Tess’s tears at tribute to Brucie
THERE was razzmatazz, celebration – and inevitable sadness – last night as Strictly Come Dancing returned with tributes to the late Bruce Forsyth.
Presenter Tess Daly, 48, fought back tears after the show’s professionals performed a routine dedicated to her former co-host, known to his legion of fans as Brucie. The 15 performers adopted the famous pose of the veteran showman, who presented Strictly from its launch in 2004 until 2013.
The dancers performed in front of an image of Bruce, who died last month aged 89.
There were also recorded tributes from former head judge Len Goodman, presenters Claudia Winkleman, 45, and Daly, and some of the dancers who knew him best. Daly told viewers: ‘Sadly, someone very, very close to our hearts, the host of this show for 11 series, the showbiz legend and our very dear friend Sir Bruce Forsyth, passed away just a few weeks ago.’
Viewers saw Tess fighting back tears after the routine and she had to be comforted by Claudia.
Shirley Ballas, who has replaced Goodman as head judge, revealed that everyone had become very emotional, so much so that filming had to be stopped.
She said: ‘There wasn’t a dry eye in the place and Tess and Claudia… it took a minute to regroup to start again. It was very silent. It was just like he was still there on stage.’
The new head judge, 56, who looked stunning in a low-cut bright red dress, strutted her stuff on the dancefloor before taking her place on the panel for the first time.
The Strictly dancefloor also welcomed the Rev Richard Coles, its first ever vicar, and the gold medalwinning Paralympian sprinter Jonnie Peacock, 24, the show’s first disabled participant.
Coles, 55, said: ‘I don’t think there is a another clergy person, man or woman, who wouldn’t secretly want to be in Strictly.’ And it was a poignant night for Debbie McGee, 58, whose late husband, the magician Paul Daniels, took part in 2010.