Derek Hough Says Len Goodman's Death Was a 'Huge Shock,' Recalls 'Inappropriate' and 'Funny' Gift He Received

etonline.com:

Derek Hough was overcome with emotion while remembering the late Len Goodman. In a new interview on Jana Kramer's podcast, Hough at one point sounded like he was breaking down in tears.

As he paused to collect himself, muttering «Yeesh, yeah, sorry,» the hosts chimed in: «You cry, we cry. That's how it goes around here.» Hough shared that while he knew the former  judge was «unwell,» he «had no idea the extent» of Goodman's illness. «This was a huge shock to all of us,» Hough said.Goodman died on April 22 at age 78.

According to the , Goodman was on hospice at his home in Kent, England, and was surrounded by his family at the time of his death on Saturday.

He had bone cancer.«I feel incredibly emotional and sad about it,» Hough said, adding that he really «savored the moments I spent with him» during Goodman'sfinal season on the show in 2022.«We were playful with each other and we had these one-on-one conversations,» he recalled. «Even before the last day, I walked in my dressing room and there's this giant picture of Len framed, beautiful gold frame, and it's a picture of him and it had this handwritten message from him.» Hough continued, «It was so beautiful but also, like, inappropriate humor, like funny.