Exactly. A genuine legend of television, who changed the face of Natural History programming.

Not a forgetful, stubborn old presenter who will not give up the limelight.

The show was much more enjoyable last night, and the ratings were up which shows that he's not indispensable. People will watch whether he's there or not.

After all Bruce is in his 80's and the producers knew come mid November he will be getting treatment for varicose veins. I'm half his age and wish i was as fit as him. He'll be back next week .

Where did you get that from? All the reports show him in Florence on holiday with his wife.

No they won't. One show is meaningless as most didn't even know he would be absent. They love the series because Brucie is the main man.

You mean a few posters hadn't taken in the fact that he was going to be off this week, not most. Who exactly are "they". Have you skipped over the threads that say how much better it was last night?

Yeah he got treatment for his varicose vein problem and is recovering at his second home. It was all cleared with the producers months ago. He said it himself on an interview on tv. In his 80's and that's all that's wrong with him ain't bad.

Bruce has 9 months of the year when he can get non urgent treatments done - and I bet he isn't tied to the vagaries of the NHS appointment system either!

If he isn't up to doing the whole run of the show - and I mean the WHOLE show - main and results- for the obscene amount of licence payers money he receives then he should just do that stupid velociraptor shuffle off into the sunset.

I thought his first home was in England and the second in Puerto Rico. Has he got a third in Florence then>

Which interview, and why haven't the media picked up on it, but are showing photos of him and Wilnelia queueing for a museum in Florence?

You've described it to a tee!!!

I HATE it when he does his little shoe shuffle dance at the beginning....I literally cringe every week

Sir Bruce's soft shoe shuffle is a highlight of Strictly for me and many others.

Really?

Wish he'd soft shoe shuffle into the sunset

Sir Bruce might well in four or five years time, but for now we can savour his talent.

I missed him, looking forward to his return next week