Daily Star

NICE TO SEE YOU

- By ROBIN COTTLE

®

SIR Bruce Forsyth was celebrated as “truly a one-off” when showbiz legends came together to remember the life of the national treasure.

Ant and Dec, Sir Elton John and Strictly Come Dancing pal Tess Daly were among those paying tribute to one of our most iconic entertaine­rs, who died last August aged 89.

A Royal Variety Performanc­e-style show took place at the London Palladium, where Brucie got his big break back in 1958.

It featured his favourite singer Dame Shirley Bassey, dancing by the Strictly profession­als and emotional speeches from his friends and family, including widow Lady Wilnelia.

Tess, 48, hosted the evening after working on the dancing show with the dad of six for 10 years.

It was filmed the day before what would have been Sir Bruce’s 90th birthday.

Humour

Declan Donnelly, 42, said: “He was truly a one-off. There will never be another Sir Bruce Forsyth.

“Bruce was one of those people who was famous for our entire lives. So at home growing up there was always a Bruce Forsyth on TV.”

His sidekick Ant McPartlin, also 42, joked: “We make it look very hard in comparison.”

Fighting back tears, Lady Wilnelia, 60, told how Bruce was “here celebratin­g with us”.

She said: “It’s an emotional evening. There are no words to express how much we miss him, no day goes by when I don’t think of him.

“He brightened my day with his laughter and sense of humour.”

The show also featured an impression from Jon Culshaw and side-splitting anecdotes from his former telly bosses. Musical duo Michael Ball and Alfie Boe were also included in the show.

Sir Bruce, born in Edmonton, north London, wowed the nation in a career spanning more than 70 years. He hosted shows including The Generation Game and Play Your Cards Right.

Chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson, Strictly babe Claudia Winkleman and judge Len Goodman also had their say on the great man.

Sir Elton, 70, added: “Bruce was an incredible man and talent.” ¬Ê

Sir Bruce: A Celebratio­n will air at 9pm on BBC One this Sunday.

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