BRUCE FORSYTH

Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson, to give “Brucie” his full name, was born in Edmonton, North London, on the 22nd February 1928. He is a British actor, entertainer and presenter, who started his television career when he was still a child. Forsyth also strived for a song and dance career.

Forsyth attended the selective Latymer School in Edmonton, London. He practiced dance in Tottenham and then in Brixton at the age of eight. He started in show business aged 14, with a song, dance and accordion act called "Boy Bruce, the Mighty Atom."

Bruce Forsyth made his television debut in 1939 when he was a child, singing and dancing on a talent show. He continued to sing and dance until 1958. In the very same year, he was for the first time in the limelight as the host of a variety show on ITV called Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium. The show's most fondly remembered element was the game 'Beat the Clock', in which members of the public completed unusual tasks to win prizes, assisted by Forsyth. His disrespectful attitude towards the contestants, by gently mocking them, was a highlight of the show. Since then, Forsyth has been a household name. In the 1960s, he did appear in comedy series and presented The Bruce Forsyth Show. From 1971 onwards, Forsyth became more and more successful. The game-show Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game was a phenomenon, attracting audiences by the millions. Forsyth was now viewed as the game show host par excellence. Forsyth presented a vast number of other game shows, including Bruce Forsyth's Play Your Cards Right, Hollywood or Bust, You Bet! , Takeover Bid, Bruce's Price is Right, Didn’t They Do Well. These shows were either presented on ITV or BBC. Forsyth has acknowledged that he partially had to sacrifice his song and dance career due to his hosting of so many long-running game shows. Brucie appeared in far fewer entertainment shows than he would have wished. Those in which he did appear include the Bruce Forsyth's Big Night and the music show Bruce's Guest Night. Forsyth seems to be an all-round man. He is also seen as an actor in the films Red Peppers and in the sitcom Slinger's Day. He is currently the co-host of the successful Saturday entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing, which has been broadcasted since 2004 on BBC.

From 1953 to 1973, Forsyth was married to Penny Calvert, with whom he has three daughters. According to his autobiography, he dated Miss World 1964 Ann Sidney during her reign. He was married to Anthea Redfern from 1973 to 1979, with whom he has two daughters. Asked to judge the 1980 Miss World competition, he fell in love with the judge, the 1975 Miss World, Wilnelia Merced; they married in 1983, and have one son together, Jonathan Joseph Forsyth Johnson. Forsyth has his own company, Bruce Forsyth Enterprises Ltd, based in Surrey, to run his day to day monetary affairs.

Désirée Andres & Jennifer Dartevelle