A song and dance man from the old school, whose career spanned music hall to Strictly Come Dancing, Sir Bruce Forsyth, who has died aged 89, will be remembered as one of Britain’s greatest entertainers.
The face of Saturday night television for successive generations, always armed with a catchphrase – “Nice to see you, to see you…” or quip, Sir Bruce held the record for enjoying the longest on-screen career for a male entertainer.
The king of the game show, fronting The Generation Game, then ITV’s Play Your Cards Right and The Price Is Right, the secret to the London-born performer’s formidable 75-year career was the early years he spent cutting his teeth on end-of-the-pier shows.
Master of live performance
Launching his career in show business aged just 14 with his song, dance and accordion act, Boy Bruce, The Mighty Atom, Forsyth learnt early on how to work a live audience.
Television ended the careers of radio-based music hall acts unable to adapt but Forsyth was determined to thrive in the new medium.
Bruce’s big break came in 1958, after he landed a job as compère on Sunday Night At The London Palladium aged 30.
A prime-time staple during the 60s and 70s, Forsyth entertained 20m viewers each week with the BBC Saturday night show The Generation Game.
As well as minting catchphrases fondly remembered 40 years on, “Brucie” introduced his “The Thinker” pose, emulating Rodin’s statue.
A new generation discovered Forsyth when the BBC asked the veteran to recreate Saturday night family-viewing by pairing him with Tess Daly for the 2004 launch of Strictly Come Dancing.
His on-air gags might have attracted groans. But in-between takes he would treat the studio audience to unscripted, witty asides or a tap dance – he couldn’t resist entertaining a crowd.
Forsyth knew his value. He amassed an estimated £17m fortune and lived in Surrey with his third wife, the Puerto Rican former Miss World Wilnelia Merced.
Mocked Jagger at Glastonbury
But he was also loyal to his employers and always recognised that the show was bigger than the star. He didn’t like being typecast as a game show host but if the show had a chance, he would sign up.
Defying his advancing years, in 2013 Forsyth stepped out on to the stage at Glastonbury to a standing ovation, where he performed a host of classic songs and teased Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger.
His energy appeared inexhaustible but Forsyth was battling health problems behind the scenes.
Forsyth quit Strictly the following year, asking: “Whoever leaves a show at the top? Well I did. It was time for me to go, and there are other things to do.”
The tributes which marked the passing of a national treasure, whose career is unlikely to ever be replicated, were united in agreement: “Didn’t he do well?!”.