Doves tribute at Bruce’s funeral
MUCH-LOVED entertainer Sir Bruce Forsyth has been laid to rest in a “sad but beautiful” private ceremony, it was revealed yesterday.
Only family and close friends were invited to pay their last respects to Sir Bruce, who died last month aged 89.
Twelve white doves were released to pay tribute to the TV star.
A video clip posted by a guest on Instagram revealed a voice saying: “To the rainbow. Somewhere over the rainbow. Until we all meet again,” as the birds were set free and the guests cheered as they flew into the sky.
After the funeral on Monday, a public memorial is expected to be held to enable fans to pay their respects.
A statement from Sir Bruce’s manager Ian Wilson, released yesterday, said: “It was the express wish of Lady Forsyth and family that this be a private Only Lady Forsyth, family and close friends attended the ‘sad but beautiful’ ceremony for Sir Bruce Forsyth event and they would like to thank the media for respecting this request.
“There will be no further details or comment. A more public celebration of Sir Bruce’s life will be announced in the coming weeks.”
Strictly Come Dancing will also pay tribute to its former host when it returns to BBC One at 7pm on Saturday.
Producer Louise Rainbow pledged “a heartfelt performance” from the professional dancers.
She said: “We all want to celebrate him and all that he loved about the show.”
At the new show’s launch, TV presenter and celebrity contestant Ruth Langsford said: “I don’t think he would want any of us to not be enjoying this.
“This was his baby and you could see that that shone out of him He was such a fabulous dancer, so I think this year he will be very much in our thoughts and all of us will really be doing it for him, as well as for ourselves.”
Three-times married, father-of-six Sir Bruce became one of Britain’s bestloved entertainers.
His TV career stretched back to the 1950s and included family favourites such as Sunday Night At The London Palladium, The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and The Price Is Right.
He became a TV legend with Strictly, hosting the dance contest alongside Tess Daly for 10 years from its debut in 2004 until 2014.
He recently suffered a number of health problems and died of bronchial pneumonia at his home on the exclusive Wentworth estate in Surrey, surrounded by his wife and family.