Jules Stenson - Brucie--A Celebration of of Sir Bruce Forsyth 1928--2017: The Life. The Laughter. The Entertainer: A Celebration of Sir Bruce Forsyth 1928--2017

I t was the final missing piece of the jigsaw. By 2007 at the age of 79 Bruce Forsyth was the man who truly had it all. There was the beautiful wife of 24 years. He had six well-adjusted children who all adored their irrepressible dad. Then there was the career dating back an astonishing seven decades, to the time when Adolf Hitler was still ruling Germany. He had a beautiful home overlooking one of the greatest golf courses in the world and he had earned enough money to last him several life times. In Strictly Come Dancing, he was starring in the BBCs most popular TV show and, fit as a fiddle, showed no signs of ill-health or slowing down. Retirement was still out of the question. But one thing eluded him. The one thing he craved above all else the Queen saying, Arise, Sir Bruce.

Brucie wasnt the only person who wondered why he had been overlooked for a knighthood. His sense of injustice was shared not just by his millions of fans but by the wider celebrity community. His case was taken up by our most powerful newspaper, the Sun, which launched a campaign to get the King of Show Business the gong he so richly deserved. The response was instantaneous. Within days, an Internet grass-roots campaign had raised more than 15,000 signatures on a petition to Downing Street calling on the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown to knight Bruce. A parliamentary early-day motion signed by 73 MPs reiterated the call. Stars rallied to the cause. And with the help of social media, the fervour grew. A Facebook page entitled simply Give Bruce Forsyth a Knighthood soon attracted 25,000 supporters. Surely the government would finally take notice.

But nothing happened. Bruce was ignored in the 2007 honours, despite all the hard work of his fans. Why? Bruces old pal Michael Grade had his own typically forthright views. It was simply down to innate snobbery. Lord Grade, who privately wrote to the government on behalf of Bruce, told the Radio Times, Its shocking that he and other variety performers are never knighted. Theres an innate snobbery in Whitehall that music hall is vulgar. Its the same with television. Ive lost count of the number of dinner-party conversations where someone says, Television is dreadful. I ask if theyve seen a particular programme. Oh, yes, that was good. Their arguments fall apart within seconds. Television hasnt got worse. Its different.

So snobbery was possibly one reason. But was there another? Was Bruce harbouring some dark secret in his private life that the honours committee was keeping from his fans? Certainly there was plenty of completely unfounded speculation suggesting so. It was all nonsense, of course. The true reason was rather more prosaic. Officials say that there is an informal convention within the honours system that individuals who have received an award in the past will not be considered for another honour for five years. Bruce had been given a CBE in 2005 in recognition of his work in show business and charity. That meant the knighthood would have to wait until 2011 to fit in with the prevailing protocol. He had also been given an OBE in 1998, so it wasnt as if his work hadnt been recognised by the Queen.

The rules didnt stop a huge betting coup on Brucie waltzing off with a knighthood in the New Year Honours in 2008. Odds plummeted after a tidal wave of bets. He was 2/1 odds-on favourite down from 33/1 at the start of the year to be given the coveted accolade for his services to entertainment. It was the shortest price on a knighthood in betting history. Bookies feared a huge sting by punters with inside information on the honours list. William Hill refused to take any more bets on Sir Brucie, with spokesman Graham Sharpe admitting, We already face a substantial liability. Weve had a surge. We fear some people in the know are trying to sting us. But if he gets the knighthood, we will be first to say, Didnt he do well? David Williams, of Ladbrokes, said, A knighthood would be a rich reward for his incredible career but the sight of Sir Brucie at Buckingham Palace would make us wince.

Alas, as they often do, the betting coup failed and the bookies were the only winners. Another year passed with Bruce once more overlooked.

Bruce gave the impression publicly that he wasnt hurt by the snub. Im in very good company. Its not a popularity contest when these people grant these privileges, he explained. Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise, Tommy Cooper, the Two Ronnies and Frankie Howerd all missed out despite their popularity. I have a CBE, which I was very pleased to accept and, if thats as far as it goes, thats as far as it goes.

But deep down he was bitterly upset. He had twice been honoured before and knew exactly how the system worked. Recipients receive a letter from the honours committee around a month before the official announcement. They are all sworn to secrecy.

Brucie absolutely knew the pack drill the letters go out twice a year. A few weeks before Christmas for the New Years Honours and towards the end of spring for the Queens Birthday Honours, a friend said. When he knew it was time for the letters to arrive, he would be anxious every time the postman arrived. Hed always feel a little deflated when the envelope wasnt there.

The lack of progress didnt stop more big names joining the campaign, including the one man who could rival Brucie as our ultimate showbiz national treasure Elton John. Sir Elton, who was knighted in 1998, revealed that he was so angry at Bruces lack of a knighthood that he had written to the honours committee. He said the star had become part of the fabric of British society. Its an outrage that Bruce Forsyth hasnt been knighted, he told the Radio Times. Hes part of our lives, like Rolf Harris a clever, incredibly witty man who always made me feel good.

Two more years passed and still nothing. The campaign continued. And Bruces celebrity pals remained baffled, particularly as he continued to defy the gods by staying right at the top of show business by presenting Strictly Come Dancing well into his eighties. Where else in the world was there a star whose career had enjoyed such amazing longevity?

Bruces long wait finally ended in June 2011 when he was knighted in the Queens Birthday Honours. He celebrated with a glass of champagne but admitted, I thought it would never happen. I had said to my wife earlier in the year that it is just something that will never ever happen and that is just the way it is. The only stars from light entertainment to be knighted were Norman Wisdom and he was 90 and Harry Secombe. But people who make people laugh, why should they be ignored?

He said that, when he received the letter telling him about the honour, he wondered if it was a wind-up. We were doubtful because its been going on so long, the speculation, he said. We thought it might be a hoax so we did check all the way down the line that it was real.

Then came the really tricky bit keeping schtum. Being sworn to secrecy was the hardest part, he said. I was able to say to my wife, Darling, youre going to be a Lady but you cant tell a soul.

Bruce said that the award was the pinnacle of his long career in show business. When you are keeping a thing like that secret, you dont know whether it is real or not. But it has finally become real now. Im so grateful to the people who have supported me for so long and helped make this possible.

It makes me feel as though my life has been worthwhile. To have got this, it makes [you] feel as if you have achieved something [in life]. You have got something near the end of the journey that comes from so many people.

Proud Lady Forsyth, Wilnelia, was flying back to Britain from Puerto Rico as her hubby celebrated. Bruce said, I am going to the airport to meet her as she has been doing a show in Puerto Rico. I am going to say, Welcome back, mlady. That will be such a pleasure as Im just as thrilled for her as I am for myself.