Bruno Tonioli has opened up about his friendship with the late Len Goodman(Image: Getty Images)

Bruno Tonioli makes heartfelt admission about Strictly legend Len Goodman despite arguments

by · DevonLive

Bruno Tonioli has opened up about his friendship with the late Len Goodman as he makes a heartbreaking admission despite rows.

Speaking to Kate Thornton on an episode of her White Wine Question Time, the former Strictly judge shared details of his over a decade long friendship with Len Goodman on the BBC show, that lasted until his passing on April 22 last year.

Opening up on the wave of emotions he felt after the judge's death, he said: "It takes a long time to get over the grief, pain or whatever you want to call it, but there's a part of them, when you are really close they are always with you."

Reflecting on the bond that they had grown down the years, Bruno admitted that the pair saw all aspects of each others personalities: "You get to know the good, the bad and the ugly, because, listen, nobody is perfect. I'm not perfect, he wasn't perfect, he was quite a difficult man. But, it allows you to look at it and laugh about it," reports Lancs Live.

Bruno and Len (left and second left) also appeared on the US version of Strictly, Dancing with the Stars(Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Archive/PA Images)

And, whilst joking that they frequently had quite a 'blunt' way of talking to each other, the 68-year-old said that it was only ever something that helped their friendship thrive: "Len and I used to speak to each other pretty bluntly, and you need that. But, then you have that sense of solidity and support."

Despite their unusual way of speaking to each other, the ex-Strictly judge said that there was one thing that they had in common that made their relationship first grow: "We were very very similar because of the working class backgrounds and being able to do the job and (go) 'okay, bye' and go home."

As he looked back on Len's iconic role on the judge's panel on the BBC show, Bruno said: "We'll always miss him, but these people are always part of you, some (people) will never die."

After first meeting while judging on ITVs Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, their working career would soon venture abroad as they appeared together on the panel of the US version of the show, Dancing with the Stars as it began airing a year later.