Bren mourns ‘my captain and inspiration’
HEARTBROKEN Brendan Cole has declared his pal Bruce will always be Strictly’s “captain”.
The dancer worked with him on the BBC show for more than a decade.
In a moving tribute yesterday, Brendan predicted that TV is unlikely to see a star as bright as Brucie’s ever again.
He said: “Sir Bruce…What a man, what a showman, what a gentleman! A true entertainer from the era of magic in showbiz and a talent that will rarely be seen again.”
Brendan first met him while filming the Strictly pilot show in 2004, a moment that he says changed his life.
He said: “Sir Bruce was one of the first to welcome me. ‘You SKY News presenter Adam Boulton has caused outrage by suggesting the death of Sir Bruce Forsyth is “inconsequential”.
In a series of tweets, the anchorman claimed broadcasters had made too much of his passing at the age of 89 after a 75-year career.
He tweeted: “Sorry BBC Bruce Forsyth dying at 89 is not a lead news item.
“A loss of course but inconsequential. Nobody is saying it shouldn’t be reported. It is a question of proportion.” But his comments caused a massive backlash, with Piers Morgan responding that Brucie’s death was not “inconsequential”...he touched millions of lives. Boulton, 58, responded: “Over emphasise showbiz and you end up with President Trump.”
Hitting back, Morgan said Brucie represented everything that is great about Britain – talent, charm, humour, work ethic and love for his family.
Fan Anne Brown, who branded Boulton “miserable and misguided”, added:
“Glad I don’t have Sky.”
BBC rugby pundit Jonathan Davies asked Boulton to show “respect”. must be Brendan?’ he asked – a moment I will never forget.
“And it was at this moment he showed an understanding of being the man in charge and the man all of us looked to, to lead us on this new exciting journey.” He added: “Brucie continued to lead and inspire us all and even though he hung up his dancing shoes as our host a few years ago, I still consider him to be our leader and captain and will continue to do so until the show is no more.
“I am honoured to have known the great man, to have worked alongside him for so many years and to have had my life touched by such greatness.
“A true showman, a true entertainer and quite simply the best.”
As host of Strictly, Bruce helped make it TV’s No.1 show with 14million viewers.
Fellow veteran TV star Esther Rantzen, who met him in the 70s, spoke fondly of his humour. She said: “His dreadful puns on Strictly may have made the audience groan, but really we loved the bad jokes.
“That he was still delighting audiences of children and adults 60 years after he first stepped on stage at the London Palladium for Beat the Clock, delighted him more than I can say.”
Esther, who once competed on Strictly, added: “He loved seeing contestants become genuinely skilful, but he was also endlessly generous to the others.” Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck said: “He was unique – he could play the piano with Nat King Cole, he could dance with Sammy Davis Jr, he could take over Have I Got News For You, and he could annoy Sean Connery on the golf course.”