Born in Edmonton, north London in 1928, Sir Bruce Forsyth has had an extraordinary career that has spanned some eight decades. It has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest TV career of any male entertainer in the world. His first public appearance was in 1939, but it was not until twenty years later that he became a household name when he was asked to host the biggest television show of the time, Sunday Night At The London Palladium. He has been on prime-time television in the UK ever since, more than fifty years, with classic shows like The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, The Price Is Right, You Bet! and, most recently, Strictly Come Dancing.
One of the great ‘variety’ entertainers, Bruce is a man of many talents – a dancer, a singer, a comedian, a pianist, an actor – and, television aside, he has starred in musicals, appeared in movies and performed live in countless theatres across the world.
In 2011, his contribution to the entertainment industry was formally recognised when the Queen awarded him a knighthood.