Bruce Forsyth rejects 'abrasive' TV humour

TV legend Sir Bruce Forsyth has spoken of his enjoyment in entertaining the nation's families after more than 70 years in television.

Sir Bruce was interviewed this morning by Premier Christian Radio's new child presenters, 10-year-old Matt Westray and his older sister Emma, 12.

Asked if his reputation for good clean fun had anything to do with his faith, he replied: "What a lovely thing to say. But, you see, I always wanted to appeal to a family audience.

"I don’t like the abrasive humour that can be seen on TV these days. You can be funny without being dirty.”

Asked if life had changed since his knighthood, Sir Bruce said: “I haven’t really changed at all but, if anything, I’ve got a bit more humble since I received the honour."

He told Matt and Emma that he preferred being called Sir Bruce as opposed to Mr Forsyth as he found it to be friendlier.

“You see, when you think about it, calling me Sir Bruce seems so much more friendly and less formal than Mr Forsyth,” he said.

Matt and Emma both attend church in Croydon and have been hosting Premier's Inspirational Breakfast show with John Pantry for the last week after winning a competition to become the station's first kid presenters.

The pair specifically asked for an interview with Sir Bruce, who is one of their showbiz idols.

During the ten minute interview, the 84-year-old said his favourite catchphrase was ‘Nice to See You – to See you, Nice’.

“It’s so friendly,” he said. “I still get people saying it when I’m walking down the street. It’s an introduction that can be used by anyone.”

He said he owed his successful career to his parents, particularly his mum who would travel with him two hours each way for his tap dancing lessons.

“I think they probably had more ambition than me. I owe them a lot,” he said.

Asked what he might have been if he hadn’t gone into show business, Sir Bruce recalled that he had been a proficient teleprinter operator when he was in the Air Force, just after the war, typing messages at 104 words a minute.

“I liked that,” he said. “It was really very interesting work and I was quite good at it.”