I'm tired of a few people on here who keep being offensive about Bruce Forsyth's age. If you don't like him, fair enough, but stop calling him an old has been and using his age as an excuse to want to get rid of him.

He might fluff his lines from time to time, but so do a lot of presenters half his age, but nobody remarks on them and call them embarassing. But because Bruce is 80 its picked up on and criticised. This is ageism and is a sad reflection on our society. Don't use his age as an excuse to criticise him.

80 year olds plus, are an asset to our society. They're lovely, interesting, polite and a pleasure to be around. If people spent more time around them they might learn to have better manners and be more respectful. Its a great shame that there is so much ageism in our society, that the older generation get such a bad deal these days. They are the loveliest people and we should treat them as such.

On the fence about Brucie - first couple of years on SCD thought he was good - last year he was not quite so endearing tho.
Maybe he just had a really off night last week. Will see.

Presumably you don't understand the concept of irony.

I'm sure you mean well and I'm all for stamping out ageism....but you're clearly not the person to be lecturing anyone.

The nature of my job allows me to meet people and be very close to them from eight to eighty years old. They are all lovely. But to be honest, I think it's not so much as hating Bruce and some of us (myself included) think it's probably good for Bruce to retire from hosting a live show and enjoy his life.

He can perhaps do the ITT with Claudia and interview the celebs. Perhaps doing this once or twice a week on something special, like celebs/pros favourite dance, about memories of past SCD dances (good and bad), etc. Maybe he should be the regular in the Friday panel, I am sure with his expert ad-libbing, he'll get everyone in stitches and still make sense his comments on the dances and music.

Since ITT is not always 'live' he can pre-record some of his segments if he fluffed up his lines. I am sure a lot of people would love to be interviewed by him!

I've recently gone into teaching (adults) and in the past few weeks have had to listen to people in their late 20s saying that anyone over 35 is old!

Apparently they didn't realise that I was a fair bit older than that myself, as if that excused their behaviour!

Either you don't look your age (good thing) OR they are too daft to realise how rude they were being!

If it doesn't sound too immodest MD, I think it was a bit of both!

..and your attitude will soon change.

They are worse than kids. No manners, jump queues, complain about everything and look down at you as if to say "you are too young to be on a cruise ship".

Give them way when walking between sunbeds and do you get a polite "Thank you" never! Then there's the rudeness getting into and out of lifts. Need I say more?

I do like Bruce though despite being Coffin Dodger (he's a good golfer too).

Maybe you shouldn't go on a cruise any more. And why would you want to?

I don't think ageism is the main cause. Read the "forum demographic" thread ....... lots of us are no longer spring chickens - but we do know when enough is enough. I love Brucie - he WAS fantastic but now he's losing it and its sad to see him make a hash of things in this way. He needs to go before he becomes a laughing stock

Brucie is OK. He fits SCD well because it is a programme for people of all ages.

Brucie was great tonight. He looks young, is very fit, fitter than men half his age, and he's just perfect for the part. He made all my family and friends laugh tonight - he's a pure entertainer.

Actually, I was one of Kate Thornton's biggest critics and emailed ITV to replace her as she completely put me off the X Factor (I switched to SCD and never switched back) Nothing to do with her age, race, hair colour etc - just thought she was awful. I'm sure those of us who think Brucie should be replaced do so because we just don't like or no longer enjoy his presenting style, nothing to do with his age, although it does play a part. He's my grandmother's age and though intelligent and fit, she's rather forgetful and a bit muddled, which is normal for someone that age (age related cognitive decline) Can't imagine her doing the job she did 30 years ago.

I defended him last year but he's too unpredictable this year IMHO. I'm sure there are lots of people out there who could do a better job.

Can I just add that I'm in my early 40's and I'm forgetful and get a bit muddled sometimes. It happens to us all, not just the over 80's. So don't label only the over 80's as being forgetful. They're not.

Anyway, what you going on about. He was on top form tonight. Give the man a break.

Maybe you need to see your doctor then! I certainly am not forgetful or muddled and don't know many people my age who are.

He definitely wasn't on top form tonight, he even forgot Vincent's name and looked like a rabbit in the headlights fumbling around trying to remember it. I like older people and haven't an ageist bone in my body but Bruce keeps fluffing his lines and it is very noticeable.

At the end of the show when he and Tess were wrapping up, he even began to say "Bruce" reading out his own name on the teleprompter. He never used to do that kind of thing, but that's what happens when you get to 80, there's nothing ageist about that, it's a fact of life.

If someone can't do their job properly, because of their age, then commenting on that is not ageism. It's just fact.

'Moonglow'
I disagree with everything you say.You generalise about people's valid opinions. People have a right to have a different opinion to you.It would be boring if we agreed on everything.

The ageist contrast was made worse because sixtysomething Stephanie was partnered by twentysomething Vincent.

If Stephanie was partnered by a superb pro or retired pro, then an older pair can show off their grace and musicality, not jump about aping youngsters. The BBC ought to provide a few mature pro dancers, there are plenty of ex world champions about.

I overheard a 6th form student on the bus one morning, bitching to her friends about her mother "getting married! at HER age!" Her friends asked how old her mother was and she answered "38!" Of course there were also the two charming little 16 year old sizeists too, who were commenting on an advertisement for a size 18 wedding dress. One said "You wouldn't get married if you were a size 18, would you?" "No," agreed the other - "You'd wait till you were a size 10 and THEN get married."

Obviously marriage is all about looking good! Anyway, I digress! On the whole, I much prefer older people to youngsters and find them more interesting and pleasant company. Obviously not all of them will be nice, but I find most of them are pleasant. Maybe that's because they grew up in a time when good manners were the norm.

To be honest though, I really can't think of a presenter that makes so many mistakes as Bruce when presenting on live shows. Imagine if Tess made as many mistakes as Bruce does, everyone would criticise her too.

I think generally people are respectful. I don't think anyone should generalise and say that the older generation are the loveliest people. There are plenty of rude people with no manners of every age.

Anyone just see the bit on Points of View? They cited the fact that SCD uses Bruce & Tess as presenters to show that they are not ageist.

even brucie laughs at his age. he said last night he remembers performing for queen vic (as in old queen victoria) that was when he was talking to leticia.

Birdie65 ---- That was classic stuff you posted.

Personally, I do think Bruce is long past his sell by date. If you can't even read a teleprompter properly after all these years in the biz it's time to go. Unfortunately some people are so addicted to the life and fame that they can't let go.

It's better to quit while people think you can still cut it but it looks like Bruce is determined to go on until he drops leaving people thinking exactly what I just said, he's long past his sell by date.