Len Goodman has sadly died at the age of 78, as the legendary judge and former ballroom dancer passed away from bone cancer as he was surrounded by members of his family in a hospice.
Just months ago, he made an emotional retirement announcement on Dancing with the Stars, but the real shock came in 2016 when he sensationally quit Strictly Come Dancing.
Len was a staple of the show and left at the height of its fame, leaving fans distraught as they would no longer hear his dulcet tones throughout the programme.
Speaking at the time, Len revealed the reason behind his departure - saying it was a "shame", but that he didn't want people to get bored of him.
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The former professional ballroom dancer had Strictly's head judge for 12 years since the very beginning, and in 2016 he told BBC bosses he felt that the end of that series was the right time to "hand the role of Head Judge to someone else".
He continued with that series alongside fellow co-judges Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood before standing down at the end of the year.
Len Goodman said: "In 2004, I was asked to take part in a brand new BBC Saturday night show and who would have thought me, old Len Goodman, would still be part of this amazing series more than 10 years on.
"This adventure began when I was 60 and now that I've reached my 70s, I've decided after this year it's time to hand the role of Head Judge to someone else.
"It is an honour being part of the wonderful Strictly Come Dancing family and I’m looking forward to my last series very much and to whatever comes next."
Speaking at the time, Charlotte Moore, director of content at the BBC, said: "After 12 years, our wonderful Head Judge Len has decided it's time to hang up his Strictly Come Dancing shoes!
"I know we are all going to miss him tremendously, but I also know Len's final series is going to be full of unmissable moments and I hope audiences will give him the special send-off he so deserves."
After he left the show, Len admitted he found it hard watching Strictly as a fan because he still acts like a judge.
The former professional dancer said he cannot help but spot things in performances that serving panellists, including Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas, may have missed.
Len said: "I enjoy it.
"I try to watch it just as a punter, just to be entertained, but it's difficult because you're always judging things and I'm always thinking of things the judges should have said."
Len used to judge Strictly on a Saturday and then fly to the US the next day to be on the Dancing with the Stars panel on a Monday.
And he admitted he often used to forget who had been booted off the UK show.
He told TV Times magazine: "It's a funny thing with your memory. Once I got to America, someone would say, 'Who got knocked out on Strictly?'
"And I truly couldn't remember at all. Because I was so focused on the American show. And vice versa, once I got back to England, I was totally focused on Strictly here."
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