Sir Bruce Forsyth Dies

[Darandio]

R.I.P Bruce, growing up you made Saturday night television a must watch in our household.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40978576

Sir Bruce Forsyth, the veteran entertainer and presenter of many successful TV shows, has died aged 89.

The former Strictly Come Dancing presenter had been unwell for some time and was in hospital earlier this year after a severe chest infection.

His long career in showbusiness began when he was aged just 14.

He became Britain's best-paid TV star, famous for hosting game shows like The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and The Price is Right.

He also presented BBC One's Strictly with Tess Daly from 2004 to 2014.

Sir Bruce had not been seen in public recently, due to ill health. He was too frail to attend the funerals of close friends Ronnie Corbett and Sir Terry Wogan last year.

In 2015, the presenter underwent keyhole surgery after suffering two aneurysms, which were discovered following a fall at his Surrey home.

In an interview last October, his wife said he was still having "a bit of a problem moving". She said: "He's in incredible shape mentally but he gets very tired."

 

[yorksrob]

RIP Brucie. The man who launched a thousand impressions.

His Generation Game was probably the best Saturday evening TV there's been (along with Allo Allo).

 

[Western Lord]

Quite literally a giant of light entertainment. RIP Sir Bruce and thanks for a lifetime of laughs.

 

[Strathclyder]

Was dreading this day. R.I.P Brucie. Every bit a T.V. legend. Won't be the same without him, for sure...

 

[Karl]

It was "Nice to see you, to see you..." was a privilege.

(I'm off to youTube for the memories. Thank you Sir!)

 

[SpacePhoenix]

R.I.P. Bruce:cry:

 

[theblackwatch]

A legendary entertainer who kept going until very recently, and seemed to be loved by all generations. My earliest memories of him are when he hosted The Generation Game, which we would watch at my grandparents back in the 70s. Always a big cheer when the cuddly toy appeared!

 

[507021]

A great shame, RIP Sir Bruce.

 

[TheEdge]

A sad loss, lets hope this doesn't open the gates for a new round of "BBC in the 1970s" claims...

 

[yorksrob]

At this sad stage, I would like to say in memory of Sir Bruce:
"Nice to see you, to see you...(nice)"
"Give us a twirl Anthea"
"Anything for a pair ? Not in this game"
"What's on the board, Miss Ford" and
"Didn't they do well !"

 

[Crossover]

A very sad loss - RIP Brucie.

I mainly remember him from the era of Play Your Cards Right which I used to watch with my grandparents from time to time (so some of the earlier catchphrases are a bit lost on me, I'm afraid!). Since then of course it has been Strictly. A hugely talented performer who seemed to be able to lend his hand to a whole range of different things, from comedy, to singing, to dancing, and more and make them all seem effortless - this day was, of course, inevitable and it was always going to be a sad day when it came.

As an aside, did anyone notice Alistair Stewart's mention of this on ITV News at 10 mentioning that Brucie "is dead" - seems a very cold way to word it!

 

[GusB]

A very sad loss indeed. He was a great entertainer.

I was slightly bemused about the tribute programme being broadcast so soon after the news hour, though. Clearly his death wasn't a great surprise to those in BBC Towers. Am I alone in thinking that it was a little bit too soon?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

The first series that I ever saw him on was The Generation Game. He made that show, it was never the same after he left the series

 

[najaB]

Am I alone in thinking that it was a little bit too soon?

I expect that the his family was involved in the decision - perhaps even Brucie himself.

 

[Trainfan344]

A very sad loss indeed. He was a great entertainer.

I was slightly bemused about the tribute programme being broadcast so soon after the news hour, though. Clearly his death wasn't a great surprise to those in BBC Towers. Am I alone in thinking that it was a little bit too soon?

It's well known that the BBC has memorial programmes ready to go for various big celebs and royalty, Brucie was ill for a long time.

 

[yorksrob]

Lets not forget Brucie's part in the excellent Disney film 'Bednobs and broomsticks' as an east end gangster.

I loved that film in my childhood

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It's well known that the BBC has memorial programmes ready to go for various big celebs and royalty, Brucie was ill for a long time.

The problem is that broadcasting them that quickly means a lot of people won't have heard about it in time to watch it. A week after would perhaps be better?

 

[theblackwatch]

The problem is that broadcasting them that quickly means a lot of people won't have heard about it in time to watch it. A week after would perhaps be better?

Most people now have access to iPlayer or some form of catch up though.

 

[cf111]

Fond memories of Play Your Cards Right and he presented one of the best ever (and probably most surreal) episodes of Have I Got News For You.

 

[317 forever]

Fond memories of Play Your Cards Right and he presented one of the best ever (and probably most surreal) episodes of Have I Got News For You.

Indeed, to this day I remember him namechecking the programme Have I Got News For You and adding For You Have I Got and inviting the audience to shout News.

 

[Crossover]

Fond memories of Play Your Cards Right and he presented one of the best ever (and probably most surreal) episodes of Have I Got News For You.

Indeed, to this day I remember him namechecking the programme Have I Got News For You and adding For You Have I Got and inviting the audience to shout News.

I don't think I saw it, barring a couple of clips which have been shown on TV tonight. I really must dig it out on YouTube

 

[martin2345uk]

On finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq:

“It would be nice to see them, to see them...”

Brilliant episode.

“Higher or lower?”
Hislop: “I’m not sure this programme can go much lower”

 

[Cowley]

On finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq:

“It would be nice to see them, to see them...”

Brilliant episode.

“Higher or lower?”
Hislop: “I’m not sure this programme can go much lower”

I remember that episode, very funny indeed.

 

[Groningen]

Totally unknown in the Netherlands.

 

[najaB]

Totally unknown in the Netherlands.

Yeah, he was quintessentially British. I don't think he ever tried to make a name for himself outside the UK.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Yeah, he was quintessentially British. I don't think he ever tried to make a name for himself outside the UK.

He tried to crack the USA a couple of times, I think, judging from the obituaries?

 

[Crossover]

Yeah, he was quintessentially British. I don't think he ever tried to make a name for himself outside the UK.

He tried to crack the USA a couple of times, I think, judging from the obituaries?

Yes, one of the programmes broadcast over the weekend suggested he had a go at Broadway, but it didn't take off

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Yes, one of the programmes broadcast over the weekend suggested he had a go at Broadway, but it didn't take off

He also had a crack at the American gameshow market on ABC as well but it was a ratings flop and was not renewed after it's 13 week run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FXf7e2UEHU&t=457s

 

[SteveP29]

Fond memories of Play Your Cards Right and he presented one of the best ever (and probably most surreal) episodes of Have I Got News For You.

There were 2 episodes on BBC1 last night, I was hoping it was going to be one of them, after seeing the clips on the news on Friday.
I never got into HIGNFY because (outside of Alexei Sayle's Stuff), I've always found Angus Deayton to be a smarmy tw*t and since I never watched it when he presented it, I didn't suddenly start when he got sacked.
I do however catch the odd episode when there's nothing else on and do enjoy it when I do watch it.

 

[cf111]

There were 2 episodes on BBC1 last night, I was hoping it was going to be one of them, after seeing the clips on the news on Friday.
I never got into HIGNFY because (outside of Alexei Sayle's Stuff), I've always found Angus Deayton to be a smarmy tw*t and since I never watched it when he presented it, I didn't suddenly start when he got sacked.
I do however catch the odd episode when there's nothing else on and do enjoy it when I do watch it.

I have a similar opinion of Mr Deayton, the only thing I liked in him was One Foot in the Grave. If you get a chance and haven't seen it already the episode after his coke/prostitute scandal broke in The News of the World is brilliant, Merton and Hislop rip him to bits.