Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman set to appear in music video for Sony Music
The dancer pops some moves wearing his usual smart suit and clutching an umbrella to a track called Len’s Legends
IT would have been easy for LEN GOODMAN to hang up his dancing shoes after leaving Strictly last year.
But I can reveal the former head judge is doing anything but settling down to a quiet life.
He is set to release another of his own albums featuring a collection of his favourite British artists and will be doing it with Sony Music Commercial Group.
Len, famous for his Strictly score catchphrase, “and it’s a ten from Len”, was recently spotted in Kent doing a photoshoot and TV advert for the album.
A music insider said: “Len’s game for a laugh and has lost none of his charisma.
“It’s not his usual scene - as we all know dancing is his forte - but he appreciates how big a deal Sony is."
Len was at the historic dockyard in Chatham, Kent, last week when he was seen doing the shoot.
The promo isn’t Len’s first dabble with the charts.
He released compilation albums including last year’s Len Goodman’s Crooners And Swooners and also Len’s Ballroom Bonanza in 2015.
But it’s safe to say neither of those will have warranted the use of glow sticks, unlike his new material.
Head judge Len brought his involvement with Strictly to a conclusion after 13 years.
He wanted to spend more time at home with his family as well as present new BBC1 Saturday night telly show Partners In Rhyme, which began this summer.
When he said he fancied the opportunity to enjoy his house, I’m sure his family were thinking more along the lines of bricks and mortar than music . . .
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SHANIA'S FOUND HER VOICE
SHANIA TWAIN’s chart comeback is one of the biggest music stories of the year.
The country superstar took an enforced 15-year break from the industry to concentrate on saving her voice, having contracted Lyme disease through a tick she picked up while horse riding.
Her vocal cords, which helped her win five Grammys and sell more than 100million records, were seriously harmed.
Thankfully her tones are now back on top form, which I experienced first-hand at her Radio 2 Hyde Park gig on Sunday.
The Canadian opened up about her battle during an incredibly honest chat with me on ITV’s Lorraine yesterday, ahead of the release of her album Now, which is out this month.
She told me: “I was out horseback riding in the woods and I found the tick on me, luckily, so I could get tested and treat it right away.
"I was clear of any immediate effect on anything vital but I started having problems controlling my voice and I just thought I needed a break. The break got extended because my voice never came back.”
Shania also went through a painful divorce from producer husband ROBERT LANGE in 2008, who left the singer for her best friend.
She added: “Losing my singing voice was like I lost a serious pleasure in my life and I was grieving that for years, believing I would never sing again.
“Every once in a while I would manage to get something out that was pleasing. But it was so unreliable that I couldn’t launch into my career again. There was no way I could do it.
“There was a neurologist who discovered the problem. It’s a permanent injury but I did it, I made this album and I’m loving life. I’m so grateful. It was a huge challenge to get singing again.”
In 2011, Shania married Frederic Thiebaud, the ex-husband of her friend who sparked her marriage break- down.
And she is looking better than ever which might be down to her beauty secret, Bag Balm, most commonly used on animals.
Shania said: “It does make your skin feel very subtle, which is why they use it on cow’s udders.”
It’s great to have Shania back to her very best, and I can’t wait for her new album to land on September 29.
SAM AND, ER, MEGAN HIT THE CHARTS
TWO years away from the charts has done no harm to SAM SMITH.
After returning with the single Too Good At Goodbyes on Friday, he has raced to No1 in the midweek charts.
The ballad is outselling its closest rival, DUA LIPA’s New Rules, by two to one, meaning it is almost certain to be his sixth chart-topper on Friday.
He has knocked TAYLOR SWIFT off the top spot as Look What You Made Me Do falls to No4, while ZAYN and SIA’s new release, Dusk Till Dawn, is new at No5.
But they aren’t the only new entries, as Towie’s MEGAN McKENNA makes her shock chart debut.
Her country tracks High Heeled Shoes and Far Cry From Love are at No30 and No39.
I definitely did not see that coming.
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MADGE IN DA HOUSE
MADONNA’s move to Lisbon must have prompted her to clear out some clothes.
Here she is house hunting in Portugal and it looks like she has dug out the outfit she wore in her 2000 video for Music alongside ALI G from the back of her wardrobe.
Just like in the promo, she teamed the eye-catching, all-white get-up with a cowboy-style hat.
Madge was viewing a £7million gaff in the capital at the weekend.
Presumably she wasn’t trying to keep a low profile.
The Queen of Pop last week confirmed she was moving to Europe and said she is working on new songs.
She wrote on Instagram: “I feel very creative and alive here and I look forward to working on my film Loved and making new music.”
That’s what I like to hear.
LIAM: X-CLUDE ME
CHERYL’s upcoming stint as SIMON COWELL’s special guest at The X Factor judges’ houses could have been an even bigger deal if she’d brought along beau LIAM PAYNE to help her critique the wannabe singers.
But the former ONE DIRECTION singer has ruled himself out of getting involved this year, despite finding worldwide fame on the show seven years ago when Simon put the lads together.
In an exclusive interview, Liam, who has a five-month-old son Bear with Cheryl, said: “X Factor has affected a lot of my life in so many different ways.
“I owe a lot to the show. It allowed me to meet my missus and gave me my career.
“I’m X Factor’s biggest winner and I still came third. But I don’t need any more in my life for now.”
Perhaps he’s on babysitting duties that weekend.
BIZARRE JUKEBOX
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THERE are loads of new tunes out this week and I bring you the best of them.
My Bizarre Jukebox Spotify playlist is updated every Tuesday with 15 tracks from my favourite artists and new talent. Here are four on this week’s list:
TOVE LO gets hot and bothered on the bonkers new pop track, from new album Blue Lips, which might just be a little too rude for radio.
Move You: She marked her return with two tracks on Friday and this KELLY CLARKSON tune is enough to bring a tear.
Her belting vocals are back and I can’t wait to hear her album.
Go To Work: NADINE COYLE has pulled out all the stops for her new sound.
She worked with GIRLS ALOUD song- writer Xenomania, as she explained on my Bizarre Life podcast last week.
Fantasy: GEORGE MICHAEL died last Christmas but his music will live on, with more on the way.
NILE RODGERS has given a new lease of life to his 1990 B-side to create this funky tune.
