I adore Bruce Forsyth and am so glad he's returning to host Strictly Come Dancing 7. Few people make me laugh so much.

However, I do not want to see him ridiculed for his links between dances again this year.

So I do hope the producers - given they're all for change this season - will find a better way for Bruce's legendary spontaneity to take the place of the 'gags'.

This could be Bruce's last series and I just want it to go well for him.

I think that many people now laugh at Bruce Forsyth, not with him. His jokes are appalling, he can't read the autocue, his 'off the cuff' remarks are often tasteless and offensive, he can't sing, can't dance, and has an over-inflated ego. For this, he receives a ridiculously high salary. You can't even blame the script writers for the jokes, as he's one of them!

As far as we're concerned, retaining him means that the BBC has lost more viewers. It's a shame that he can't seem to realise that he is well and truly past it, and go with dignity.

Doddery he is!

I think Bruce is absolutely right for the gentle, old school ambiance of Strictly. If he went it would lose some of it's charm.

Some people miss the point of this programme.
It is a Saturday night entertainment show for all the family.
Bruce is exactly right for that, corny jokes from scriptwriters and all.
I suppose the knockers would like to see it more like "Come Dancing."
This got pushed and pulled all over the schedules because of poor ratings and finally canned.

Give it a rest.

If Bruce wasn't there, think of the alternatives. Some really naff people already contracted to the BBC on huge salaries.
Take your pick.

I'd take Dusty Bin off the scrapheap rather than have the doddery old has been that is Bruce Forsyth.

And how many times do people have to be told (not a personal swipe at you Doghouse BTW) that dear BRUCIE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE AWFUL JOKES HE SPOUTS.

Check out the credits at the end - B Forsyth is listed as one of the scriptwriters so he cannot blame anyone else "for making me say that!"

Another Brucie fan here - I think he's fab!!!!

But I do prefer his ad libs to the scripted jokes - regardless of who writes them.

We've done this so many times before haven't we?

Bruce has to "fill in" while the contestants get back to the "green room" to be asked daft questions by; "The Girl With the Two Left Feet."
The distance they had to travel was much longer in earlier series than has been recently, so there was a lot of dire rubbish he had to spout to fill in the time. It's what people tend to remember.
Yes, the jokes are often pretty bad, but I doubt if the BBC pays much for scriptwriters.
Anyway they're probably too busy writing the stupid "adlibs" full of onomatopoeia and alliteration, with which the judges come out regardless of the quality of the performance that they've just witnessed. None of them are bright enough to come up with such stuff spontaneously.

It's not an easy job, as he has mentioned in an interview, he gets a floor manager waving his hands at him to speed up, or fill out, while he's trying to read a sodding auto-cue over the noise of an audience.

In the circumstances, I think he does well.

What a lovely way to put it!

I think you're absolutely right -I do agree that Bruce can be a bit 'hide behind the cushion' at times -however, we've never known Strictly without him and I think it would lose some of its appeal if he were to leave.

Although it may be nearing the time for him to retire -theres no one else I can think of as a suitable replacement. Am I the only person who thinks Anton isnt suitable for the job?

I agree 100%.

Anyone else would change the dynamics of the show and I know that will have to happen sometime, but I'd prefer Bruce to carry on for now.

I agree with you.

I like Bruce and he has the right attitude for the show.
Not so sure I like Tess, I think she is contributing absolutely nothing.

I still feel that the BBC are lining up Anton to take over Bruce's place when he retires and that would not be a bad thing. He knows about dance, he loves the show, much better than bringing in some comedian/ presenter, I can think of a lot who would make me cringe. Then when Anton is in charge they might bring in someone better than Tess Daly to co host, someone with a brain under that blonde mop.

I can take or leave Tess tbh. I would hope any replacement for her would be an improvement though, as she hasn't really adapted her style from the very start - you'd think she'd have picked up a few pointers by now that she could at least remark on during her 'bit'!

Another one in agreement with your beautifully worded sentiments. I am in a minority though, as I like Tess as well!

I like her but I don't think she adds much to the show.

Very well said.

I must admit that Brucie's weak jokes did get a bit on my pip last year, but in the odd moment of ad-libbing he had, the quality was still there imo His presence is enormous and it fills me with dread that he might be replaced by someone like Graham Norton - who I wouldn't watch even at gunpoint

If the beeb have any sense, they'll keep the presenting job 'in-house' when Brucie calls it a day. I'd prefer Gethin but I'd be ok with Anton too

Brucie's problem is that he's the worst possible presenter for Strictly......

Apart from all the others!!!


I - personally - would love to see Brucie retire - I have very fond memories of him going back to panto 50 years ago, when he was VERY good. The trouble is - who else is there???

Suggestions on a postcard please,

JJ

Being a mere stripling JJ, my memories of Brucie only go back 40 years

That's just the rub, isn't it? WHO? I can think of several that would send me into a psychopathic rage and others that would have me phoning the Samaritans every 5mins...An SCD 'insider' is my only hope

I think Bruce should retire as he is doing himself no favours - other than financially of course - and I think is losing a lot of respect from people who loved him years ago.

I'm sure Bruce is credited as one of the writers at the end of the show. So those bad jokes are all his.

I'm actually think Bruce thinks those jokes are witty. It would be different if he told the jokes as if they were meant to be naff. I have never got that impression.

So you dont like Bruce, fair enough but honestly there is no need to be so nasty about him.

I like him

I dont like Tess, I dont like Bruno, Len has too high an opinion of himself so I have gone off him. I dont like James and Ola but that is just my point of view which a lot of people wouldnt agree with.

I will never go on the James and Ola threads to slag them off, I just stay away.

All I can say about Tess and Bruno is that they dont contibute anything to the show imo. Other than that I have no real interest in them.

Yesterday, I was watching the repeats of last series and I was just cringing at Bruce. IMO, he's well past his SCD sell by date.

Bruce's style of comedy is based on telling naff jokes, that's why he pulls all his difference faces when the audience groans.

I'm afraid I'd have to agree with this. What I want to know is, how come Arlene has to go because she's deemed too old and yet they keep Brucie, he's an embarrassment ! That's why it's good to tape it then I can run past all his bits.

Whilst I applaud your sentiments, claire, I have to say that I think that rather a lot of the charm and gentle ambiance have already been lost, after the last year's shennanigans and what is already happening this year, before anyone has even stepped on to the dance floor