Sir Bruce Forsyth’s widow, Lady Wilnelia, has touchingly described the moment they first met.
Wilnelia, who married Sir Bruce in 1983, appeared on Wednesday’s (7 March) edition of ‘The One Show’ where she shared the story of how they fittingly shared a dance during their first meeting.
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Sir Bruce Forsyth and Wilnelia Merced pictured in 2013
EMPICS Entertainment
Speaking to hosts Matt Baker and Alex Jones, she recalled: “I met him in 1980 – I was living in Paris, working there, and I was invited to be in the Miss World competition as a judge.
“We met – he was one of the judges as well – and I thought [he was] very kind. ’He was making the girls so relaxed and so at ease. Especially when it was Miss Turkey’s turn he turned around and said, ‘What do you eat at Christmas?’ But then, you know I can see he was so wonderful.”
“After the competition finished they have a gala and we danced – we danced all night. It took a little bit of time to ask me to dance. I had a friend of mine, who wasn’t my boyfriend and he thought he was my boyfriend, and then after that he asked me for a dance and I never went back.
“He kissed my hand and he said goodbye and he said, ‘By the way, I have five daughters’. So I thought, ‘Why is he telling me this? Maybe he doesn’t want to see me again.’
“But these girls, they’ve been amazing in my life.”
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Wilnelia made an appearance on 'The One Show'
BBC
Paying tribute to how they had supported her after Bruce passed away last August, Wilnelia continued: “They’ve been incredible and they’ve been my rock. And my boy JJ… It’s been a very difficult time.”
“I was going over to New York to see her and she was coming over here, working in Paris and maybe seeing her,” he said.
“It was all very romantic, the phone calls, the going there and the coming here and all that sort of thing. She was the lady, our lady of song, our lady of love was Dionne Warwick.”
A TV special honouring Sir Bruce is set to air on BBC One this Sunday.
Hosted by Bruce’s former ‘Strictly’ co-presenter Tess Daly, it will feature contributions from the show’s band and professional dancers.
‘The One Show’ airs weeknights at 7pm on BBC One, and ‘Bruce: A Celebration’ airs on Sunday 11 March at 9pm on BBC One.
RIP Bruce Forsyth: Life In Pictures
(01 of23)
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Bruce Forsyth on the catwalk at the Fashion For Relief Show, Cannes. Part of the 64th Cannes Film Festival. (credit:PA)
(02 of23)
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Bruce Forsyth goes up to the stage to collect his Special Recognition award at the 2011 National Television Awards. (credit:PA)
(03 of23)
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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)
(04 of23)
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Entertainer Bruce Forsyth with the bust of himself. The bust has been 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.Date: 2005 (credit:PA)
(05 of23)
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Comedian Bruce Forsyth performing on stage with crutches.Date: 1987 (credit:PA)
(06 of23)
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Bruce Forsyth performs during the World War II 60th Anniversary Service at Horse Guard's Parade Show.Date: 2005 (credit:PA)
(07 of23)
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Entertainer Bruce Forsyth OBE receives the Eric Morecambe Award from actor Sir John Mills CBE during a reception for the Heritage Foundation Awards.Date: 2002 (credit:PA)
(08 of23)
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Comedian Bruce Forsyth performing on stage.Date: 1984 (credit:PA)
(09 of23)
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Bruce Forsyth and Frank Skinner appearing on the Frank Skinner Show in the London studios. Date: 2002 (credit:PA)
(10 of23)
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Bruce Forsyth in the garden of his Surrey home.Date: 1998 (credit:PA)
(11 of23)
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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.Date: 1985 (credit:PA)
(12 of23)
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Entertainer Bruce Forsyth, left, at Madame Tussaud's to see his new wax figure, made by sculptor Jean Fraser.Date: 1978 (credit:PA)
(13 of23)
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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.Date: 1978 (credit:PA)
(14 of23)
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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.Date: 1980 (credit:PA)
(15 of23)
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Entertainer Bruce Forsyth 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.Date: 1977 (credit:PA)
(16 of23)
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Bruce Forsyth, at the piano with Donald Clive, a song-writer, surrounded by show girls.Date: 1950 (credit:PA)
(17 of23)
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Bruce Forsyth rehearsing his new comedy "Birds On The Wing" with June Barry, left, and Julia Lockwood.Date: 1969 (credit:PA)
(18 of23)
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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. Date: 1969 (credit:PA)
(19 of23)
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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.Date: 1967 (credit:PA)
(20 of23)
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Bruce Forsyth leap frogs over Angela Bracewell, as dancers Jennie Walton, Janet Mahoney, Caroline Haigh and Sadie Colcough look on.Date: 1962 (credit:PA)
(21 of23)
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Tess Daly and Bruce Forsyth during the launch show for Strictly Come Dancing 2011. (credit:PA)
(22 of23)
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Sir Bruce Forsyth from Virginia Water is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.Date: 2011 (credit:PA)
(23 of23)
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Bruce Forsyth and his wife Wilnelia at Royal Ascot.Date: 2009