Much as I love Bruce, this really annoyed me too at the start of the series. So much so that I emailed the BBC about it.

I can see both sides of the argument - I agree Bruce is a consummate presenter of live shows and does have a wide age appeal, but I too find it frustrating when he rushes things and misses judges only then to do some corny routine to camera. I can only assume he's pushing the show along (he admitted once to not wearing an earpiece, so is reliant on stage manager's signals) to try to keep to schedule, then getting a signal from the floor manager to pad things out a bit because he's under-running. There does seem to have been less of that this time round, though.

Given that Bruce can't go on forever, I'd nominate Bill Turnbull as the next male presenter - he should be used to live telly with a constantly changing script, he should be able to keep the increasingly bolshy and infighting judges under control, he knows what the show is about and can be entertaining. I really can't see any other big celebrity name who could fill the role, and even though Bill isn't really a big name, he's got to be a logical suggestion.

Excellent suggestion... and he can read an autocue too... It was hilarious in the final when Bruce cocked it up...

Bruce defines the good natured essence of the show, which provides the foundations upon which the show's success is built. And he has excellent on-screen chemistry with Tess.

A few can't stand him, I admit. But that was always the case with Bruce, as it is always the case with any presenter.

I find it amusing that a few "fans" of the show are calling for his head. To my mind, it's not a coincidence that virtually everything that Brucie has touched over the past 50 years has turned to gold.

Anyway, the show has a winning formula, so why tinker? It would be madness.

sorry to be a thickie but what does calling for his head mean? do you mean that some of us would like him not to present the show? cos thats definately true in my case, and you couldn't get a bigger fan of the show than me so i don't know why 'fans' is written like that.

Well you are entitled to your opinion killickwife, I just just hope you're not a BBC executive!

nah, im a 17 year old geordie lass who loves dancing thats all

That's how all the top executives start out!

Merry Christmas!

Well Brucie fans...apparently your man is getting a CBE in the NYHL:

NICE TO CBE YOU

NICE TO CBE YOU , TO CBE YOU , NICE

He deserves it for such a long career.

Bravo to Brucie! He does deserve it!

Thanks for sharing the article Enemoniada!

Hmm... should he have been knighted?

Sir Bruce Forsyth (has a definite ring to it!)
or
Bruce Forsyth OBE CBE (which comes first if you have both?)

Bruce should have been knighted years ago.

Mind you 'Commander' of the British Empire (OK THAT is dated) does give SCD a great deal a gravitas.

OK this post may be a bit controversial and get me shot down in flames but here goes nothing!

The current presenting team work so well as there is no element of camp to them so preventing the whole show from ending up in a ghetto. The reason that ballroom dancing has lost it's public profile is that it has become cheesy, fluffy and orange (or have I just described a Watsit there?). I'm not sure who could replace Bruce and whilst tess has very strange hands she fits the traditional Brucie sidekick of the 'crumpet' (and yes I know there's more to her than just that). Jane McDonald would be a mistake as she would appeal to a very limited spectrum of the public and defeat one of the objects of the show - to bring Ballroom dancing back to the masses. Greame Norton could lower the tone of the show but was excellent on SDF.

If change needs to be made then perhaps a previous contestant would fit the bill - how about Lesley or Natasha to host or one of the dancers - Darren B seemed to be doing small film reports for ITT early in the season. Anton could be groomed and of course he'd get to kiss lots of attractive women every week!

The show does seem to be breaking out ballroom to larger sections of the community judging by the people I know who have admitted to watching it and the Dazzler effect. Don't try and keep it for yourselves!

Excellent post/suggestions goughmixture!

That's all I really wanted to say as I've said lots previously on this subject.

Peach
x

I'm mystified with the way honours are dished out. Glad to hear that Bruce is getting a CBE, but that surely isn't enough.

I like Terry Wogan and don't begrudge him his knighthood, which he collected this year, but, aside from his gift of the gab, he has about 5% of the talent of Brucie; and he's a relative newcomer. When he became famous in the mid-Seventies, Bruce had already been top of the bill for over 15 years.

And Sir David Jason, excellent actor, but if can win a knighthood after just 30 years of entertaining folk, I'm sure that Bruce should have one for doing the same over 50 years.

Of course, Bruce is on his second marriage. Maybe this is relevant?

I'm so pleased for Bruce. I discovered the news about the CBE just moments after watching a recording of the SCD Final which I wanted to show to a friend who has lived in America for the past 15 years but, like me, grew up with Bruce and the Generation Game. Unlike those carpers and critics who make their appearance here from time to time, my friend was astonished at the dexterity and ability of a 77-year-old man fronting a live television programme and handing out entertainment by the bucket load.

I never expected Bruce to get a knighthood - although I don't quite understand why he doesn't make the grade when Terry Wogan and Tom Jones do. However, it's a big honour and I know it will mean so much to Bruce. I trust there is no doubt that he will return for the fourth series of SCD in 2006.

Just heard the news on Real Radio.

Congrats Bruce!

Congratulations Brucie!

And not just one, but three voices of reason - I thought I was completely alone ! The problem is that BF believes that he IS the star of the show and that people find his costant drivel amusing and his dancing impressive. I fear we are stuck with him ....

I note that it is reported that Bruce was ill with Flu over Christmas - Lucky that it did not strike until after the Xmas special was recorded! (If he suffering during the Special, it wasn't apparent).

I didn't even think he was up to much all those years ago with Sunday Night at the Palladium, he thought then he was the Uk's Sammy davies Jnr. He wasn't and isn't, though I had little time for SD Jnr or any other hoofer.