I think about Brucie taken ill has been a fuss about nothing. People get flu all the time, and the BBC has found someone to cover him.

There are more pressing things in life than a worring about Bruce Forsyth.

He will bounce back in a few weeks.

I hope you're right about Bruce bouncing back. I wonder if it was always going to be the case that Claudia would step in should Bruce be unable to do the show or if there's been a massive panic at the BBC all day.

He works on contract, not a BBC permie employee.

He was contracted to do 14(?) Saturday hostings. Now he pulls a sickie, so probably gets £40,000 docked from his pay.

Anyone wanna deliver 9 gags tomorrow for £40K?

Rather unfair: it rather implies that he isn't ill.

Oh fussing and worrying is what DS do best , lets us fuss a bit , its fun

Sir Terry Wogan couldn't and probarly wouldn't do it, because he's busy with Children In Need and will need a rest. Paul O'Grady was a way last week so he may not be back off his hols. Graham Norton is covering for Steve Wright on Radio 2 next week, so he may have been busy also with other projects. Alan Carr could have but he's got a Live Saturday show on Radio 2.

Yes it could have been a panic with these top names who could have covered, but also being busy. Also why bring someone else in who has no idea of the format.

Claudi Winkleman is the best choice as she's involved with the show.

I imagine they had a pretty good idea of what they'd do in this situation, but clearly needed to check Claudia was available before confirming her!

I thought all the speculation about who may replace them was quite good fun. But then I work on my own and don't talk to anyone all day so most likely have an odd idea of fun

Production wise I imagine it's loads easier to have people already involved in the show fill in.

Oh Isopap, DS is only worth joining in if you have an odd idea of fun! I've been off work ill for six weeks and my laptop has been keeping me sane - whenever I feel sorry for myself I join in mad conversations about radish-hurling hamsters and snitch cakes from the naughty step when they're busy fighting over the last red penguin.

Here's a bit of carrot cake to keep you going Iso. I think the speculation is fun too and I can't believe how serious people are getting about a change of presenter for ONE WEEK Stop squabbling you lot or you'll ALL end up on the naughty step and it'll break under the combined weight. And A E is no fun on a Friday night, believe me.

Yum, thank you. Just what I need to keep me going, loads of work to catch up on think it's going to be a late one

I would like Hammie to present the show - hamsters of the world unite - it would be different especially if Hammie were accompanied by JfW - now that would be a treat!. Can I have some carrot cake please.

I think Claudia is really witty and I enjoy watching her on It Takes Two. I'm looking forward to her being on Saturday's show.

Hope Bruce gets well soon!

Yay! Hammy's fan club is growing. At this rate I can see him on the SCD Xmas special, by overhwhelming public demand, doing some sort of radish rumba.

Carrot cake coming up - tho today's recommendation is the Co-Op's (am I allowed to mention them?) cup cakes which are unbelievable, so you can have one of those instead if you prefer. Mr DC is being very good while I'm poorly and brings cake supplies in Thr only good thing about being ill is being allowed to revert back to childhood and refusing to take the medicine unless it's accompanied by something really nice (ie cake, none of this Lucozade nonsense).

Hammie would be so biased it would be untrue. I dread to think what he might do if Craig had the nerve to give Laila anything less than a 9!

They should get Dale Winton in to do it.

I am recovering from flu which included getting a severe chest infection. I have been ill for a month. Bruce is 81 and I imagine that he will be extremely ill for quite a time.

I feel extremely concerned for Brucie and wish him a speedy recovery. Without him the programme just wont be the same.

Very unfair imo, not only does the comment imply that he is not ill, it ignores the fact that he pulled out "on doctor's orders", and it also implies that he does nothing other than tell a few gags for the money.

It also lacks any compassion at all (remembering his age, and the fact that such illnesses can be very serious indeed for people of that age).

Not Claudia ....... I just WISH she would grow up and drop the giggly 14 year old shtick.

I'd come onto this thread to post something similar, but you've already said it so well.

I'll just add my best wishes to Bruce for a speedy recovery.

That is yet to be officially confirmed of course.


Charming. Nasty and potentially offensive comments like that really have no place in a mature discussion.

It's on the EPG and BBC website.

It's actually very astute of the producers to get Ronnie to be Bruce's stand-in.
I suspect they actively wanted to avoid anyone who could be seen as a potential long tern replacement for him in a future series, and also chose someone whose presentation skills come from the same school, so that the overall feel of the show was not radically changed.

I like Claudia. She's great

Where? I've just looked on the BBC website and it still says Tess and Claudia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nzxbr