Bruce Forsyth knighthood heads Queen's Birthday Honours

Entertainer Bruce Forsyth says he is "very proud" after being knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours.



The recognition for the 83-year-old comes after years of campaigning by fans and a parliamentary Early Day Motion signed by 73 MPs.

Sir Bruce's career has spanned almost 70 years, including presenting TV hits such as The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and, most recently, Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One.

He is known for greeting audiences with his catchphrase, "Nice to see you, to see you nice."

He was made an OBE in 1998, and a CBE in 2005 and since then there has been considerable speculation about when he might be knighted.

A spokesman for the Cabinet Office, which manages the honours system, said: "Generally speaking, committees like to see another four or five years' further achievement or service before they start to consider a further award."

'Didn't he do well?'

Sir Bruce told the BBC he was "so happy and so relieved in a way".

"When I got the CBE there'd been speculation every year and I think there's been too much talk about it, so I'm thrilled at last it has happened," he said.

"I feel very proud that my career hasn't been in vain. I just love getting out there and performing and this is a reward that I never expected and hope I'm worthy of."

But he admitted that he even feared a hoax when he was notified of the knighthood.

"We were doubtful because it's been going on so long, the speculation, we thought it might be a hoax so we did check all the way down the line that it was real," he said.

"Didn't he do well?" said BBC controller of entertainment commissioning, Mark Linsey, quoting another catchphrase.

"Arise Sir Brucie," said Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly. "Bruce is Britain's greatest living all-round entertainer and for 70 years - and counting - he has been making us laugh."

She added: "Does this mean I'll have to curtsy now at the start of each show?"