Len Goodman was full of life and cracked jokes with Strictly pal Aljaž Škorjanec just weeks before his death.
The devastated pro dancer says his friend called him his 'favourite' in a heartbreaking final text message.
The pair became close after years together on the BBC show and the Slovenian paid a moving tribute to him after his passing was today announced.
He says they spoke earlier this month, before he was admitted to a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
The showbiz world have said goodbye to the judge, who bravely battled bone cancer.
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Aljaž posted a video with Len from earlier this year (@aljazskorjanec/Instagram)
The happy pair were always laughing and joking (@aljazskorjanec/Instagram)Aljaž admitted he feared the judge at first - but it wasn't long before he soon found his softer side.
He shared a fun video of them both and says he spoke to his friend just a few weeks ago.
Uploading to Instagram, he wrote: "We both loved our ballroom dancing more than most. One of the people I respected and feared most in the @bbcstrictly ballroom, but then we became such amazing friends, always laughing and cracking jokes.
"We only spoke a couple of weeks ago, and I wish we could’ve cracked one last joke together. And like your last message to me, Len, you were always my favourite too."
Aljaž's wife, pro dancer turned It Takes Two host Janette Manrara ,said Len was "one of the nicest, funniest, and kindest people I ever had the absolute pleasure of working with and calling a friend".
The 78-year-old passed away on Saturday night surrounded by his family.
When previously diagnosed with cancer, he still worked on Dancing With The Stars in the US and a series of Strictly as well.
But Len struck fear into his friend when they first worked together! (S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said he was advised to get his mole checked after someone noticed it while he was playing golf.
He said: "I'm not medical at all, so I said, 'I don't know, what is it?' I went and they took it out and it's gone. It was a tiny little thing on my forehead… probably because I play a lot of golf and I don't wear a hat, which I do now.
"It was good that it was what it was because it was like a little early warning, which was good.
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His followers were quick to offer their condolences (@aljazskorjanec/Instagram)"I would have probably carried on in my own sweet way and it could have become something far worse!"
A spokeswoman confirmed that Len had passed away over the weekend to the MailOnline: "I can confirm he died peacefully over the weekend surrounded by his family."
Len had been staying in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, when he died on Saturday evening.
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