Bruce Forsyth | |
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![]() Forsyth in 2006 | |
Born | Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson (1928-02-22)22 February 1928 Edmonton, England |
Died | 18 August 2017(2017-08-18) (aged 89) Virginia Water, England |
Resting place | London Palladium |
Other names | Boy Bruce, the Mighty Atom Brucie |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1939–2015 |
Spouses | |
Children | 6 |
Relatives |
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Awards | Knight Bachelor (2011) |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1947–1949 |
Unit | Film Unit |
Sir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson (22 February 1928 – 18 August 2017) was an English entertainer and television presenter whose career spanned more than 75 years.
Forsyth came to national attention from the late 1950s through theITV seriesSunday Night at the London Palladium. He went on to host several game shows, includingThe Generation Game,Play Your Cards Right,The Price Is Right andYou Bet!. He co-presentedStrictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2013.
During his time as host ofThe Generation Game, Forsyth began using what would become his signature 'call and response' greeting with the studio audience, "It's nice to see you, to seeyou...", to which the audience would loudly reply, "Nice!"; he used this on many shows he later hosted for the rest of his career. Forsyth was also known for his "The Thinker" pose, emulatingRodin's sculpture, which he used on many shows he later hosted.
Forsyth was made aKnight Bachelor in the2011 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment and charity.[1] In 2012,Guinness World Records recognised Forsyth as having the longest television career for a male entertainer.[2]
Forsyth was born on Victoria Road inEdmonton,Middlesex, on 22 February 1928,[3] the son of Florence Ada (née Pocknell) and John Thomas Forsyth-Johnson.[4] His family owned a car repair garage and, as members of theSalvation Army, his parents playedbrass instruments; his mother was a singer.[5]
His great-grandfatherJoseph Forsyth Johnson was alandscape architect who worked in several countries,[6] and Bruce believed that his great-great-great-great-grandfather wasWilliam Forsyth (1737–1804) a founder of theRoyal Horticultural Society and the namesake of the plantgenusForsythia. However both of William's sons died without heirs so William had no direct male descendants.[7][8]
Following the outbreak of theSecond World War, Forsyth was evacuated toClacton-on-Sea. Shortly after he arrived, Forsyth's parents allowed him to return to London because he felt homesick.[9] On 21 May 1943, Forsyth's older brother John, who was serving as a pilot in theRoyal Air Force, was killed aged 20 during a training exercise atRAF Turnberry; he is commemorated on theRunnymede Memorial.[10][11] Forsyth attendedthe Latymer School. After watchingFred Astaire in films at the age of eight, he trained in dance inTottenham and thenBrixton.[5]
Forsyth started his live public performances aged 14, with a song, dance andaccordion act called Boy Bruce, the Mighty Atom.[12] His first appearance was at the Theatre Royal inBilston, with The Great Marzo at the top of the bill.[5] He had made his television debut in 1939 as a child, singing and dancing on BBC talent showCome and Be Televised, broadcast fromRadiolympia and introduced byJasmine Bligh.[12][13]
After the war, with the goal of joiningMoss Empires theatres, he spent years on stage with little success and travelled the UK working seven days a week, doing summer seasons,pantomimes andcircuses, where he became renowned for his strong-man act.[14] His act was interrupted bynational service when he was conscripted into the Royal Air Force at the age of 19, which he later reflected taught him "respect and discipline".[15]
In 1958, an appearance with the comedianDickie Henderson led to his being offered the job of compère ofVal Parnell's weekly TV variety show,Sunday Night at the London Palladium.[16] He hosted the show for two years, followed by a year's break, then returned for another year.[17] His schedule of stage performances, which continued throughout the 1960s, forced him to give up the job of host.
Forsyth appeared in the London production ofLittle Me, along withAvril Angers in 1964.[18] In the musical filmStar! (1968), a biopic of stage actressGertrude Lawrence, he played alongside lead performerJulie Andrews as Lawrence's father.[19]
In January 1968Pye Records issued as a single "I'm Backing Britain", supporting thecampaign of the same name, written byTony Hatch andJackie Trent, and sung by Forsyth.[20] The chorus included "The feeling is growing, so let's keep it going, the good times are blowing our way". All involved in making the single took cuts in their fees or royalties so that the single sold for 5s. instead of the going rate of 7s.4+1⁄2d. Forsyth happily endorsed the campaign, saying "The country has always done its best when it is up against the wall. If everyone realises what we are up against we can get out of trouble easily."[21] The song did not make the charts,[22] selling only 7,319 copies.[23]
On 7 October 1968, he was top of the bill on the opening night of the Golden Garter nightclub, Wythenshawe.[24] Two years later, he played Swinburne in theDisney fantasy filmBedknobs and Broomsticks.[25] In 1976, he appeared onThe Muppet Show, where he took on the duoStatler and Waldorf.[26]
During his spell of hostingSunday Night at the London Palladium as part of the show he hosted the 15-minute game showBeat the Clock.[27] Forsyth's next success wasThe Generation Game (BBC1, 1971–1977, 1990–1994), which proved popular and attracted huge Saturday evening audiences.[28] It was on this show that Forsyth introduced his "The Thinker" pose, emulatingRodin's sculpture, appearing in silhouette each week after the opening titles. This pose is reminiscent of the circus strong-man attitude, and Forsyth used it on many shows he later hosted.[12] He also wrote and sang the theme for the show "Life is the Name of the Game."[29] Millions of viewers became familiar with the rasp of Forsyth'snorth London accented voice and his "distinctively pointy" chin that he emphasised in poses such as the "human question mark", with chin over raised knee.[5] During his time as host ofThe Generation Game he began using what would become his signature 'call and response' greeting with the studio audience, "It's nice to see you, to seeyou...", to which the audience would loudly reply, "Nice!";[30] he used this on many shows he later hosted for the rest of his career. He was replaced onThe Generation Game byLarry Grayson.[31]
In 1977 he announced that he was leaving television to take the star role in a new musical,The Travelling Music Show, based on the songs ofAnthony Newley andLeslie Bricusse.[32] The show did reasonably well in provincial theatre, but received poor reviews when it moved to London and it closed after four months in July 1978.
London Weekend Television persuaded him to return to the screen later that year to presentBruce Forsyth's Big Night, a two-hour Saturday-night show on ITV encompassing a variety of different entertainment formats (later reduced to 90 minutes). However, the show was not a success and lasted for just one series.[33] Forsyth remained with ITV, hosting the game showPlay Your Cards Right, which was the UK version of the US originalCard Sharks, from 1980 to 1987, 1994 to 1999,[34] and a brief period from 2002 to 2003, before the show was pulled mid-run.[35]
In 1986, he went to the United States to host a game show onABC,Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak, which ran for 65 episodes from January to April that year.[12] Shortly after, Forsyth was considered byMark Goodson to be a candidate for hosting the revival of ''Card Sharks''; ultimately the jobs went toBob Eubanks (for the daytime version that aired on CBS), andBill Rafferty (who hosted the night-time syndicated version). Forsyth starred in theThames Television sitcomSlinger's Day in 1986 and 1987, a sequel toTripper's Day which had starredLeonard Rossiter, whom Forsyth replaced in the new show.[25] He was the original host ofYou Bet! (1988 to 1990).[36]
Forsyth fronted the third version ofThe Price Is Right (1995 to 2001).[34] His unsuccessful gameshows includeTakeover Bid (1990 to 1991),[37]Hollywood Or Bust (1984),[38] andDidn't They Do Well! (2004).[39] During the 1970s Forsyth featured in theStork margarine adverts on television,[40] and then during the 1980s and 1990s he appeared in an advertising campaign for the furniture retailerCourts, in which he dressed as a judge.[41]
Forsyth celebrated his 70th birthday in 1998 and appeared in a week-long run of his one-man show at theLondon Palladium.[25] In 2000, Forsyth hosted a revived series calledTonight at the London Palladium.[42]
In 2003, and again in 2010, Forsyth was a guest presenter on the news and satire quiz showHave I Got News for You. Forsyth had calledPaul Merton, one of the team captains on the show, to suggest himself as a guest presenter.[43][44] He co-presentedStrictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2013, formally stepping down from hosting the regular live show in April 2014. This decision was made to reduce his workload and for the preparation of pre-recorded specials.[45]
On 7 April 2010, Forsyth became one of the first three celebrities to be subjected to the British version of the American institution of acomedy roast, on Channel 4'sA Comedy Roast.[46] Forsyth was the subject of theBBCgenealogy seriesWho Do You Think You Are?, broadcast on 19 July 2010.[47] On 20 March 2010, Forsyth appeared on the autobiography-interview programmePiers Morgan's Life Stories, which was broadcast onITV.[48]
In 2011, Forsyth released a collection of songs on CD calledThese Are My Favourites. He chose the songs for their personal and musical importance, including a duet with his granddaughter, Sophie Purdie.These Are My Favourites also includes a recording of "Paper Moon" withNat King Cole.[49]
Forsyth's showbiz awards includeVariety Club Show Business Personality of the Year in 1975;TV Times Male TV Personality of the Year, in 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978; and BBC TV Personality of the Year in 1991.[50][51]
On 7 June 1959 Forsyth was inducted into the elite entertainers' fraternity, theGrand Order of Water Rats, Water Rat number 566.[52]
In 1987, a fan club was created – the Great Bruce Forsyth Social Club.[53] They would later go on to assist Forsyth in singing his opening number, "It's Never Too Late", at hisAudience With show.[53] He repaid this favour by adding the society to his busy schedule in June 1997 and appeared at their 10th annual general meeting inPlymouth.[54]
Forsyth was appointedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1998 Birthday Honours,[55] andCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2006 New Year Honours.[56]
On 27 February 2005, the BBC screenedABAFTA Tribute to Bruce Forsyth to mark the entertainer's 60 years in show business.[57] He had a bronze bust of himself unveiled at theLondon Palladium in May 2005. The sculpture was created by his son-in-law and is on display in the theatre's Cinderella Bar.[57]
In 2008, Forsyth received theBAFTA Fellowship.[58] In 2009, he was awarded the Theatre Performer's Award at the annualCarl Alan Awards. Hosted by theInternational Dance Teachers' Association, the awards are voted for by the leading dance organisations in the United Kingdom and recognise those who have made an exceptional contribution to the world of dance and theatre.[59]
Forsyth received aRoyal Television Society Lifetime Achievement Award on 17 March 2009.[60] On 26 January 2011 he received theNational Television Awards special recognition award.[61]
Forsyth was made aKnight Bachelor in the2011 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment and charity.[1] This followed a years-long public campaign to award him a knighthood. His investiture, by theQueen, took place on 12 October 2011 and he became Sir Bruce Forsyth CBE.[62]
In July 2012, Forsyth was given the honour of carrying the Olympic flame through London, as it finally reached the city on the penultimate day of theLondon 2012 Torch Relay.[63]
Forsyth earned a place in the 2013Guinness Book of World Records as the male TV entertainer having had the longest career, calling it a "wonderful surprise".[64][65] He also appeared at the 2013Glastonbury Festival on the Avalon stage, becoming the oldest performer to ever play at the festival.[66] In 2018 the NTAs honoured the memory of Sir Bruce by naming an NTA award after him.
Forsyth was married to Penny Calvert from 1953 until their divorce in 1973, with whom he had three daughters named Debbie, Julie, and Laura.[67] Julie is a songwriter, who composedthe UK's entry in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest.
In 1973, he marriedAnthea Redfern, the hostess onThe Generation Game. They had daughters Charlotte and Louisa, before they too divorced in 1979. Asked to judge the1980 Miss World competition, Forsyth met Puerto Rican beauty queenWilnelia Merced, who wasthe 1975 winner and a fellow judge.[68] They were married from 1983[67] until his death in 2017. They had one son together named Jonathan Joseph (who is better known as "JJ").[69] By his six children, Forsyth had nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.[70]
Forsyth was a supporter and ambassador for the children's charityCaudwell Children,[71] regularly appearing at many of their fundraising events.[72]
Forsyth lived on theWentworth Estate in Surrey.[73][74] Until 2000, he also occupied a flat inNell Gwynn House,Sloane Avenue,Chelsea.[75]
Forsyth was a supporter of the Conservative party, admired Margaret Thatcher and attended fund raising events for the party.[76]
In August 2014, Forsyth was one of 200 public figures who signed a letter toThe Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September'sreferendum on that issue.[77]
Towards the end of his life, Forsyth suffered from ill health, which reduced his appearances in public. On 8 October 2015, he was admitted to hospital for cuts and minor concussion after tripping over a rug at his home and hitting his head.[78] A month later, he made his last full TV appearance onStrictly Children in Need Special,[36] with filming for this taking place prior to him undergoing surgery for an abdominalaortic aneurysm on 12 November.[79] As a result of his surgery, Forsyth was unable to host that year'sStrictly Come Dancing Christmas Special as planned, but a spokesman representing him later stated he would play a part in the production, recording a special video message for it.[80]
After 2015, Forsyth made no further public appearances, as his health began to decline, with his wife commenting that he struggled to move easily following his surgery.[81] On 26 February 2017, he was again admitted to hospital with a severe chest infection and spent five days inintensive care, before returning home on 3 March 2017.[82]
On 18 August 2017, Forsyth died ofbronchial pneumonia at hisWentworth Estate home inVirginia Water, aged 89.[83][84] Several celebrities paid tribute to Forsyth following his death, including his formerStrictly Come Dancing co-hostTess Daly; his friendsMichael Parkinson,Jimmy Tarbuck, andDes O'Connor, theBBC director generalTony Hall and the then Prime Minister,Theresa May.[85]BBC One airedSir Bruce Forsyth – Mr Entertainment, in place of the scheduledThe One Show, in tribute.[86] Forsyth was cremated on 5 September 2017 in a private ceremony attended only by close family and friends.
A few days later, on 9 September 2017, when that year's series ofStrictly Come Dancing began, it paid tribute to Forsyth with a special ballroom dance routine from their professional dancers.[87] On 14 December 2017, the BBC announced that it would produce a tribute show to Forsyth at theLondon Palladium on 21 February 2018.[88] Hosted by hisStrictly Come Dancing co-hostTess Daly,Sir Bruce: A Celebration was broadcast on BBC One on 11 March 2018.[89] On 18 August 2018, the first anniversary of his death, Forsyth's ashes were laid to rest beneath the stage at theLondon Palladium in a private ceremony.[90]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1958–1964 | Sunday Night at the London Palladium[91] | Host | TV series |
1961 | The Royal Variety Performance[91] | Host | TV series |
1965–1973 | The Bruce Forsyth Show[91] | Host | TV series |
1966 1975 | Frankie and Bruce[91] | Co-star | TV movie documentary |
1968 | Star![91] | Arthur Lawrence | Film |
1969 | Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? | Uncle Limelight | Film |
Red Peppers[91] | George Pepper | TV movie | |
1971 | Bedknobs and Broomsticks[91] | Swinburne, Bookman's henchman | Film |
The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins[91] | Clayton | Film (segment "Avarice") | |
The Royal Variety Performance[91] | Host | TV series | |
1971–1977 1990–1994 | The Generation Game[91] | Host | TV series; 207 episodes |
1973 | The Good Old Days[91] | Guest star | TV series |
1974 | Bruce Forsyth Meets Lulu[92] | Host | TV movie |
1976 | The Mating Season[91] | Bruce Gillespie | TV series |
The Muppet Show[26] | Guest star | TV series | |
1978 | Bruce Forsyth's Big Night[91] | Host | TV series |
1980 | Sammy and Bruce[91] | Co-star | TV movie |
1980–1987 1994–1999 2002–2003 | Play Your Cards Right[91] | Host | TV series |
1983 | Anna Pavlova[91] | Alfred Batt | TV series |
1984 | Hollywood or Bust[91] | Host | TV series |
1986 | Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak[91] | Host | TV series |
Magnum, P.I. | Lottery Host | TV series Episode: "A Little Bit of Luck...A Little Bit of Grief" | |
1986–1987 | Slinger's Day[91] | Cecil Slinger | TV series |
1988 | The Royal Variety Performance[91] | Co-host withRonnie Corbett | TV series |
Bruce and Ronnie[91] | Co-star | TV series | |
1988–1990 | You Bet![91] | Host | TV series |
1990–1991 | Takeover Bid[91] | Host | TV series |
1992 | Fiddly Foodle Bird[91] | Narrator | TV series |
1992–1993 | Bruce's Guest Night[91] | Host | TV series |
1995–2001 | Bruce's Price Is Right[91] | Host | TV series |
1997 | An Audience with Bruce Forsyth[91] | Host | TV special |
2000 | House![91] | Himself | Film, (final film role) |
Tonight at the London Palladium[91] | Host | TV series | |
2003, 2010 | Have I Got News for You[44] | Guest Host | TV series |
2004 | Didn't They Do Well[91] | Host | TV series |
2004–2013, 2014–15 specials | Strictly Come Dancing[note 1][91] | Co-host withTess Daly | TV series |
2010 | Who Do You Think You Are?[47] | Guest | TV series documentary |
2011 | The Rob Brydon Show[93] | Guest | TV series |
2012 | National Television Awards[91] | Guest (With Ant & Dec) | TV special |
2013 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway[94] (Little Ant & Dec segment) | Guest | TV series |
When Miranda Met Bruce[91] | Guest star | TV special | |
2014 | Perspectives: Bruce Forsyth on Sammy Davis Jr[95] | Host | TV series documentary |
Bruce's Hall of Fame[91] | Host | TV movie |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1958–2004 | One-man show which had various titles | Himself | Intermittently toured UK[96][97] |
1962 | Every Night at the Palladium[98] | Himself | Starred withMorecambe and Wise in a season at theLondon Palladium |
1964 | Little Me[99] | Various Characters | A 334 performance season at theCambridge Theatre |
1978 | The Traveling Music Show[99] | Fred Limelight | A four-month season atHer Majesty's Theatre, before touring the UK |
1979 | Bruce Forsyth on Broadway[99] | Himself | A five performance season of his one-man show at theWinter Garden Theatre from 12–17 June |
2012–2015 | Bruce Forsyth Entertains[100] | Himself | Toured the UK |
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
UK | ||
Mister Entertainment |
| — |
The Musical Side of Bruce |
| — |
Both Sides of Bruce (Live) |
| — |
Come Get It! |
| — |
Mr. Entertainment |
| — |
These Are My Favourites[49] |
| 58 |
Neopets, avirtual pet website, had a collectible character which was originally a direct representation of Forsyth himself. The pet was later renamed to just "Bruce" and his appearance changed to that of a penguin to better fit with the other pets on the platform. Despite the change, the pet retained Forsyth's iconic bow tie.[102][103]