Strictly Come Dancing legend Len Goodman 'leaves seven-figure estate to wife and son'

The late Len Goodman is said to have left an estate worth more than £4 million to his wife and his son following his death.

The ballroom dancer - best known for having been on the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing - passed away, aged 78, last year. It was reported that he had been in a hospice and that he'd previously been diagnosed with bone cancer.

The news prompted an outpouring of tributes at the time, as well as condolences towards his wife Sue Barrett and his son James Goodman. It has now been reported that Len's million-pound estate is to be divided between them.

According to the Sun, his will was released yesterday and reveals that he left an estate valued at £4.1 million. It's said to have have included his home in Kent, his company and his personal possessions. Len reportedly also left a special provision in his will for a donation of £1,000 to the Demelza Hospice Care for Children in the county.

His son James is said to have been left Len's jewellery, while Len's wife Sue was reportedly given their home, including all the furniture. The outlet reports that Len's company, Pleasurable Pastimes Limited, is set to be split between his wife and son, who were already co-directors with him. It adds that the will was drawn up in 2020 and states that his estate should be divided equally between his wife and son, and that Len wished to be cremated.

Len Goodman and Sue Barrett outside.

Len appeared as a judge on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing from its first series until his departure in 2016. He was also an original member on the judging panel of Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) and had retired from the US show in 2022.

It was announced that Len - who had previously revealed that he'd been treated for prostate cancer in 2009 and later skin cancer in 2020 - had passed away less than six months after his retirement from the show. His death was confirmed in a statement issued by his agent last year.

The statement read: "It is with great sadness to announce that [Len] has passed away peacefully, aged 78. A much-loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him."

The news was met with tributes from those who knew him, including his pal Bruno Tonioli, who had worked with Len on both Strictly and DWTS. He told his followers on social media that there will "never be anyone" like Len.

Bruno wrote: "Heartbroken my dear friend and partner for 19 years, the one and only ballroom legend [Len], passed away. I will treasure the memory of our incredible adventures and hundreds of shows we did together [...] There will never be anyone like you. We will miss you."

Strictly - which launched in 2004 - paid tribute to Len at the start of the latest series, which began in September last year. It included a montage of his time on the show, as well as comments from some of his former colleagues.

The show's host Claudia Winkleman said: "In [April] the undisputed king of ballroom [Len] sadly passed away. He was a part of [Strictly] from the very beginning and was crucial to the survival of the show. He meant so much to all of us."

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