Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke emotionally paid tribute to the late Len Goodman as the BBC series celebrated 20 years on TV. The 58-year-old media personality was one of countless Strictly icons to grace the screen tonight to take a trip down memory lane on Strictly Come Dancing: 20 Fabulous Years.
![[A close up of Anton Du Beke]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233974099-772d.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The episode also featured commentary from hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, pros such as Johannes Radebe and Aljaz Skorjanec, and past contestants like Ed Balls, Joe Sugg and Layton Williams. The episode featured an in-memoriam for all those who we have ‘loved and loss’ who have passed through the Strictly ballroom, including Hairy Bikers Dave Myers, Strictly winner Caroline Flack, pro Robin Windsor and the inimitable Bruce Forsyth.
![[Len Goodman with Anton du Beke]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AY_100544931-99e4.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
There was also a section devoted to Len who was head judge from 2004 to 2016. He died in April 2023 aged 78, after being diagnosed with cancer. Anton – a pro since 2004 before becoming a judge in 2021 – got visibly emotional as he tried to find the words to commemorate him and his legacy.
![[Len Goodman]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233974259-db80.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘I find it hard..’ he started as he began to tear up, commenting: ‘Look at me I must be getting old.’. He continued: ‘I find it hard to talk about Len without getting emotional because he was at the beginning, and I loved him. He was, he was incredible.
![[Tess Daly & Claudia Winkleman]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233974241-aedd.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘If I could be half as good a judge as Len, I’ll have done all right.’. He wasn’t the only one to share kind words about the beloved dancer. ‘Len was the most special. He really was. He was kind, he was twinkly, he was naughty but more than anything is he was so supportive to everybody,’ Claudia said.
![[Shirley Ballas & Motsi Mabuse]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233974105-2ee6.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)