Our Brucie was not a tax dodger

Family reject claims beloved star avoided inheritance dues by leaving wife his £17m

SIR Bruce Forsyth’s family are furious at claims he avoided inheritance tax by leaving his £17million fortune to his wife.

If the entertainer had split his estate up among his six children, they would have had to pay thousands in tax.

But leaving his fortune to widow Wilnelia avoids that as spouses are exempt from inheritance tax. Wilnelia could then dish out tax-free lump sum “gifts” of up to £650,000 to each relative.

Sir Bruce’s family strenuously denied that he made such an arrangement so his family would keep more of the cash.

His son-in-law Richard Matthews, who is married to Sir Bruce’s 62-year-old daughter Debbie, called the accusations “utter tosh and speculation”.

He also challenged one Twitter user who repeated the claims, asking them: “Are you privy to his tax affairs?”

Speaking about inheritance tax in 2015, Sir Bruce said: “I think your inheritance should go to your children more than back to the country that you’ve lived in.

“I’m not saying you don’t owe the country something. Of course you owe your country a lot for living there all those years. But I think it can be a bit over the top.”

Sir Bruce was surrounded by his wife and family when he died “peacefully at home” last Friday after an 18-month illness. He was 89.

His estate includes a £4million Surrey mansion and two homes in Wilnelia’s home country of Puerto Rico.