I think that Bruce is very talented and in his day he was the star of Saturday night TV. However, nowadays he makes me cringe, and so I record the programme so I can fast forward through his bits. I think he should retire with grace, and due respect.

I think Tess and Claudia do a very good job without him. However, in the longer term, I do thin they need to find a "big star" to front the show. It needs to be someone who has trained to dance, and has earned their place on the stage and screen as a presenter. There are lots of contenders.

Let Brucie go now before he makes any more auto cue mistakes. He is past it bless him.

Not missing him one jot - the more he's off, the more Claudia is on. I bloody love her, she's fab!

Why doesn't Terry take a holiday so he can see if we miss him too.
I recommend a survivalist holiday in a volcano.

I will pay for that. Most of my money's going to worthy causes when I die anyway, but I'm willing to shell out some early for a really worthwhile cause.

I think last night's show just proves yet again that there's absolutely no need to bring in a male presenter. Let Bruce retire with dignity now and let Tess and Claudia present the show.

No, I don't miss Bruce at all when he's not there - in fact it doesn't even feel like there's anything missing. The show runs much more smoothly without him, and it was really noticeable last night how much longer the judges got to speak too, because Brucie wasn't hogging the limelight the whole time.

When Bruce isn't there is the only time I can sit and watch it all the way through. I'm not one who fast forwards through his bits, but I don't watch them either - when he appear me and the family have a chat, or put the kettle on, and just generally ignore him until he's gone and it's back to what we do want to see, ie the dancing and the judging.

I really enjoyed Tess and Claudia last night, I think they make a great presenting couple, and would like to see the show pass to them full time now.

Nope! Not missing him at all.

I am I prefer him to Tess

Bruce's ego won't let him retire gracefully. Chances are that the last time he leaves the SCD studio will be in a box.

I don't mind whether he's there or not because I record it and only watch the actual dances and the judges comments

I speak as someone who has grown up with Brucie though from watching The Generation Game on Saturday nights in the 90s as a teen. I do like him although I wish he wasn't so 'scripted' - maybe he does too or doesn't, I don't know. I think he should keep going so long as he is genuinely fit and able - it would be nice to add to the numbers of over 90s having a prominent role on our screens. America has Betty White, for example. I think Betty Driver was 91 when she last appeared in Corrie? We need some more nanogenerians on the list lol.

The show was a shadow of it's usual self without Brucie. Still a great show ... but missing the magic.

I tend to agree with what you say saoir, and it is my opinion that most viewers at home would too.

Of course they do - but they don't feel driven to come here and say so. Only the haters have that need. Goodness knows why they watch the show. If I hated the presenter that much I'd be off to something else....

For sure. It drops a league without him.

Why do you think it needs to be someone who's been trained to dance?
The presenter's opinion isn't necessary, there are four judges employed for that.

The only function they need to perform, is to introduce the contestants before their dance and ask the judges to give their opinion of what they've seen at the conclusion.
When that's done, all that's needed for them to do is say thank-you to the couple and join in the applause.
Bruce can't even do that without mistakes, adding time-wasting bad jokes and interrupting the judges.
I'm one who stood up for him against the criticisms until a few years ago, when he became irascible and started losing his cognitive skills, the deterioration of which can be evidenced by looking at old Strictly YouTube videos..

Time for him to go and get the focus back on the dancers, he's become an irritating camera hogging embarrassment.

They watch the show because believe it or not the show is not meant to be about "the presenter" contrary to what some posters on here seem to believe.

The show is called Strictly Come Dancing not the Sir Bruce Forsythe show and people tune in to watch the dancing or lack of it in some cases therefore why should they not watch because of the in some weeks hopelessness of the presenter. The show is not meant to be about him no matter how hard he tries to make it that way. Why should people have to miss out on watching something they love just because of him?

Don't get me wrong yes I respect him however I do think it is time for him to step aside. When it gets to the point that he can't keep timing, is fluffing jokes from autocue, on some occasions just having absolute tantrums and not being able to do a full series it is perhaps time to consider stepping aside and being remembered as a showbiz legend rather than a grumpy incompetent old man.

Also do not think to presume that you know what every member of the viewing public thinks. Just because they don't post on here doesn't mean they are not sitting there thinking the exact same thing as us. Unless of course you have gone round everyone who watches SCD and done a survey to prove your theory that the majority of viewers actually love Bruce.

Has anyone actually said yes?! (apart from Terry )

I used to think it was just us forumites who disliked him - but then I started hearing people on TV saying how crap he is (eg. Jo Brand making a joke about him being able to read the autocue for once ). Now I know that it is generally accepted he's not up to it anymore and I wish he would either gracefully retire, or the BBC gracefully fire him.

Me (47), my mother (75) and my niece (12) all cant bear him....so its a generational thing!

not at all, it would be much better if he didn't have to read the naff autocue jokes, cringe making

I notice that every week now HIGNFY has a joke about Fforsyth's age. This week it was acomment about him being worried by the grim reaper driving a bumper car.

Don't think Paul and Ian have forgiven him for his hosting of their programme. The prorgamme is endlessly repeated on Dave, but I've only noticed one repeat with Fforsyth in. Naturally I switched channels - of course he turned it into the Bruce Forsyth Show.

Not missing him one little bit. No fast forwarding his "jokes", and the judges all had time to give (mostly) constructive comments without being talked over or being rushed to keep it short.

Can he please stay away?

I agree. Its an empty shadow of a show.
Bruce has that " Big Night " aura about him.

You feel / know its a major event when he is on.
An Old Pro who knows how its done.

Without him its just another tedious saturday night TV dinner washover with these "Take a Break " " Heat" style presenters.

Claudia is also a no for me. Cant stand people who squint and peer into the TV / faces of contestants . ( basic requestite of TV presenter ...to at least see the autocue)

Nonsense. Bruce brings no magic to the show, he makes it all about himself, not the show. He doesn't take part in the "Sunday" show at all, let alone "It Takes Two", and couldn't have an unscripted conversation with the contestants like Tess or Claudia do to save his life. In fact, I'd be surprised if he could name all the contestants without a cue-card.