Strictly Come Dancing stars who've died since appearing on show – full tragic list

A tribute to the Strictly stars no longer with us, from host Sir Bruce Forsyth and 2014 winner Caroline Flack to BBC Breakfast host Bill Turnbull, who spent his last years as a bee keeper

When original Strictly host Sir Bruce Forsyth passed away in 2017, just three years after stepping down from co-presenting the show, the TV world lost one of its brightest, best-loved stars. The legendary entertainer, who had been married to third wife Wilnelia since 1983, brought credibility to Strictly Come Dancing in the early days of the show, long before it became one of TV's biggest, glossiest hits. So when he quit after 10 years at the helm, the BBC rightly acknowledged that the success of Strictly had been "due in vast amounts to him."

The host of The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and The Price Is Right first found fame in the 1930s and was a talented dancer in his own right – making him a perfect fit for the dancing show. But it was his warmth and cheeky sense of humour that endeared him to viewers – and ensured the British public fell in love with the show.

Paying tribute to her friend and former co-host, Tess Daly said, "From the moment we met, Bruce and I did nothing but laugh our way through a decade of working together on Strictly Come Dancing. I will never forget his generosity, his brilliant sense of humour and his drive to entertain." Former It Takes Two host Zoe Ball described him as a "magical entertainer" and "truly wonderful with his audiences."

Despite his advanced years, many felt that "Brucie" – famed for catchphrases "Nice to see you, to see you nice!", "Didn't he do well?" and, on Strictly, "You're my favourite" – would go on forever. But shortly after quitting as host, his health deteriorated and, in 2015, the star underwent keyhole surgery after being diagnosed with two aortic aneurysms. Two years later he spent five days in intensive care suffering a chest infection, finally passing away from bronchial pneumonia that August, just six months short of his 90th birthday.

When the show returned that September, Strictly's professional dancers paid an emotional tribute to the late star – a waltz to one of his favourite songs, Fly Me To The Moon. Choking back tears, Bruce's on-screen partner of 10 years said, "What a routine. He would have loved that", while Claudia Winkleman added, "He was a legend to so many people, but to us at Strictly, he was just Brucie, and it was his hard work, dedication and professionalism that helped make this show what it is today."

Like Sir Bruce, original head judge Len Goodman was a true showbiz veteran, so fans were left devastated when the much-loved star passed away from bone cancer in April 2023. A key member of the Strictly panel, thanks to his no-nonsense critiques and legendary cry of "seven!", Len had suffered bouts of ill health in the past, having battled cancer twice before. He underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 2009, and in 2020 had a procedure to remove skin cancer from his forehead. He retired from Strictly in 2016, when he was replaced by current head judge, Shirley Ballas.

Following his death, Claudia described Len – a former ballroom dancer himself – as "a class act" who was full of "twinkle, warmth and wit". Tess said he was "a beautiful man, genuine, warm and humble, who left an impression on everyone he met". Like Bruce, Len joined Strictly for its very first series and quickly became a firm favourite with audiences, not least because of his hilarious descriptions of the celebrities' dances.

He memorably told Saturdays star Frankie Bridge that she "floated across that floor like butter on a crumpet" and once described BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine's jive as "like watching a stork who'd been struck by lightning." Despite his five decades-long career, Len said his crowning moment was when he danced with the future Queen Camilla in 2019. "What an honour," he gushed afterwards. "Over the years I've danced with hundreds of girls and that is the most memorable one. She's so nice, and was charming and lovely."

Earlier this year another much-loved former member of the Strictly team passed away – dancer Robin Windsor, who died in February aged just 44. Robin had been forced to pull out of Strictly for good in 2014, due to a back injury. Paying tribute, judge Craig Revel Horwood said that he was "one of the kindest, gentle, honest, funny and caring people" he'd ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Over the past two decades, we've sadly had to say goodbye to several of Strictly's twinkle-toed celebrity contestants, too. Comedian Jason Wood, who was partnered Kylie Jones in the first-ever series, tragically passed away in his sleep in 2010, aged just 38. The death of actress and Loose Women star Lynda Bellingham, who danced with Darren Bennett back in 2009, also came as a huge shock to fans. The much-loved sitcom star was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and passed away a year later, aged 66.

In 2016 we lost another British showbiz veteran, magician Paul Daniels, who starred on Strictly in 2010 alongside partner Ola Jordan. The entertainer, whose wife Debbie McGee made the finals of Strictly a year later, passed away from a brain tumour. The death of celebrity chef Gary Rhodes, who was partnered with Karen Hardy on 2008's series, also came as a terrible shock. The much-loved star, famous for his spiky hairstyle, passed away in November 2019, aged just 59, following a bleed to the brain.

A year later, snooker legend Willie Thorne – who came 12th in 2007 alongside partner Erin Boag – lost his battle with leukaemia. In February 2020, tragedy struck again when Caroline Flack, 2014's winner, took her own life. Tributes were paid to the troubled former Love Island presenter, who was just 40 when she died. Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli described the star, who was paired with Pasha Kovalev, as "a joy", adding, "We will always love Caroline and we will never forget her."

More recently, cancer claimed the life of BBC Breakfast host Bill Turnbull, who passed away in September 2022, aged 66. In 2005 he starred on the show alongside pro partner Karen Hardy, who described him as "such a gentleman, such a mentor." In February of this year, Dave Myers, one half of TV cooking duo The Hairy Bikers, died at the age of 66. He'd partnered Karen Hauer in the 2013 show.

All these Strictly stars brought joy to millions of viewers with their performances – may they rest in peace.