EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO TV LEGEND Tess’ tears for Brucie

by STRICTLY Come Dancing kicked off its new series last night with a tear-jerking tribute to former host Sir Bruce Forsyth.

An emotional Tess Daly broke down as she spoke about Sir Bruce after the professional dancers performed a sensational routine dedicated to him. As the band played Fly Me To The Moon, the female dancers in pink chiffon and the men in black tie and tails put on a performance Bruce would have adored.

They finished the routine by turning respectfully towards a neon silhouette of the man himself in his famous Thinker pose.

Fans and celebrities took to social media to praise the tribute.

David Walliams tweeted: “Magnificent tribute to the worshipped and adored Sir Bruce Forsyth on Strictly.”

Tess choked back more tears as she said of the routine: “Bruce would have loved that.”

Tess then borrowed from the telly legend’s huge stock of catchphrases when she said: “Didn’t he do well?”

Bruce died last month aged 79 after battling ill health for months.

Earlier Tess spoke how Bruce was “always there for each and every contestant.”

She said her favourite Bruce moment on the show was when he did Gangnam style, adding: “It was just brilliant.” Fellow pre- senter Claudia Winkleman looked equally moved but said, as Bruce would have said himself: “The show must go on.”

New head judge Shirley Ballas described how the touching tribute had the whole studio in tears.

Shirley, 56, who replaced Len Goodman said: “It was a spectacular tribute to him at the launch and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. “It took Tess and Claudia a while to regroup. It fell silent in the room. It was as if he was still there on the stage.

“They showed lots of clips of his life, funny things he used to do. It was fantastic.”

There were further tributes from the judges including former head judge Len.

He told how Bruce came to see him and recalled how he paid Len a visit on his first day to wish him the best of luck.

Bruno Tonioli said Bruce was “always ready to have a good time.”

Last night’s first show of the 15th series show saw the celebrities paired up with their professisonal partners.

Guests included Rita Ora and Shania Twain plus last year’s glitterball champions Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton.