Peeve, you've just summed it up how I see it as well, especially BIB

I love Bruce and I really felt for him last night. For his own sake I hope he retires at the end of this series. He can leave with his head held high for a job well done for all these years.

I will be sad to see him go but the time has come. He suffered out there last night but like the pro he is, kept going brilliantly. He needs to call it a day and be kind to himself.

I've never believed in telling someone when they should retire or quit their job if they love it, but last night was uncomfortable for me to watch and as a selfish fan of the show, it made me realise that he really shouldn't be hosting now. He's done a great job with it, has had an amazing career, but it's just time for him to step down from the live shows. If they were recorded then it's be a different story, but there's no shame in saying that at 85? maybe live TV isn't his thing anymore.

I really thought he had taken ill at certain points last night.

So did I, and at his age it's a very real possibility that he could be taken ill during a live show. What would happen then?

Surely it's best to retire now, with dignity. Rather than keel over in front of 11 million people?

BIB - I was the same and seriously thought we were about to suddenly go off air.
I've always remained pretty much neutral over the part Bruce plays in the show but last night I was really concerned about him.

I don't know if anyone else has provided links but at least 2 papers carried this interview yesterday :

Daily Mirror on Bruce Forsyth

Plus there is another article telling how he has cared for his first wife suffering from Dementia since 2008.
I think off screen he is quite a special person, as is his present wife.

Perhaps after more than 50 years on tv he is entitled to stay as long as he wishes - I wouldn't want to take it away from him, but . . . .


The full unedited version is on iplayer

Just looked at it again, and it really does look like he's having some sort of mini-stroke.

The producers of the show must be blind if they can't see what we can all see. The show was so much better and smoother running on the week that he wasn't there. Why hasn't his wife had a word with him for goodness sake. He clearly must not have the sensitivity to see that he has stayed too long. It must be down to sheer vanity on his part.

Please somebody, spell it out to him - time to go.

I've rewatched the section in question - he does appear a little shaken when he fluffs it - but to be fair to him, it was a good recovery; nonetheless as the falterings increase, I do hope he realises he should stop for his own sake. I did wonder if the release of the interview and the problems last night were more than coincidental, almost as if he might be paving the way to go? If so, respect to him.

Yes I did - she looked like she didn't know what to do. It was a dicey moment

I agree.

Presenting BBC's top live Saturday night show and keeping it running smoothly must be fairly stressful and it looks like it is all getting a bit too much for Bruce. The BBC have a duty of care towards their employees and shouldn't put anyone in a position where the job is making them ill. I think they should encourage him to have another Saturday off and have a thorough medical checkup. If anything serious happens during the show, the BBC will be blamed for allowing him to continue to work when he's clearly not fit enough at 84.

Agree. he might be better for the semis & finals that way.

If someone persuaded Bruce to take a week off it must have been with the taxing intention of easing him out. After beginning to fluff his lines so often, even he must realise the writing is on the wall.
But I'm with smokeychan. I see no reason why all the hostility to this man cannot be consolidated into one easy-to-ignore thread. After all, the threads all say the same things.

Do bear in mind that his performance at last years Final was in the end, quite apalling and totally disrespectful to dancers and audience alike.


The Final would be much, much better without him gurning and chuntering.

I have a theory that Bruce actually wants to go out literally on air as per Tommy Cooper. Seal his place in showbiz immortality and almost like national funeral. I think it appeals his ego.

I expect people will think this is an appalling thing to write but it's not meant as an anti Bruce sentiment it's just that showbiz has been his life and I do think he would be rather tickled to go out whilst performing......as opposed to some dribbling wreck of a man, doubled incontinent, living his days out reminiscing of his good old days at the top being humoured by his grandkids and carers.

You can't blame him to be honest. But the BBC have allowed sentiment to cloud their judgement here I'm afraid.

You may be right. That interview in the Mirror does rather give that impression. BIB - do you work for the Daily Mail? I think what irritates me the most about the 'Bruce should retire' threads is that they always turn into a moan against the BBC, who can't win in any scenario. If they say they don't want him to do another series, there will be a chorus of disapproval about ageism; if they keep him on they're accused of 'allowing sentiment to cloud their judgement'; if he becomes seriously ill live on air they will be accused of not caring about their employees. They're on a hiding to nothing.

IIRC, they've said something before along the lines that it's up to Bruce to decide when to retire, which should absolve them of responsibility, but won't in the eyes of the BBC's detractors. I believe he's contracted to host the show so is not, technically, an employee, as another poster has said.

He had a right go at Bruno last night over something - can't remember what it was now but he said something like "I know it's you you're hot headed". He was saying something like ok that's enough

It also showed that Tess cannot cope with live TV without an autocue to read from - she had no clue what to do apart from grin inanely while he sorted himself out. Better presenters would have been able to ad-lib through to help him out.

Hopefully, one night, and soon, one or other of the judges will bite back at him. You can see the frustration and even resentment at times when he makes his often inane and puerile comments to them and about them.

But, if she had coped as you suggest, then the ego that is FForsyth would undoubtedly made an attack on her at some time.

She wouldn't want that as, one feels sure, she doesn't want his wandering hand on her thigh every week.

She probably takes a hot shower as soon as her stint with him is finished. Indeed, perhaps FForsyth should take a cold shower before he starts his act.

She was probably grimly thinking "I can't believe I get paid less than you, mate."
Ok, pure speculation on my part, but she must feel a bit miffed sometimes that she is paid less than him (I'm sure I read on DS a year or two ago she is paid less than half Bruce's fee a please correct me if I'm wrong). I'm not a Tess fan, but she does a very competent job when Bruce is absent, keeps the show flowing without constantly interrupting the judges, doesn't attempt too may 'jokes' and manages to read the auto cue.

Nor does she need a cue hard in her hand to tell her which Judge is next in order.

FForsyth seems to need cues and prompts for the simplest action these days. A sure sign that he is (well) past his best. Why does he persist in spoiling our memories of him as a star performer.

Len told him to shut up a couple of weeks ago.

I've noticed that he has to read the cue cards when asking each judge their opinion.

He's only got to remember 4 names for goodness sake! How hard is that?

I don't think that's fair. Tess has many faults, but I don't think her reaction to that moment is something to judge her on. If we were sitting wondering what was going on and if he was ok, how much worse must it have been for her worrying that something serious had happened.