An artwork was unveiled in his memory near Len Goodman's dance studio in Dartford on Wednesday

Goodman died aged 78 in 2023 from bone cancer at a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, surrounded by family.

Fellow judge, Craig Revel Horwood, was among the crowds for the Wednesday unveiling.

He said: "Len would be loving himself sick darling now. He would be loving it.

"He would have demanded it was installed while he was alive. It's a fantastic tribute and I think he would have loved it, I really do."

News imageDartford Borough Council Len Goodman's son, James Goodman, with his family and Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite and mayor Avtar Sandhu Dartford Borough Council
Len Goodman's son James Goodman, wearing a dark coloured blazer, was in Dartford for the unveiling

Goodman's son, James Goodman, who now runs the Goodman Dance Academy said it was pure chance his father ended up on TV.

He said: "He replaced somebody else who had already been cast and the rest is history. It was luck more than anything.

"Hence he used to say, I'm a dance teacher from Dartford who just got lucky."

Dartford Borough Council's leader Jeremy Kite said he preferred to think of him as a man who "captured the nation's hearts".

News imageDartford Borough Council Craig Revel Horwood holding a microphone. There is a crowd of people behind himDartford Borough Council
Fellow Strictly Come Dancing judge, Craig Revel Horwood, said Goodman would have loved the artwork

"We couldn't be happier to install this fitting tribute to Len Goodman," Kite said, adding that he was "dearly missed".

Artist Adrian Riley said it had been an honour to create an artwork people could engage with.

"An artwork that gets people dancing, even if it's just a few steps as part of their everyday walking to the shops or to work, is surely a fitting tribute to a man who inspired and brought joy to many," he said.

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