Tess Daly led the world of entertainment today in praising Sir Bruce Forsyth, who after ten years is stepping down as host of BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.
"He's a TV legend, a total gentleman and someone my family and I are honoured to call a true friend", Bruce’s co-host said.
"We've spoken about it, and he knows how much I love him and how much he'll be missed - but he's not going to escape me that easily, as we'll be keeping him dancing when we're reunited for the Children in Need and Christmas specials."
© Photo: RexSir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly in 2012
Sir Bruce revealed today that after 11 series of the hit dancing show he will no longer be hosting the weekly competition.
Speaking to BBC News channel, head judge and former ballroom dancer Len Goodman said: "He is an icon of British television. He was a captain, he was a figurehead and he just brought a warmth and a quality. He was like a duvet - he was very warm, cuddly and made you feel comfortable.
"Len also added that hosting is a lot more stressful than judging, saying: “"He's done Strictly for ten years, I think he deserves to put his feet up for a bit, play a bit of golf. The rigours of being one of the hosts is incredible.
"We as judges have an easy time of it really. We just turn up and sit down and get on with what we do. But as one of the hosts you have to go in two or three days before and have run-throughs of what's going on, check the autocues and all that sort of thing."
Len went on to say: "It's not just turn up on a Saturday night and while away a couple of hours doing the show. It's a very rigorous thing for the compere and I just wish him all good luck and I hope he has a lovely easy time of it." "He's somebody that everyone has grown up with, virtually," Goodman added. Former contestants on the Saturday night show also tweeted their praise of the 86-year-old entertainer. Susanna Reid simply tweeted: "Oh Bruce… #Strictly" while Natalie Gumede said: "So privileged to have been part of the 'Brucie era' of @bbcstrictly, and I look forward to what he entertains us with next xx" Series 9 contestant Rory Bremmar quipped: "Respect to Sir Bruce. Didn't he do well? Reinvented Sat night TV more than once", making reference to one of Sir Bruce’s famous catchphrases.
Arlene Phillips, who was a judge with Len for the first six series tweeted: "Brucie baby, toe-tapping your way to the top, you'll never stop. You'll be #Strictly missed. X", along with a snap of the two.
Dancer Aljaz Skorjanec also added his thoughts, tweeting a picture he had taken with Sir Bruce many months ago along with his 2012 dance partner Abbie Clancy, and writing: "Sir Bruce Forsyth leaves Strictly after 10 years. We will definitely miss hearing 'Nice to see you to see you nice!'"
