Brucie Leads Tributes To Doonican

Brucie Leads Tributes To Doonican

Sir Bruce Forsyth led tributes to Irish singer Val Doonican, who has died aged 88, describing him as a "lovely man".

Doonican died "peacefully" on Wednesday night, his family said.

The crooner was famous for his laidback style which helped him notch up a string of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, selling millions of records around the world.

He also fronted his own television programme, The Val Doonican Show, from 1965 to 1986, where he would appear each week in a rocking chair in one of his signature knitted sweaters as he sang classic pop songs in an easy-listening style.

Sir Bruce said: "It is very sad. He was always a lovely man to work with.

"He had the top television show on the BBC. He had the warmth, the voice and the sweaters. He was one of the warmest personalities I think we have ever had.

"I did his show and then he did a couple of my shows.

"He was a very warm person, and number one in his field. He brought a lovely warmth with his personality and was a very popular man."

The family said: "Until 87, he was as fit as a flea. It was just old age, I'm afraid – the batteries ran out."

Singer and actress Elaine Paige said on Twitter: "Sad to hear of Val Doonican's passing ... RIP Val" and posted a clip of the pair singing Can't Get Used To Losing You from 1983.

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