PRE-ORDER: Head Judge Len Goodman's Autobiography. The book will be published on 4th September 2008.

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Product Description

Better Late Than Never is the extraordinary story of how a man born into poverty in London's East End went on to find stardom late in life when he was chosen to be head judge on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing. Len will be telling all about his new found fame, not only his experiences on Strictly Come Dancing, but also on the no.1 US show Dancing with Stars and his encounters with the likes of Heather Mills-McCartney. But the real story is in his East End roots. And Len's early life couldn't be more East End. The son of a Bethnal Green costermonger - he spent his formative years running the fruit and veg barrow and being bathed at night in the same water they used to cook the beetroot. There are echoes of Billy Elliot too. Though Len was a welder in the London Docks, he dreamt of being a professional footballer, and came close to making the grade had he not broken his foot on Hackney Marshes. The doctor recommended ballroom dancing as a light aid to his recovery. And Len, it turned out, was a natural. At first his family and work mates mocked, but soon he had made the final of a national competition and the welders descended on mass to the Albert hall to cheer him on. With his dance partner, and then wife Cheryl, Len won the British Championships in his late twenties and retired soon after. Funny and heart warming, Len's autobiography has all the honest East End charm of a Tommy Steele, Mike Reid or Roberta Taylor that we know works so well with book buyers.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5351 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-04
• Released on: 2008-08-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Review
'In his great autobiography Len tells how he reached 60 before becoming a household name.. I recommend this book' --Kelvin MacKenzie, The Sun

'A rollicking good read'
--Yours Magazine, 9 September 2008

About the Author
Len Goodman is a professional dance judge who also teaches ballroom and Latin dancing at the school he runs in Dartford, Kent. Now in his sixties, he has one son James, 26, who is a singer and dancer. He travels all over the world lecturing, teaching and judging.

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Customer Reviews

A Waltz Through Life
This book Waltz's you through Len Goodman's life and you get to know the man behind the judge. Even if you are not a fan of Strictly Come Dancing you will still like the book because it also gives the reader an insight into growing up in the East End and Len Goodman comes across as a very witty likeable and affable gentleman. I found myself laughing out loud on many occasion much to the amusement of my fellow train passengers! I don't know if I will ever be able to eat beetroot again....you will have to read the book to find out why!!

Better Late than Nev er by Len Goodman
I purchased this book from Amazon as part of a Christmas Present for my Husband - here is his review of the book " As a boy from the East End (of London)not far from Len's home, I also grew up with my Grandmother and As I started dancing in the 5o's. requenting the same dance studios and knowing various names of dancers and judges mentioned in the book, it was almost like reading about myself. The book is so funny in places you can't help but burst out laughing. Couldn't put the book down. What a read to cheer you up in these depressing times. I thoroughly recommend Len's book to not only the older age groups but also the younger dancers (and non dancers) to give them an insight to how the 'Strictly' came about and what fun, socialising and exercise dancing brings. Good on yer Len.

Mothers day gift
Bought it for my mum for mothers day. Never read it myself, but she says it was a good read (and she reads a lot!). Woudl like to give a longer review but honestly - if my mum liked it then it is a worthwhile buy.