‘Strictly Come Dancing’ bosses are planning a tribute for Sir Bruce Forsyth.
The show’s top executives are keen to give the legendary presenter – who sadly passed away at the age of 89 on Friday (18.08.17) the send off he deserves and are currently coming up with a way to honour him during the opening episode next month.
A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "Sir Bruce’s career spanned 75 years, but just when he looked like he was going into semi-retirement, ‘Strictly…’ came along in 2004 and gave him that second wind and introduced him to a new generation.
"We couldn’t let the opening episode of the new ‘Strictly….’ pass without paying a big tribute to the great man. He will be forever linked to the show."
The tribute is expected to include "a Fred Astaire tap dancing spectacular and a montage of his best bits co-hosting the show with Tess Daly from 2004 until 2013."
The insider said: "Sir Bruce was greatly missed when he stepped down as the main co-host and only popped back to front the Children In Need and Christmas specials.
"There are lots of things in the mix and we will be liaising with Sir Bruce’s family as we want this to be our way of saying thank you to our favourite."
Bruce’s passing came just two weeks after his close friend Jimmy Tarbuck admitted he is in a "very serious" state after two life-threatening aneurysms in 2015.
Jimmy, 77, said: "He’s okay but he’s a bit frail. He’s had an aneurysm. It’s very serious."
He is survived by his wife Lady Wilnelia Forsyth and his six children – daughters Debbie, Julie and Laura from his first marriage with Penny Calvert, Charlotte and Louisa with his second spouse Anthea Redfern and a son with Wilnelia – as well as nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.