The late Len Goodman was honored on Tuesday’s season 32 debut of “Dancing with the Stars,” when the show announced that its Mirrorball Trophy would be called “The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.”
Goodman, a regular on the ABC series from 2005 to 2022, died in April at age 78 after battling bone cancer.
The show’s hosts, Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, opened the program and talked about the late ballroom expert.
“Len has been on this board for almost all of our 31 seasons and while he is certainly irreplaceable, we wanted to keep his spirit alive,” said Hough, 35. “Len will always move forward with us.”
Ribeiro, 52, said of the trophy: “As a tribute to him, we have redesigned and renamed our ultimate prize.”
Details: The late Len Goodman was honored Tuesday at the season 32 debut of “Dancing with the Stars.” Goodman died in April at age 78 after battling bone cancer
The show’s hosts, Alfonso Ribeiro, 52, and Julianne Hough, 35, opened the program and talked about the late ballroom expert
According to Hough and Ribeiro, the show would include an extended dance tribute to Goodman in a few weeks.
Goodman, who died in a hospice in Kent, England, surrounded by his family, was “a much-loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by his family, friends and all who knew him,” his manager said Jackie Gill in a statement BBC reported at the time of his death.
Goodman was also head judge on the British incarnation of the series, Strictly Come Dancing, between 2004 and 2016.
The show’s executive producer, Conrad Green, revealed to USA Today last week that the producers “wanted to make Len an integral part of this show to always remind people how important he was to Dancing with the Stars and how much he meant to all of us.”
He said: “Len loves this show and will always be there looking down on us.”
Riberio said Goodman’s influence will be evident in the first season since his death and that “there won’t be a dry eye in the house” when the dance tributes are performed.
“I can guarantee you that each of these professionals will ensure that the routines continue to be tailored to Len,” Riberio told People.
He added: “I know I’ve spoken to some of them and they’ll implement certain steps that Len used to love, just to make sure that the content is still there for Len… I mean, he was the one. ” preferably.’
Hough said: “Len will always move forward with us.”
The show stated that their Mirrorball Trophy would be named the “Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy”.
Riberio said Goodman’s influence will be evident in the first season since his death and that “there won’t be a dry eye in the house” when the dance tributes are performed
Goodman was also head judge on the British incarnation of the series, Strictly Come Dancing, between 2004 and 2016
Goodman, who was known for his excellent communication skills, retired from the series in November 2022, saying: “It was a great pleasure to be part of such a wonderful show.”
“But I’ve decided I’d like to spend more time with my grandchildren and my family in the UK. “I couldn’t thank you enough, my Dancing with the Stars family, it’s been a wonderful experience for me.”
Participants in the new season of the series include Ariana Madix, Jamie Lynn Spears, Mauricio Umansky, Matt Walsh, Jason Mraz, Alyson Hannigan, Mira Sorvino, Adrian Peterson, Barry Williams, Tyson Beckford, Xochitl Gomez, Harry Jowsey and Lele Pons and Charity Lawson.
Dancing with the Stars airs every Tuesday at 8/7c on ABC and streams on Disney+ and Hulu.