I think a lot depends on how you look at it.

One way: A CBE is an honour to be proud of, unquestionably.

And many would ask the question why should anyone be awarded any level of the Order of the British Empire just for entertaining the masses. Aren't they more than appropriately recompensed anyway? It's not as if they've done anything really courageous such as serve on the front line in a war, or lick the prime minister's backside.

But then another way of looking at it is to ask why has Bruce only been awarded a CBE when others such as Terry Wogan, a foreign national until he took up British citizenship a few days before being knighted, have a KBE or higher? Wogan never achieved anything like the ratings success or the peer acclaimation that Brucie has achieved. Nor indeed did Sir Michael Parkinson, Sir David Jason or a host of others. And why did Tom Jones get one when he spends all his time and money and taxes in America? Or Sean Connery when he is always in the Bahamas? And how come they all get their knighthoods at the age of 65 or 66?

Oh and don't we all just know that Simon Cowell, Jonathan Ross, and Ant'n'Dec will have KBE's by the time they are 65 if not by the time they reach 50? (Rhetorical Q btw).

I'm not sure what Brucie himself thinks about all this, he might not even want the darned thing for all I know. But it's the outright, stark, unmitigated unfairness of it all that dismays me.

I think he deserves a Knighthood as well, I mean if Terry Wogan can get an honorary knighthood (not being British) then Bruce deserves one as he has had more of an impact on British entertainment than Wogan.

However I cannot sign a petition to keep him on SCD as I think he is no longer the correct host as he really is quite doddery

Bruce is past his sell by date.....and needs to go....its embarressing now.

What significant contribution has any entertainer made to the country? They make a choice to join the entertainment industry for which they are usually paid handsomely

I don't think the term 'deserving' can be applied to any of them.

Maybe I'm just an old cynic but I work hard, and have done for many years, caring for people with challenging behaviour. During the course of my work I have been punched, kicked, bitten and spat at. Most days I receive verbal abuse. However, the good days are really rewarding, when some little thing makes me feel I have improved the quality of someone's life. I don't expect recognition.

Sorry, but I just don't get this 'Give Bruce a knighthood' rubbish, or Terry Wogan, or Tom Jones or any of them.
Am I missing something?

I suspect this has more to do with the quantities of ££££££££ earned from UK exports rather than enhancement of the quality of national life.

Presumably winning an olympic gold or scaling Mt Everest makes brits feel good about themselves, and overseas customers feel cool about brits.

Hopefully entertainers who stay the course have done some things right. Jonathan Ross was given a reality check, and years ago there was a certain Simon Dee, who after rising to great heights in TV ended up driving a bus.

Oh I so agree with this post.

What IS the matter with people who think that a TV personality is deserving of a blooming KNIGHTHOOD????! Almost top of the realm stuff, supposedly given to those who make a difference to life? That's "Life"....not "lifestyles".


And while I'm at it - no, he doesn't deserve a Sir just because he half presents a popular telly prog. Please retire gracefully Mr F.

I still think that entertainment whether it be by singing, acting, variety act etc does improve people's quality of life.

Therefore, I would not deny any one of these types of people getting an honour if they excel in their field and are felt deserving.

Just because they get an honour does not mean that they are denying others from getting an honour.

So do street cleaners, toilet cleaners, garbage disposal technicians, etc.etc.etc.

Where would we be without them? Yes, the odd one gets an award flung to them just to give the semblance of equality.

Shinyperson, I think we shall have to agree to disagree, because I will never be able to understand why an entertainer becomes a knight of the realm, perhaps with the exception of those who put their lives at risk during WW2 to bring a little light into the lives of our troops.

I think the wealth of entertainers is a modern phenomenon. Shakespeare was far from rich, and Mozart was buried in a pauper's grave.

These days any wannabe who makes a halfway tolerable appearance on TV will make a fortune, e.g. Jade Goody. Connection with an audience of 10 million is saleable, and any newspaper read by 10 million can command a king's ransom in advertising income.

It is about quantity not quality. The honest street cleaner who does a wonderful job is unfortunately not seen by 10 million -- unless he or she has a heartwarming story to tell.

Well perhaps... but if an entertainer (actor, singer, dancer, presenter, whatever) can bring a little light and laughter to people's lives/souls and has done it consistently for a long period of time (I don't care what they get paid - it's a none issue) I won't begrudge them being honoured as long as others - the charity workers, carers, volunteers, teachers etc - are getting honoured as well.

Well, we meet somewhere in the middle then

It is Christmas after all

Bah humbug! I am all Christmassed out! I think Christmas should be held every five years. It would be much more special.

Just a small yule/midwinter celebration in December would be great. After all, it has been hijacked by christianity.

But....that's a whole new discussion

Bruce should go and go now. I have never thought of him as a great entertainer, more an also ran. He is NOT a singer, nor a dancer, or anything really, just does a bit of everything but none of it well, just OK (except tell jokes, at which he is appalling). The trouble is that the BBC is unlikely to want to be seen to get rid of him.
My view is that both presenters should go.

Now on to the knighthood. Sir Bruce, No, never. The whole knighthood thing has become diluted over the past few years, Wogan? Well, he does do 'Children's in Need' but he is rather well paid for that. Roger Moore does work for UNICEF, more charity stuff, so maybe? Elton John, Parkinson, Jason, Sean Connery what have they done other than entertain and make a dam good living doing that?
At least Jim Davidson entertains the troops in places of some danger. I'm not a fan by any means but at least he puts himself out there.
There was a time even before I was born when being a Knight was a great honour and went to those who fought for or worked for the good of the country. Now any old entertainer (?) seems to get one.

As I already pointed out - Bruce has already been honoured - not once but TWICE already.

His CBE was only awarded a couple of years ago when a lot of people thought he should have got a K, so its likely that the decision not to give him a knighthood was made at that point.

The very highest awards like KBE/ DBE are given to comparatively few "entertainers", and those that do get them tend to be internationally known stars (eg Paul Mc Cartney/ Sean Connery/ Elton John/ Tom Jones/ Maggie Smith/ Judi Dench etc). Bruce while well known in the UK has never really made it outside our shores.

I really wish I hadn't started this thread now. It was meant to be a show of support for Bruce who is facing the double humiliation of not getting the knighthood he hasn't asked for and being hurt by criticism on the message boards.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, this thread has been colonised by the bitter. How do I delete it?

I am sorry you feel like that. I could not show support and felt obliged to give my reasons. It is sad when people cannot disagree without being called bitter.

Someone who doesn't agree with you does not have to be bitter, perhaps it is you who is in the minority?

I have always loved Bruce - but this series I have found a bit uncomfortable to watch sometimes. The gyrating for example...

I think he should quit while he's still just about ahead.

On the honours - I don't mind him getting a knighthood. He has given a lot of people a lot of pleasure over many years. I agree that people from many walks of life are just as deserving - but when you have relatively young footballers etc getting honours I don't think a knighthood for Bruce is OTT as that's the way it is in this country!

I was just trying to create an opportunity for people to be nice to someone who has given this country a lot. I asked people who shared my affection for Bruce Forsyth to sign up. That's all.

I was trying to create an opportunity for people to be nice to someone who has given this country a lot. I asked people who shared my affection for Bruce Forsyth to sign up. That's all.

To open a fans-only thread,
you would need "-- an Appreciation" in the thread title, a signal for critics to keep out.

But I do believe after 70 years of rough and tumble in show business Bruce can take it as well as give it.

I am opposed to letting Brucie go unless someone better can be found. Brucie can get worse, sure, but someone else could get even worse than that.

not much brucie love on here

i agree hes been overated for so long and his jokes
are the biggest joke of all

I would be happy to see the retirement of Brucie for Anton, although i love Brucie and dont mind some of his jokes! but I understand that maybe a fresher presenter might be needed next year! Maybe Vernon Kay?

Don't delete it - it's a good exhange of opinion and certainly not to do with bitterness. It just happens to touch on a bit of a raw nerve regarding gongs - some of us think that celebs don't deserve such major recognition, at least not unless they've done something extraordinarily good for the benefit of people.....and that doesn't include making them laugh at the telly once in a while.

Bruce is good enough at what he does and yes, he's been at stalwart at entertaining audiences for umpty ump years. But being elderly and still managing 2 minute tapdance doesn't warrant an automatic gift of a Knighthood. Sorry.