Bruce Forsyth Dead: From ‘The Generation Game’ To ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, The Showbiz Legend’s Life In Pictures

RIP.
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The entertainment world has said goodbye to one of its greats, with the sad news of Bruce Forsyth’s death.

The veteran star will be well-known to many of today’s TV fans thanks to his work on shows including ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, but his career actually started decades earlier, when he made his small screen debut in 1939.

He then tirelessly continued to tour the country, until he was given his big break hosting ‘Sunday Night At The London Palladium’ almost 20 years later.

Then, in the decades that followed he led the way on a number of gameshows, and was a TV staple by the ’70s, thanks to star turns as the host of everything from ‘The Generation Game’ and ‘Play Your Cards Right’ to ‘You Bet!’ and ‘Bruce’s Big Night’, and it’s fair to say he’ll go down in history as one of British television’s best-loved stars.  

So following the tragic news of his death at the age of 89, we’re taking a look back at his life in pictures…

Bruce Forsyth's Life in Pictures
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1950: Bruce Forsyth, at the piano with Donald Clive, a song-writer, surrounded by show girls. (credit:PA)
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1962: Bruce Forsyth leap frogs over Angela Bracewell, as dancers Jennie Walton, Janet Mahoney, Caroline Haigh and Sadie Colcough look on. (credit:PA)
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1967: Julie Andrews, Bruce Forsyth and Beryl Reid (right), three British stars, sing 'Piccadilly,' a music hall ditty on stage at the old Brixton Music Hall. (credit:PA)
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1969: Bruce Forsyth rehearsing his new comedy "Birds On The Wing" with June Barry, left, and Julia Lockwood. (credit:PA)
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1969: Actor Bruce Forsyth demonstrates his conjuring skill for Bunnie Girl turned actress Connie Kreski, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA., on a Maltese beach during the filming of 'Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?,' written and directed by British actor Anthony Newley. Bruce plays Unclew Limelight, an old vaudevillian and Connie plays Mercy Humppe. (credit:PA)
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1977: Bruce dances for joy in a West End street where he announced he is to star in a new musical, The Bricusse and Newley Travelling Music Show. (credit:PA)
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1978: Bruce Forsyth getting ready at Her Majesty's Theatre, for his West End appearance as a musical star. With him are Katie Budd, left, and Valerie Walsh, in the cast of Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley's The Travelling Music Show. (credit:PA)
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1978: Entertainer Bruce Forsyth, left, at Madame Tussaud's to see his new wax figure, made by sculptor Jean Fraser. (credit:PA)
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1980: Not even the Queen Mother could find out who shot JR when Mr Nasty (Larry Hagman) was introduced to her backstage after the Royal Variety Performmance at the London Palladium. With Larry Hagman stands his mother Mary Martin and in the background, entertainer Bruce Forsyth. (credit:PA)
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1985: The Duchess of Kent received the keys for a mini-bus from television personality Bruce Forsyth. The Duchess, Patron of the charity Age Concern, was given the mini-bus after it was donated in a special stars episode of LWT show 'Play Your Cards Right' recorded for Christmas. (credit:PA)
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1971 to 1977: Bruce Forsyth presented one of the BBC's biggest-ever gameshows, 'The Generation Game', a programme he returned to in the 1990s. (credit:BBC)
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1973 to 1979: He was married to Anthea Redfern, the hostess on 'The Generation Game'. (credit:BBC)
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1984: Comedian Bruce performing on stage. (credit:PA)
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1980 - 1987: He moved to ITV to host 'Play Your Cards Right', another show he returned to in the 1990s and 2000s. (credit:ITV)
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1987: Comedian Bruce Forsyth performing on stage with crutches. (credit:PA)
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1998: Bruce Forsyth in the garden of his Surrey home. (credit:PA)
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2002: Bruce Forsyth OBE receives the Eric Morecambe Award from actor Sir John Mills CBE during a reception for the Heritage Foundation Awards. (credit:PA)
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2002: Bruce Forsyth and Frank Skinner appearing on the Frank Skinner Show in the London studios. (credit:PA)
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2005: Bruce Forsyth performs during the World War II 60th Anniversary Service at Horse Guard's Parade Show. (credit:PA)
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2005: Bruce Forsyth with the bust of himself. The bust was created by Forsyth's son-in-law Dominic Grant and will take pride of place inside the Cinderella bar, marking the association between the TV star and the 95-year-old venue. (credit:PA)
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2008: Bruce Forsyth is joined by Miss Puerto Rico (left) and Miss England to celebrate his 80th birthday at the Dorchester Hotel in central London. (credit:PA)
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2008: British comedian Bruce Forsyth poses for the photographers with his BAFTA 'Television Fellowship of Bafta' award for his life-long contribution to television. (credit:PA)
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2009: Bruce Forsyth and his wife Wilnelia at Royal Ascot.
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2011: Tess Daly and Bruce Forsyth during the launch show for Strictly Come Dancing. (credit:PA)
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2011: Bruce Forsyth on the catwalk at the Fashion For Relief Show, Cannes. Part of the 64th Cannes Film Festival. (credit:PA)
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2011: Bruce Forsyth goes up to the stage to collect his Special Recognition award at the National Television Awards. (credit:PA)
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2011: Sir Bruce Forsyth from Virginia Water is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. (credit:PA)
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Timeless. (credit:BBC)