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Len Goodman (1944–2023) was an English professional ballroom dancer and coach who served as head judge on Dancing with the Stars from its 2005 debut until 2022, and on Britain's Strictly Come Dancing. Famous for his traditionalist standards, Cockney wit and cries of "Seven!", he frequently sparred with the Chmerkovskiy brothers over technique versus entertainment.
After his death in April 2023, the show renamed its Mirrorball Trophy in his honor — a legacy invoked throughout the 2026 judging controversy.