‘Dancing With the Stars’ Judge Len Goodman Dies at 78

Len Goodman, ballroom dancing expert and one of the judges on the television series "Dancing Wth the Stars", poses at the premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End" at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, May 19, 2007. (Reuters)
Len Goodman, ballroom dancing expert and one of the judges on the television series "Dancing Wth the Stars", poses at the premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End" at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, May 19, 2007. (Reuters)
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‘Dancing With the Stars’ Judge Len Goodman Dies at 78

Len Goodman, ballroom dancing expert and one of the judges on the television series "Dancing Wth the Stars", poses at the premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End" at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, May 19, 2007. (Reuters)
Len Goodman, ballroom dancing expert and one of the judges on the television series "Dancing Wth the Stars", poses at the premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End" at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, May 19, 2007. (Reuters)

Len Goodman, the urbane, long-serving judge on “Dancing with the Stars” and “Strictly Come Dancing,” has died, his agent said Monday. He was 78.

Agent Jackie Gill said Goodman “passed away peacefully.” He had been diagnosed with bone cancer.

A former professional ballroom dancer and British champion, Goodman was a judge on “Strictly Come Dancing” for 12 years from its launch on the BBC in 2004. The dance competition, which pairs celebrities with professional dance partners, was a surprise hit and has become one of the network’s most popular shows.

Goodman was head judge on the US version of the show, ABC's “Dancing With the Stars,” for 15 years until his retirement in November.

Goodman also presented BBC radio programs and made TV documentaries, including a 2012 program about the sinking of the Titanic. As a young man, Goodman had worked as a shipyard welder for the company that built the doomed ship.

BBC director-general Tim Davie said Goodman was “a wonderful, warm entertainer who was adored by millions. He appealed to all ages and felt like a member of everyone’s family. Len was at the very heart of Strictly’s success. He will be hugely missed by the public and his many friends and family.”

Goodman was also a recipient of the Carl Alan Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to dance and owned the Goodman Academy dance school in southern England.



Netflix Enhances Languages Options on TV to Attract Global Viewers

FILE PHOTO: The Netflix logo is shown on one of their Hollywood buildings in Los Angeles, California, US, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Netflix logo is shown on one of their Hollywood buildings in Los Angeles, California, US, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
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Netflix Enhances Languages Options on TV to Attract Global Viewers

FILE PHOTO: The Netflix logo is shown on one of their Hollywood buildings in Los Angeles, California, US, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Netflix logo is shown on one of their Hollywood buildings in Los Angeles, California, US, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

Netflix on Wednesday rolled out enhanced language options for television viewers, allowing users to select from the full list of available subtitles and dubbing languages for any title.

The update aims to make Netflix's global catalog more accessible at a time when nearly a third of all its viewership comes from non-English language shows, the company said.

According to Reuters, language availability for popular titles such as South Korean drama "Squid Game," Spanish series "Berlin" and the Oscar-winning German film "All Quiet on the Western Front" has helped them attract fans beyond their country of origin.

Netflix said it offers subtitles in 33 languages and audio dubbing in 36 languages across its catalog, but the exact number of available languages could vary by title.

Previously, users could only choose from a handful of languages on television.

Netflix said it decided to change the limited language availability option on TV after it received thousands of language availability requests every month.

The feature is already available on mobile devices and web browsers, the company said.