Kevin Clifton had a remarkable track record on Strictly Come Dancing, appearing in four straight finals until winning with Stacey Dooley in 2018.
Since declaring his intention to quit the BBC show in 2020, the professional dancer has had a newborn girl with Stacey, whom he began dating a year after their triumph.
The Strictly family recently suffered a devastating loss, when veteran judge Len Goodman died in April of this year at the age of 78.
Clifton was asked if he would ever consider returning to the dance show to take part in an homage to Goodman if one was scheduled for the 2023 season during a recent chat before of his episode of genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?
‘Yeah, I mean I don’t know what their plans are, but I guess if they ever wanted to do something like that, I’d always be up for that conversation,’ the 40-year-old responded.
‘Len was so wicked, and he was always there to give advice to all of us. He always had his feet on the ground. He was like the Daddy of Strictly, wasn’t he?’
Continuing to shower the late Dancing With The Stars judge with praise, he added: ‘He was brilliant and we all loved him, and I also have a really nice relationship with Strictly still, so yeah – I’d always be up for those kinds of conversations.’
‘It is with great regret to say that Len Goodman has gone away peacefully, aged 78,’ said his agent Jackie Gill in a statement announcing his death.
‘A much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him.’
Following Goodman’s passing, Clifton spoke on Instagram about how long they’d known each other and the advice he got from the iconic judge on his first day on Strictly.
‘Len Goodman judged me in competitions since I was a kid,’ he wrote in his caption.
‘On my first day at @bbcstrictly I asked him for any advice and he said , “Just enjoy every moment. Don’t get too big for your boots and take it for granted, cos we’re just a bunch of ballroom dancers trying to make our way and this is the biggest opportunity that’s ever happened for us.”‘
The Strictly Ballroom Tour star later tweeted a footage from his first season of competing, when Goodman generated hilarity by remarking that his partner, Good Morning Britain anchor Susanna Reid, walked out ‘all bounce, bum and bongos’.
Clifton’s Who Do You Think You Are? episode sends him on a wild and unexpected adventure, tracing his ancestors back to Canada, much to his astonishment.
Explaining how ‘blown away’ he was when he was told that he’d be flying to Canada during filming, he said: ‘I was mind blown immediately and then every day just felt like like Christmas morning. You waking up and you don’t know what’s going to happen.
‘They’re going to take you to places and and give you these gifts of your family history, these amazing stories, and you’re gonna meet these amazing people.’
Kevin Clifton’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? is due to air on Thursday at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
