So Bruce is now refusing to comment. His future on Strictly is 'strictly confidential'. Seems an odd state of affairs for somebody who until recently had expressed no desire to retire.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s104/...ly-future.html

I am now wondering whether Bruce has decided not to return for the new series but has agreed to wait for a new host to be found before anouncing his departure.

Either that or he is going to remain on the show in a very different role.

Any thoughts?

No news could be good news if said lack of news is implying he won't be returning

If he goes - Graham Norton please. Have been well impressed by him on Over The Rainbow.

Stuck record. Strictly is a make-up of many successful elements, and Brucie is certainly one of them.

He was good, but he looked bored and washed out during the finale.

As opposed to SOME of the vaccuous personality-free nitwits who make up the younger presenters of both sexes?

Not in my opinion he's not, in fact he's probably the worst thing about the show. His jokes aren't funny, he has to prompt the crowd to laugh, he still can't pronounce Ola Jordan's name right after 4 years....I could go on....

He used to be but that was at least 2 series ago.....time for a change

From today's DS story : Norton confirmed that he is in talks with the BBC over other Saturday night formats, but "nothing is fixed".

I hope he replaces Bruce. GN has been much maligned over the years, but he knows the boundaries - he can be filthy (and funny!) on his chat show but knows what's appropriate for a family show. And a bit of camp never hurt anyone, Daarling!

I would love to see either Graham Norton or Paul O,Grady get the show they have the perfect amount of camp comedy & presenting skills

Bruce Forsyth is just not funny his jokes are just embarrasing , And he stubles over his lines when he is presenting the links

The show where Tess & Claudia presented was far more entertaining apart from the bits with Ronnie Corbett

Ps the BBC should stop putting Strictly up against the X Factor

if Bruce does go the BBC could do a lot worse than getting Dancing With The Stars host, Tom Bergeron over. He has a good rapport with Len & Bruno, is funny but not OTT.

Unfortunately Strictly clashes with DWTS which is why Len and Bruno fly backwards and forwards every week. I can't see Tom Bergeron doing the same thing as he has other commitments in the US as well as DWTS. Much as I would love him to do it.

"Very very difficult??" are you sure???

Tess D managed perfectly well on the night that Bruce was down with flu and showed that she's perfectly OK on her own. Ronnie Corbett obviously thought so too.
Many viewers praised that show as being the best in the series for presentations - it was full of snafus, like jade's injury, but Tess managed it fine, absolutely fine.

The only question is who replaces Tess backstage if Claudia Winkelmann prefers to stick to her own show ITT. Zoe Ball would be great here, or any of the past presenters who've been on the show, including Kate garroway - about to get the sack from GMTV. It really doesn't have to be Chris Hollins!!


Bruce in permanent retirement would by itself bring the show back from 19th into 21st century.

The BBC could spend his extravagant salary on better sets and more money for the professionals.

Graham Norton has been quoted elsewhere as saying that he's already toning down his jokes and is ready to tone them down further as the public is now turning against the "rude and filthy is fun" fashion at long last. He could be quite a safe host, as "Rainbow" has shown. But the SCRIPTWRITERS need to be changed, now.

Graham Norton would at least have the ingenuity to deviate from the script and react properly to unplanned incidents/comments, a skill Bruce lost years before Strictly.

Can't believe I'm going to defend Bruce, but I disagree! He very occasionally redeems himself by reacting off the cuff, though he invariably uses it as an excuse to say "look at me - I'm the star!". His main problem is the autocue/script.

As much as I like Paul O'Grady (his R2 show is essential listening), I feel he would go too far off script and wouldn't run a tight enough ship. He's another one who makes it all about him and has obviously got some prima donna tendencies, too - hence the less than amicable departures from both ITV and C4.

Graham Norton is now Mr Saturday Night (sorry, Bruce!) and should claim his rightful place!

I quite like the idea of Graham Norton hosting strictly (I know lots of people might feel otherwise) At least I like the way he has hosted Over the Rainbow and the other ALW linked programmes. He had a good rapport with ALW and much more warmth than many other presenters. From what I remember he was ok on the other dance show (Strictly Dance Fever).

If Bruce goes - so does one of the scriptwriters - HE is listed as a scriptwriter in the credits, so he himself is responsible for the awful jokes etc that "they told him to say..."

I would like to see Graham take over. Paul O'Grady can be a bit much at times, and I remember him saying in an interview a few years ago he would 'never' want to host SCD, and even criticised it. Plus his ITV contract starts up again around that time, they wouldn't let him go over to the BBC.

Jason Manford might be alright? He is clearly keen on getting into presenting, with his move to The One Show etc.

Bruce has never EVER been any good with autocue - Even in his prime. His strength has always been, and is to this day, non-written, off the fly hosting.

Tonight's HIGNFY will be interesting

I am coming round to the idea of Graham Norton replacing Brucie (if it happens) but I would never have thought that a year ago

Yes, I think Graham Norton would be a good choice. I have to fastforward Bruce, he just makes me cringe.

I would vote for Graham too.

He's shown himself to be a good presenter on other programmes and would be perfect for the kitsch of Strictly.

I've never liked Bruce. He's just such a show off.

Now that money is tight I think the BBC will want to get Graham Norton to do more for his money, so I think they might be looking to get rid of Bruce and use his salary to pay the participants. Also re Brian Conley, I think his brother works backstage on Strictly, I'm sure he was on ITT a couple of years ago. Maybe the two of them would like to work together, or maybe not?

Edit to add Alan Conley worked on Strictly in 2007.
Last edited by sunnymeg : 27-05-2010 at 17:25

Brucie's performance on HIGNFY should have ruled him out from ever appearing on ANY TV again!! Dire doesn't even come close.

JJ