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Come Dancing

Come Dancing was a British television programme produced by the BBC that featured amateur ballroom and formation dancing competitions between teams from different regions of the United Kingdom, airing irregularly from 29 September 1950 until 29 December 1998.^[1] The show was devised by Eric Morley, an entertainment promoter and founder of the Miss World pageant, who aimed to popularize dancing in post-war Britain by showcasing live performances from Mecca-owned ballrooms.^[2] Its debut episode was a live broadcast of the final of the British Formation Dancing Trophy from the Lyceum Ballroom in London, presented by Peter Dimmock with music provided by Harry Roy and his band.^[1] The format evolved over its nearly five-decade run, initially alternating with the BBC's Television Dancing Club until 1964, and focusing on inter-regional contests where couples and teams performed styles such as waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, and Latin dances, judged for technique and presentation.^[3] Notable for its campy commentary on contestants' homemade sequined costumes and glamorous attire, the programme became a staple of family entertainment, drawing audiences with its mix of competition, instruction, and celebrity guest appearances by professional dancers like Syd Perkins and Edna Duffield.^[4] Over the years, it was hosted by a rotating lineup of presenters including McDonald Hobley, Sylvia Peters, Terry Wogan, Angela Rippon, Judith Chalmers, David Jacobs, and Rosemarie Ford, who provided witty narration and engaged viewers through dance tips.^[4] Come Dancing holds the distinction of being one of the BBC's longest-running entertainment shows, influencing the revival of dance programming on television.^[4] It directly inspired Strictly Come Dancing, which premiered on 15 May 2004 and adapted the format by pairing celebrities with professional dancers, transforming it into a global phenomenon exported as Dancing with the Stars.^[5] The original series ended amid declining viewership but left a legacy of promoting ballroom dancing as accessible and entertaining, contributing to its resurgence in popular culture.^[1]

History

Origins and launch

Come Dancing was conceived by Eric Morley, a promoter for the Mecca dance hall chain, as a means to showcase amateur ballroom dancing and encourage public participation in the post-war era. Morley, who later founded the Miss World pageant, proposed the program to the BBC in 1949 to highlight regional talent and revive interest in social dancing amid Britain's austerity period.^[2]^[6] The show premiered on 29 September 1950 as a live broadcast on the BBC Television Service—the predecessor to BBC One—featuring the final of the British Formation Dancing Trophy at the Lyceum Ballroom in London. This debut marked one of the earliest major dance competitions on British television, expanding on the instructional style of the BBC's existing Television Dancing Club by introducing competitive elements with amateur performers.^[1]^[3] In its initial format, Come Dancing served as an extension of Television Dancing Club, alternating broadcasts and spotlighting regional dancers from across the United Kingdom in both couples and formation routines to foster a sense of national engagement. The program was presented by Peter Dimmock, with Leslie Mitchell serving as master of ceremonies, and accompanied by live music from Harry Roy and his band, setting a lively tone for the amateur showcases.^[1]^[7]^[8]

Evolution through the decades

In 1953, Come Dancing underwent a significant format shift, transitioning from regional showcases to a competitive structure where dancers from the home nations—England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales—competed against each other in heats and finals to determine national champions.^[9] This change emphasized rivalry between regions, with winners selected through local dance-offs before advancing to represent their areas nationally.^[10] During the 1960s and 1970s, the program expanded to feature more individual couples representing their regions, rather than team-based performances, fostering greater personal spotlight and drama in the competitions.^[9] Annual championships became a staple, culminating in grand finals that showcased top performers from across the UK, contributing to the show's sustained popularity during this era. The introduction of color broadcasting by BBC One on 15 November 1969 further elevated its production values, as the vibrant gowns, suits, and stage lighting—hallmarks of ballroom dancing—gained enhanced visual appeal on viewers' screens.^[11]^[12] By the 1980s and 1990s, however, Come Dancing experienced a decline in viewership amid shifting audience tastes toward more celebrity-driven entertainment, leading to irregular scheduling and the last full series in 1995.^[9] The program concluded with international specials in 1996 and 1998, marking the end of its regular run.^[10] Over its 48-year span from 1950 to 1998, Come Dancing established itself as one of the BBC's longest-running entertainment programs.^[13]

Format

Competition structure

Come Dancing was organized as an inter-regional knockout tournament, where amateur dance teams or couples represented different regions of the United Kingdom, such as Wales, the North West, or the Midlands, and competed against one another in a series of elimination rounds.^[14] Teams advanced or were eliminated based solely on decisions from a panel of expert judges, who evaluated performances on technique, timing, and overall execution, with no involvement of audience voting.^[15] This format emphasized the participation of dedicated amateur dancers, distinguishing the show from professional-only competitions by showcasing everyday enthusiasts who often prepared routines with local trainers and handmade costumes.^[1] In its early years, the competition primarily featured formation teams—large groups performing synchronized routines to represent their regions—beginning with the inaugural broadcast in 1950, which aired the final of the British Formation Dancing Trophy.^[1] By the 1970s, the structure had evolved to incorporate a mix of formation displays and individual couples competing head-to-head, allowing for more varied performances while maintaining the regional knockout framework.^[15] Each annual series consisted of multiple preliminary heats held throughout the year, culminating in championship finals that determined the overall winner among the surviving regional representatives.^[16] This progression through heats ensured a competitive buildup, with regions vying for supremacy in ballroom and Latin styles.^[17]

Dances and performances

The programme primarily featured the ten international standard ballroom and Latin dances, along with additional styles such as old-time and sequence dancing in early formation routines, and disco in later years, which formed the core of its competitions and demonstrations. The standard ballroom dances included the waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, and quickstep, performed in hold with smooth, flowing movements across the floor.^[18]^[15] The Latin dances encompassed the cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive, characterized by rhythmic, energetic steps often with more open partnering and hip action.^[19]^[20] In its early seasons, Come Dancing emphasized formation team routines, where groups of eight to twenty-four dancers synchronized complex patterns in old-time, modern ballroom, or Latin styles, competing in events like the British Formation Dancing Trophy.^[1]^[15] Over the decades, the format evolved to spotlight individual couples, shifting focus from large-scale team displays to personal partnerships in regional and national heats.^[15] All performances were accompanied by live bands, such as Harry Roy's orchestra in the inaugural episode or Andy Ross and his ensemble in later series, providing authentic musical timing for the dances.^[1]^[15] Emphasis was placed on technical precision, including posture, footwork, and synchronization; timing to the music; and strong partnership dynamics, with judges evaluating these elements alongside overall presentation.^[15] A typical episode followed a heat-based structure, featuring 4-6 couples or teams per regional round, with each performing one or two dances before judging and advancement decisions, all within a 30-45 minute runtime.^[18]^[15] In later years, special themed episodes highlighted regional rivalries, such as Home Counties versus North East England, pitting amateur couples against each other in showcase performances.^[15]

Broadcast

Air dates and episodes

Come Dancing originally aired on BBC Television from its debut on 29 September 1950 until its conclusion on 29 December 1998, encompassing a total span of 48 years characterized by irregular broadcasting patterns that evolved over time.^[1]^[21] The programme produced approximately 424 episodes across more than 40 full series, supplemented by numerous specials and one-off events that contributed to its longevity.^[22]^[23] In its formative years during the 1950s, the show was broadcast in black and white, typically on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, often alternating with the related programme Television Dancing Club until the latter concluded in 1964.^[3] The program transitioned to color broadcasting in the late 1960s.^[1] This period featured intermittent hiatuses influenced by broader BBC programming adjustments and resource constraints in the post-war era. By the 1960s, Come Dancing transitioned to a more structured seasonal format, with consistent annual series becoming the norm from 1960 onward, allowing for regular competition cycles that built audience familiarity.^[24] The show's final regular series concluded in 1995, followed by an international special in 1996 and a grand 50th anniversary celebration in 1998, which served as the definitive last broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall.^[25]

Viewership and reception

Come Dancing experienced its highest popularity during the late 1960s and 1970s, when episodes regularly drew peak audiences of 10 million viewers, a substantial share of the UK's television households at the time. This level of viewership underscored the show's status as a staple of British television, capturing a broad demographic through its accessible format and live performances.^[1] The programme maintained strong ratings through the 1980s, reflecting its enduring appeal amid evolving broadcast schedules.^[9] By the mid-1990s, however, audiences had declined, signaling a shift in viewer habits as the long-running series approached its conclusion in 1998.^[9] The show received positive critical reception for its role in promoting family entertainment and dance education, with reviewers praising its inclusivity and ability to make ballroom dancing approachable for mainstream audiences.^[1] Critics highlighted how it fostered intergenerational viewing and introduced viewers to various dance styles, contributing to greater public appreciation of the art form.^[9] The eventual decline in viewership was attributed to changing tastes favoring reality TV formats and increased competition from ITV's entertainment programming, which offered more sensationalized content.^[9] These factors, combined with the show's traditional structure, led to its retirement after nearly five decades on air.^[1]

Production

Filming and locations

Come Dancing was primarily filmed in venues belonging to the Mecca Leisure Group's chain of ballrooms across the United Kingdom, which provided expansive dance floors suitable for both individual and formation performances. These locations included the Lyceum Ballroom in London's Covent Garden for the show's debut in 1950, as well as the Locarno Ballroom in Coventry, where episodes were regularly broadcast between 1961 and 1973. In Manchester, the Ritz Ballroom served as a key site in the early years, reflecting the program's roots in regional dancing competitions organized by Mecca's general manager Eric Morley. By the 1970s, filming extended to Blackpool, with episodes captured at the Winter Gardens ahead of major championships, capitalizing on the town's status as a hub for ballroom dancing.^[1]^[26]^[9]^[27] In its initial decade, the series relied on live broadcasts from these studio ballrooms, utilizing multi-camera setups typical of early BBC television production to capture the energy of real-time performances. The 1950 premiere, for instance, was a live transmission of the British Formation Dancing Trophy final from the Lyceum, highlighting logistical challenges such as synchronizing a live band with dancers across large floor spaces that accommodated group formations. Early episodes were recorded in monochrome using period-specific cameras, transitioning to color broadcasts in line with the BBC's adoption of the format starting in 1969, which enhanced the visual appeal of costumes and movements. By the 1970s, production techniques had evolved to include more sophisticated multi-camera configurations, allowing for dynamic angles on elaborate routines while managing the constraints of ballroom acoustics and lighting.^[1]^[28]^[29] A notable departure from routine venues occurred with the 1998 50th anniversary special, titled Come Dancing 50, which was staged at London's Royal Albert Hall to accommodate a grander scale of performances and celebrity tributes. This live event on 29 December featured past champions and formations on the hall's vast arena floor, underscoring the production's ability to adapt to larger spaces despite challenges in band synchronization. The special marked the series' finale, blending historical footage with contemporary dances to celebrate nearly five decades of ballroom broadcasting.^[30]^[31]

Behind-the-scenes crew

The behind-the-scenes crew of Come Dancing played a pivotal role in transforming a simple ballroom competition into a staple of British television, with production teams evolving to handle live broadcasts, regional variations, and technical challenges over nearly five decades. Eric Morley, the show's creator, served as its initial producer, drawing on his experience as a promoter of Mecca dancehalls to structure the format around amateur participants from various regions.^[2] His oversight ensured routines remained accessible and engaging for non-professionals, emphasizing formation teams and competitive heats broadcast from Mecca-owned venues in the early years.^[6] As the series progressed into the 1960s and 1970s, production responsibilities shifted to BBC staff, with Philip Lewis taking on producer duties for several episodes during that period, focusing on refining the inter-regional competition structure.^[32] Barrie Edgar then assumed the role of executive producer and producer for over two dozen episodes from the 1970s through the 1980s, guiding the show through expansions in format while managing BBC resources.^[32] Edgar's tenure emphasized reliable production workflows, adapting to color television transitions and ensuring consistent quality in multi-camera setups. Music direction was crucial for setting the tempo and atmosphere, with Harry Roy and his band providing live accompaniment for the inaugural 1950 episode from the Lyceum Ballroom, capturing the post-war enthusiasm for ballroom dancing.^[1] In subsequent decades, particularly from the 1960s onward, Joe Loss and his orchestra became a mainstay, performing for regional heats and contributing to the show's signature energy through their renditions of popular dance tunes tailored to waltzes, foxtrots, and quicksteps.^[33] Loss's involvement extended to themed albums inspired by the program, highlighting how the music crew synchronized performances to enhance visual appeal without overpowering the dancers.^[34] Choreography teams, coordinated under Morley's early guidance and later BBC producers, prioritized inclusive routines that showcased amateur talent, often incorporating formation displays from regional squads to build national appeal.^[6] This approach allowed for creative adaptations, such as simplified steps for contestants, while maintaining competitive integrity across styles like Latin and standard ballroom. In the 1970s, production crews navigated technical constraints, including limited studio capabilities, by relying on pre-recorded segments and flexible band arrangements to keep episodes on air.^[32]

On-screen talent

Presenters

Come Dancing featured a succession of charismatic presenters who shaped its enduring appeal as a staple of British television, evolving from formal introductions in its early years to more lively and humorous interactions with audiences and performers. The programme began with Peter Dimmock hosting the inaugural episode on 29 September 1950 from the Lyceum Ballroom in London, setting a tone of elegance and tradition with music provided by Harry Roy and his band.^[35] Early co-hosts included McDonald Hobley, who served as a guest compere and one of the initial regular announcers, contributing to the show's polished, announcer-style delivery during its formative 1950s broadcasts.^[19] Sylvia Peters also emerged as a pioneering female presenter in this era, hosting from 1954 to 1958 and bringing a graceful presence that complemented the ballroom focus, while occasionally participating in light-hearted segments to engage viewers.^[36] Peter West served as the primary presenter from 1957 to 1972, providing continuity during the show's expansion. As the series progressed into the 1960s, presenters like Pete Murray and Michael Aspel took the helm, infusing the show with a youthful energy during their tenures, which aligned with the decade's cultural shifts toward more relaxed entertainment formats.^[37]^[38] By the 1970s, David Jacobs provided continuity through the decade and into the 1980s, often linking performances with informative commentary on dance techniques.^[39]^[35] The 1980s marked a stylistic shift toward engaging banter, exemplified by Terry Wogan's tenure from 1973 to 1979, during which his deadpan humor and witty asides transformed the formal announcements into entertaining interludes that endeared the show to a broader audience.^[40] Peter Marshall complemented this period from 1980 to 1983, adding a smooth, professional flair to the proceedings.^[41] Angela Rippon joined in 1988, co-presenting until 1991 and occasionally dancing herself, which helped modernize the show's dynamic, while Judith Chalmers also presented in the 1980s, contributing to the era's lively hosting style; Rippon handed over to Rosemarie Ford in the 1990s, who hosted her final regular episode in 1995, emphasizing glamour and viewer interaction in the later seasons.^[40]^[42] Special episodes, such as the 50th anniversary celebration in 1998 at the Royal Albert Hall, featured guest hosts including returning presenters like Angela Rippon, who helped mark the occasion with nostalgic reflections on the series' history before its conclusion that year.^[43] This evolution from scripted formality to humorous engagement not only sustained Come Dancing's popularity over nearly five decades but also influenced its successor, Strictly Come Dancing.^[44]

Judges

The judging panel on Come Dancing consisted of ballroom dance experts who evaluated performances based on key criteria including technique, position, movement, teamwork, and presentation.^[45] In the 1950s and 1960s, the panel featured prominent professionals such as Peggy Spencer, a leading coach and choreographer who served as a judge for approximately 50 years, contributing to the show's competitive format from its early regional broadcasts. Bill Irvine also chaired the judges during several episodes in the late 1960s.^[28]^[46] By the 1990s, the panel had evolved to include additional experts, with a greater emphasis on entertainment value alongside technical proficiency in critiques. The scoring system involved numerical marks from each judge, aggregated to rank competitors without public voting.^[47]

Competitors

Regional and national teams

Come Dancing's participant selection process relied on regional qualifiers and local heats, drawing from amateur dance clubs across the United Kingdom to identify talent for the inter-regional amateur ballroom dancing contest.^[15] These qualifiers, often organized in partnership with dance organizations like Mecca Dancing, allowed community dancers to compete in preliminary events before advancing to televised heats.^[48] Each regional or national team incorporated both individual pairs and formation groups to perform routines in ballroom and Latin styles during competitions.^[15] Formation teams, in particular, highlighted collective precision, with examples including the Peggy Spencer Latin team from Penge and the Sybil Marks group from Cardiff.^[15] Representation focused on the four UK nations, with core teams from England (subdivided into areas like the Midlands, North East, and Home Counties), Scotland, Wales, and [Northern Ireland](/page/Northern Ireland) competing in head-to-head heats such as Wales versus Midlands or East versus North East.^[48] The show strictly enforced an amateur requirement, prohibiting professional dancers and limiting participation to individuals aged 16 and older to showcase everyday enthusiasts from local clubs rather than trained experts.^[1]^[15] Preparation for national appearances entailed rigorous local coaching sessions and rehearsals, where teams honed their routines under the guidance of regional trainers before progressing through the contest's semi-finals and finals for the BBC Television Award and Formation Team Cup.^[15]^[48]

Notable participants and winners

Come Dancing's competitions featured amateur dancers and formation teams representing the home nations and regions of the UK, with English teams achieving frequent success over the program's run. The format, introduced in 1953, pitted these teams against each other in ballroom and Latin dances, fostering inter-regional rivalries and highlighting skilled performers from across the country.^[49] Among the standout participants were the formation teams led by Peggy Spencer and her husband Frank, who represented the South of England for over 40 years and became synonymous with the show's spectacle. Spencer, a renowned choreographer and judge on the program, trained more than 20 winning teams, many of which contributed to English victories in the championships. Her innovative routines, often featuring synchronized sequences in vibrant costumes, elevated formation dancing as a highlight of the series and earned her widespread recognition in the dance community.^[28]^[50] Other regions produced notable talents, including Blackpool-based formation teams in the early years that showcased the vibrancy of northern English dancing styles. Non-English teams occasionally achieved successes, demonstrating competitive balance despite English prevalence.^[51]

Legacy

Transition to Strictly Come Dancing

The original Come Dancing concluded its run in 1998 after nearly five decades, having been relegated to a late-night slot on BBC Two at 10:30 p.m., where its outdated presentation—characterized by fixed smiles and elaborate dresses—drew ridicule and reflected waning audience interest.^[52] In the early 2000s, the BBC experimented with various celebrity-driven reality formats, such as Comic Relief Does Fame Academy and The Games, to revitalize Saturday evening programming and recapture family viewership.^[52] These efforts culminated in the launch of Strictly Come Dancing on 15 May 2004 as a celebrity adaptation of Come Dancing, preserving the core focus on ballroom and Latin dances while introducing professional partners for non-dancers and public voting to heighten engagement.^[52] The new show's title blended the 1992 film Strictly Ballroom with the legacy of Come Dancing to evoke glamour without directly invoking the "celebrity" label, which BBC executives feared would invite skepticism.^[52] Producer Karen Smith played a pivotal role in this adaptation, co-devising the format after BBC entertainment executive Richard Hopkins proposed reviving Come Dancing with celebrities; she immersed herself in the ballroom world, addressed dancers' wariness stemming from the original show's reputation, and incorporated elements like regional competitions and the annual Blackpool Tower special to bridge the two eras.^[53] The foundational structure of Come Dancing, devised by Eric Morley in 1949 as a showcase for amateur and exhibition dancing, provided the blueprint for Strictly's competitive judging and performance focus, ensuring Morley's vision of accessible ballroom entertainment endured in the successor format.^[2] Strictly Come Dancing retained key similarities to its predecessor, including a panel of expert judges, standard ballroom dances like the waltz and foxtrot, and a competitive elimination structure, but diverged significantly through celebrity appeal, which broadened demographics and transformed it into a primetime spectacle with live audience interaction.^[52] Following the 1998 finale, the BBC maintained a connection to the original series through occasional specials and repeats on BBC Four, such as the full 1979 season aired in January and February 2023 and select 1990 episodes, including the grand final hosted by Angela Rippon and Charles Nove, which helped sustain interest and contextualize the revival for newer audiences.^[54]

Cultural significance

Come Dancing played a pivotal role in popularizing ballroom dancing in post-war Britain by bringing glamour and elegance to television audiences starting in 1950, when it debuted as a live broadcast from the Lyceum Ballroom in London.^[1] The show showcased regional couples and formation teams from across the country, making the art form accessible and appealing to a broad demographic through diverse performers and live orchestras, such as that led by Harry Roy.^[1] This visibility helped sustain and enhance national interest in ballroom dancing during the 1950s and beyond, positioning the programme as a primary showcase for the genre on British television for decades.^[55] As a staple of family viewing, Come Dancing reflected and reinforced aspects of post-war British social life, emphasizing partnership dancing that highlighted gender roles and regional pride through inter-regional competitions.^[1] Airing for nearly five decades until 1998, it provided wholesome entertainment that aligned with the era's emphasis on community and collective enjoyment, evolving from its roots in the BBC's earlier Television Dancing Club to become a cultural touchstone.^[1] The programme pioneered the format of live dance competitions on television, influencing subsequent shows by demonstrating the appeal of amateur and formation dancing in a competitive structure.^[1] Its longevity and structure laid the groundwork for global dance programmes, as the core concept of pairing dancers in judged contests was adapted internationally, notably through its successor Strictly Come Dancing.^[56] In terms of legacy for dance education, Come Dancing encouraged greater appreciation for formal training by highlighting skilled performers and judges, including Len Goodman, whose early role as a judge from the 1990s amplified the show's emphasis on technical proficiency and ballroom standards.^[57] Goodman's expertise as a former professional dancer and adjudicator brought authenticity to the broadcasts, inspiring viewers to pursue structured dance instruction.^[58] Today, the show's cultural echoes persist through BBC archives and occasional repeats, such as the 1979 series aired on BBC Four, which help sustain interest in mid-20th-century dance styles and contribute to ongoing revivals of the 1920s-1960s ballroom craze.^[54] These efforts maintain Come Dancing's influence as a forerunner that bridged historical dance traditions with modern audiences.^[1]

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Schedule - BBC Programme Index
Come Dancing at Television's most colourful spectacular in black and white ... Chairman of Judges: Bill Irvine. Music (Purley): Johnny Howard. Music ...
[48]
Peggy Spencer, ballroom dancer – obituary - The Telegraph
May 27, 2016 · Peggy Spencer, who has died aged 95, was the unchallenged doyenne of ballroom dancing; for many decades she was a choreographer and judge on the BBC television ...
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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-36387532
[50]
Peggy Spencer, star of Come Dancing, dies aged 95 - BBC News
May 26, 2016 · Dancing legend Peggy Spencer, known to millions of viewers for her role on BBC TV's Come Dancing, has died aged 95.
[51]
Peggy Spencer (1920-2016) | Penge Heritage Trail
Frank and Peggy Spencer are famous internationally for their dance expertise and choreography, believing that everyone should learn to dance.
[52]
Come Dancing - Nostalgia Central
The programme in which outrageously dressed contestants (“she's sewn all her own sequins”) competed in ballroom dancing events debuted on 29 September 1950.
[53]
'I tried to break my ankle to get out of it': an oral history of Strictly ...
Dec 10, 2022 · Many were saying: “This is not Come Dancing”, and I had to record some answers to some questions. It was when Terry Wogan was hosting it. I must ...
[54]
How we put the Strictly in Come Dancing — and nearly spoiled its ...
Sep 15, 2023 · Strictly Come Dancing was brought to TV by Karen Smith, right, The ... He added that no producer ever wanted their show to be scheduled against ...
[55]
Come Dancing - Episode guide - BBC One
1979. View episodes. The classic inter-regional amateur dance contest that inspired Strictly.
[56]
BBC Genome Blog - The Saturday Post: Dancing on Air
Oct 1, 2016 · Devised by Eric Morley, Come Dancing was an occasional programme at first, with two editions in 1950 and two in 1951; from 1952 it gradually ...
[57]
'Dancing' waltzes onto global stage - Variety
Nov 14, 2008 · ... dancing format derived from “Come Dancing,” a perennial light entertainment amateur dance contest first broadcast on the Beeb in 1949. This ...
[58]
Len Goodman: Strictly star revived nation's love of ballroom
Apr 26, 2023 · As head judge on Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2016, Goodman brought a no nonsense honesty to his role, as well as his wealth of expertise.
[59]
How fame came late in life for dance floor veteran Len Goodman
Apr 24, 2023 · In his role as a judge on both sides of the Atlantic, his pithy comments and assorted catchphrases made him a viewers' favourite.