Len Goodman's Dancing Years - Episode 1

Strictly Come Dancing head judge Len Goodman takes us through the music he has loved and danced to, over the years, sharing poignant and funny stories with the Radio 2 listeners. From those first stumbling steps as a boy dancer in the 50s; the Dual of the Champions at the Royal Albert Hall in the 70s; to his present role judging fleckles and lock steps on Strictly Come Dancing; Len dips in to his record collection and shares the stories that accompany them. The three-part series covers ballroom dancing, Latin American dance, and in the final instalment he picks personal favourites from across the musical genres. In episode one, Strictly Ballroom, Len waltzes, tangos, foxtrots and quicksteps through music by artists such as Sammy Davis Jr, Dinah Washington, Robbie Williams, the Joe Loss Orchestra, Van Morrison and Nat King Cole. We hear how Len's restaurant bill was quietly paid by Rod Stewart; why he bribed the spotlight operators in a big competition; how he's becoming a grumpy old man; and how he first discovered the music of Paolo Nutini.