Strictly Come Dancing stars who've died since appearing on show – full tragic list

When archetypal Strictly big Sir Bruce Forsyth passed distant successful 2017, conscionable 3 years aft stepping down from co-presenting the show, the TV world mislaid 1 of its brightest, best-loved stars. The legendary entertainer, who had been joined to 3rd woman Wilnelia since 1983, brought credibility to Strictly Come Dancing successful the aboriginal days of the show, agelong earlier it became 1 of TV's biggest, glossiest hits. So erstwhile helium discontinue aft 10 years astatine the helm, the BBC rightly acknowledged that the occurrence of Strictly had been "due successful immense amounts to him."

The big of The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and The Price Is Right archetypal recovered fame successful the 1930s and was a talented dancer successful his ain close – making him a cleanable acceptable for the dancing show. But it was his warmth and cheeky consciousness of humour that endeared him to viewers – and ensured the British nationalist fell successful emotion with the show.

Paying tribute to her person and erstwhile co-host, Tess Daly said, "From the infinitesimal we met, Bruce and I did thing but laughter our mode done a decennary of moving unneurotic connected Strictly Come Dancing. I volition ne'er hide his generosity, his superb consciousness of humour and his thrust to entertain." Former It Takes Two big Zoe Ball described him arsenic a "magical entertainer" and "truly fantastic with his audiences."

Despite his precocious years, galore felt that "Brucie" – famed for catchphrases "Nice to spot you, to spot you nice!", "Didn't helium bash well?" and, connected Strictly, "You're my favourite" – would spell connected forever. But soon aft quitting arsenic host, his wellness deteriorated and, successful 2015, the prima underwent keyhole country aft being diagnosed with 2 aortic aneurysms. Two years aboriginal helium spent 5 days successful intensive attraction suffering a thorax infection, yet passing distant from bronchial pneumonia that August, conscionable six months abbreviated of his 90th birthday.

When the amusement returned that September, Strictly's nonrecreational dancers paid an affectional tribute to the precocious prima – a waltz to 1 of his favourite songs, Fly Me To The Moon. Choking backmost tears, Bruce's on-screen spouse of 10 years said, "What a routine. He would person loved that", portion Claudia Winkleman added, "He was a fable to truthful galore people, but to america astatine Strictly, helium was conscionable Brucie, and it was his hard work, dedication and professionalism that helped marque this amusement what it is today."

Like Sir Bruce, archetypal caput justice Len Goodman was a existent showbiz veteran, truthful fans were near devastated erstwhile the much-loved prima passed distant from bony crab successful April 2023. A cardinal subordinate of the Strictly panel, acknowledgment to his no-nonsense critiques and legendary outcry of "seven!", Len had suffered bouts of sick wellness successful the past, having battled crab doubly before. He underwent country for prostate crab successful 2009, and successful 2020 had a process to region tegument crab from his forehead. He retired from Strictly successful 2016, erstwhile helium was replaced by existent caput judge, Shirley Ballas.

Following his death, Claudia described Len – a erstwhile ballroom dancer himself – arsenic "a people act" who was afloat of "twinkle, warmth and wit". Tess said helium was "a beauteous man, genuine, lukewarm and humble, who near an content connected everyone helium met". Like Bruce, Len joined Strictly for its precise archetypal bid and rapidly became a steadfast favourite with audiences, not slightest due to the fact that of his hilarious descriptions of the celebrities' dances.

He memorably told Saturdays prima Frankie Bridge that she "floated crossed that level similar food connected a crumpet" and erstwhile described BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine's jive arsenic "like watching a stork who'd been struck by lightning." Despite his 5 decades-long career, Len said his crowning infinitesimal was erstwhile helium danced with the aboriginal Queen Camilla successful 2019. "What an honour," helium gushed afterwards. "Over the years I've danced with hundreds of girls and that is the astir memorable one. She's truthful nice, and was charming and lovely."

Earlier this twelvemonth different much-loved erstwhile subordinate of the Strictly squad passed distant – dancer Robin Windsor, who died successful February aged conscionable 44. Robin had been forced to propulsion retired of Strictly for bully successful 2014, owed to a backmost injury. Paying tribute, justice Craig Revel Horwood said that helium was "one of the kindest, gentle, honest, comic and caring people" he'd ever had the pleasance of knowing.

Over the past 2 decades, we've sadly had to accidental goodbye to respective of Strictly's twinkle-toed personage contestants, too. Comedian Jason Wood, who was partnered Kylie Jones successful the first-ever series, tragically passed distant successful his slumber successful 2010, aged conscionable 38. The decease of histrion and Loose Women prima Lynda Bellingham, who danced with Darren Bennett backmost successful 2009, besides came arsenic a immense daze to fans. The much-loved sitcom prima was diagnosed with crab successful 2013 and passed distant a twelvemonth later, aged 66.

In 2016 we mislaid different British showbiz veteran, magician Paul Daniels, who starred connected Strictly successful 2010 alongside spouse Ola Jordan. The entertainer, whose woman Debbie McGee made the finals of Strictly a twelvemonth later, passed distant from a encephalon tumour. The decease of personage cook Gary Rhodes, who was partnered with Karen Hardy connected 2008's series, besides came arsenic a unspeakable shock. The much-loved star, celebrated for his spiky hairstyle, passed distant successful November 2019, aged conscionable 59, pursuing a bleed to the brain.

A twelvemonth later, snooker fable Willie Thorne – who came 12th successful 2007 alongside spouse Erin Boag – mislaid his conflict with leukaemia. In February 2020, calamity struck again erstwhile Caroline Flack, 2014's winner, took her ain life. Tributes were paid to the troubled erstwhile Love Island presenter, who was conscionable 40 erstwhile she died. Strictly justice Bruno Tonioli described the star, who was paired with Pasha Kovalev, arsenic "a joy", adding, "We volition ever emotion Caroline and we volition ne'er hide her."

More recently, crab claimed the beingness of BBC Breakfast big Bill Turnbull, who passed distant successful September 2022, aged 66. In 2005 helium starred connected the amusement alongside pro spouse Karen Hardy, who described him arsenic "such a gentleman, specified a mentor." In February of this year, Dave Myers, 1 fractional of TV cooking duo The Hairy Bikers, died astatine the property of 66. He'd partnered Karen Hauer successful the 2013 show.

All these Strictly stars brought joyousness to millions of viewers with their performances – whitethorn they remainder successful peace.