Give him a break, I don't know if any of you have picked up on it, but he's been rather ill lately.


(If you didn't realise it, I take it you press the mute button whenever the longsuffering windbag appears on screen)

His job is to present a popular family TV show with wit and charm. If ill health prevents him from doing this effectively, I think he should bow out gracefully.

But Tess has her own catch phrase, 'Eye oop it's strictly coom dancin'
or how about 'I'm not a brassy nothern blonde,a brassy nothern blonde I am not'

what happened? my sky + but the end part off

Poor Tess looked completely baffled as to why he made those remarks.

Bruce doesn't like to be out-shone by the looks of it.

what you trying to say about northeners ey?

I don't blame him for having the occasional dig at Tess; he used to co-host shows with intelligent women.

I have just watched it and don't think it was intended as a dig. A very minor remark.

I have just re-watched it at the crucial moment to see what all the fuss is about

Brucie definitely does seem a bit cranky, and it looks like Tess's off the cuff comment undoubtedly irked him, but if the press reports are anything to go by - ie the long delay caused by 4 of the couples getting the same score etc and a fair few of the audience deciding to vote with their feet and leave - then the poor bloke was probably just extremely hacked off with the whole thing by this point and just wanted to wrap it up and go home!

I think people are terribly unfair to Bruce on this forum. Yes he may not be as sharp as he once was and I know it has been pointed out many many times but he is over 80!! In some ways I think it would be good if he finally got his knighthood when the New Year's Honours List is announced this week and he could then bow out gracefully, but on the other hand I think he would be a massive loss to Strictly. It's the programme's eccentricities that make it such good entertainment and Brucie makes a massive contribution IMO.

This is my take on it, and I can't believe nobody else has thought this!

Tess said something along the lines of enjoying watching Russell Waton "busting some moves". And Bruce says "sorry to interrupt you." I may be wrong but I took it as a joke, ie. Bruce was sorry to interrupt Tess enjoying herself!! Don't think he was being cranky with her at all. It was a quick ad lib. ie. a joke!!

If Brucie wants viewers to make allowance for his age, why is he so intolerant about 64-year-old John?

Noothing. Oop the Hoodersfield Roogby Cloob!

Firstly, I don't think Brucie DOES want viewers to make allowance for his age; it is his fans and other more compassionate forum members who make the point that we should maybe cut him a bit of slack due to his advancing years! And secondly, when was he intolerant about John?? I thought it was the judges and some of the contestants who had a problem with him, not Brucie! Or Tess either, come to that!

I didn't particularly notice and think Brucie is a legend but it's time to go. If anyone remembers the Generation Game he would frequently comment "I do the jokes" he laughed like a drain but he meant it.

I'm very keen to make allowances for Bruce's age. I'd like to make the same allowance that I make for most other ladies and gentlemen of his age: I am polite when I meet them and I do not expect them to have to go to work - particularly if not in the best of health. I also expect the BBC to use the licence fee wisely and hire employees who can do the job well now - not could have done it well 30 years ago.

Is this on YouTube anywhere please?

Surely you don't want her to lie on TV?

By gum if not by 'eck it's nice to see you.
To see you nice by gum if not by 'eck.

I thought it was quite funny. I think he was clearly not happy about something. Personally, I hope he takes more shots at Tess. The woman's job consists of reading out names and numbers and she even gets that wrong from time to time.

Did anyone else spot? During the semi final after Lisa and Brendon did their quickstep, got their comments from the judges and made their way back to Tess's area. She wasn't there. She came rushing in to view after Lisa and Brendon were left standing there for a moment or two.

She has so little to do and she cant even do that right half the time.