A TV programme dedicated to the life and work of the late, great Sir Bruce Forsyth, is being recorded next week – the day before what would’ve been his 90th birthday – and will air on BBC1 next month.
The presenter, who died last August, will be honoured by his former co-host Tess Daly, who will front the hour-long tribute called Sir Bruce: A Celebration.
The channel confirmed: “BBC Studios is staging a very special event to honour one of this country’s biggest and best-loved entertainers and broadcasters, Sir Bruce Forsyth.
“Filmed at the London Palladium – the theatre which helped propel Sir Bruce to stardom – the hour long celebration will have music, dance, entertainment and comedy at its heart.
“As well as featuring some of Sir Bruce’s favourite songs, the show will also include dance performances and onstage tributes and fond memories of Sir Bruce from guests with whom he shared a special connection.”
A whole range of famous faces are rumoured to be appearing, including Ant and Dec, Len Goodman, and Dave Arch with his Strictly Come Dancing band.
Dame Shirley Bassey will headline the event, singing a special number for Brucie.
Speaking to The Sun, Dame Shirley said: “Sir Bruce Forsyth was a born entertainer – a talented singer, dancer, actor – always putting a smile on people’s faces.
“I’m honoured to be performing one of his favourite songs in his memory.”
It’s set to be filmed next Wednesday and Charlotte Moore, Director of Content, said: “I couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute to our dear friend Bruce than this celebration at the Palladium – a theatre he so loved.
“Bruce was such a favourite with the BBC One audience who I know will savour this hour of entertainment, music and commemoration of a true showbiz legend.”
Tess, 48, presented alongside Bruce on Strictly Come Dancing until 2013, and when he died, she paid an emotional tribute to him on air, alongside Claudia Winkleman.
She said: “Our thoughts are with his dear wife Winnie, his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren.
“Everyone – and I mean everyone at Strictly are thinking of you… to put it in his own words, didn’t he do well?”
Read more: Sir Bruce Forsyth’s widow opens up about big plans before he passed away
Guest of honour at the special event is expected to be Bruce’s widow, Lady Wilnelia Forsyth.
During an appearance on ITV’s This Morning last month Lady Wilnelia said: “I was so lucky to be married to him for 34 years. It was a very happy marriage.”
She added that Sir Bruce had never wanted to retire and still had important things he wished to fulfil, saying: “He was planning to do some travelling and continue being in show business somehow.
“He just wanted to enjoy being at home with the family – being in show business for 75 years.”
Lady Wilnelia agreed with This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield that Sir Bruce had been very robust in his later years.
“I was so lucky to be able to have his daughters – they’ve been my strength, my angels – and my son, and during the last year they came to the house and they stayed with us a lot… they entertained him, it was wonderful.”
She said a fall was “the beginning” of the major problems for Sir Bruce, as well as “a few other complications and the operation”.
“We had the hope he was going to recuperate, until he had that chest infection,” she added.
Of the weeks leading up to Sir Bruce’s death, Lady Wilnelia said: “We were able to be there and the last week, all the girls came to the house and they stayed, we watched movies.”
Read more: An emotional tribute to Sir Bruce Forsyth was interrupted by a stage invader
Will you be watching? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!