Bruce Forsyth: 11 surprises from his career

Tributes to Bruce Forsyth have invariably focused on the shows that turned him into that most ubiquitous of phrases - a national treasure. Play Your Cards Right, The Generation Game and Strictly Come Dancing are always mentioned, but it’s worth remembering that his career wasn’t one of linear success. There were dog days, bizarre acts of folly and even a bid to crack America. Here are some lesser-known highlights from his long career.

Come and Be Televised (1939)

Less than a week before Britain declared war on Germany, young Forsyth made his TV debut as a dancer on a show broadcast live from RadiOlympia. The programme has been wiped from the archives but the imperative title suggests wall-to-wall high-octane entertainment. Well, high-octane in 1939 terms.

The Canterville Ghost (1966)

Another lost gem, this adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s novella about a castle that is haunted by an old ancestor starred Forsyth as the ghostly Sir Simon de Canterville. To see him holding his own against such ripe thesps as Eleanor Bron and Angela Thorne would be fun: to see the Edmonton lad feign aristocratic manners even more so.

Star! (1968)

This biopic of tragic Thirties musical star Gertrude Lawrence was a flop, despite a full throttle performance from Julie Andrews. Forsyth starred as Gertrude’s father, Arthur, a failed music-hall performer, destined to do the circuit of a variety of crumbling venues in south London.

Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969)

This film, shot entirely on location in Malta, won a reader’s poll in the Chicago tribune for the worst film title ever. Some, however, saw Anthony Newley’s tale about an internationally successful singer confessing his infidelities through the power of song to be a work of genius. The estimable Roger Ebert said: “It is just about the first attempt in English to make the sort of personal film Fellini and Godard have been experimenting with in their very different ways.” Joan Collins, Newley’s then wife who appeared in the film, cited it as a reason for their subsequent divorce. Forsyth was part of a supporting cast that also included Playboy centrefold Connie Kreski.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

It’s one of the classics from Disney’s golden age, but few remember that Forsyth had a small role in this big-budget adaptation of Mary Norton’s stories. For once, he played the baddie, a shady character called Swinburne who holds the children at knifepoint (rather disturbing for a family film) and after a bit of none-too-convincing finagling is never seen again. Forsyth can’t have been too upset by this abortive film role. It came just before arguably his most successful role - as presenter of The Generation Game.

The Mating Season (1976)

In a role originally intended for Sid James (who died of a heart attack before production commenced), Forsyth played a widower being seduced by an amorous lady (played by Lionel Blair’s sister, Joyce). Speaking of the experience at the time, Joyce Blair said: “I’ve known Bruce since I was 15 and we felt quite at home. At one point we had to exchange a big squelching kiss. I’d wanted to do that or 30 years.”

Pavlova: a Woman for all Time (1983)

Forsyth was one of two English actors (the other being Roy Kinnear) in this oddity about the life of the Russian ballerina. He played impresario Alfred Butt who had booked Pavlova into a variety performance at the Palace Theatre in London. Most of the film is in Russian and the director, Emil Loteanu, apparently didn’t understand Forsyth’s English scene and made him ad lib it instead.

Hollywood, or Bust (1984)

One of Forsyth’s rare gameshow flops was this bizarre, very Eighties offerings in which members of the public had to re-enact scenes from various films (one poor man was forced to wrestle an actor in a gorilla suit in a parody of Tarzan the Ape Man) in order to win prizes. An air of desperation hung over the whole thing and it was cancelled after one series.

Bruce Forsyth’s Hot Streak (1986)

In 1986, Brucie made a bid for US stardom with this suggestively titled game show, produced by Neighbours mogul Reg Grundy. In fact, it was a typically unchallenging daytime quiz, with word association at its core. Sadly, it was up against big hitters such as The Price is Right (which Forsyth actually presented in a Nineties revival) and Wheel of Fortune, and it was subsequently dropped by the network.

Magnum PI (1986)

During his US sojourn, Forsyth made a surprise appearance on Tom Selleck’s Hawaii-based cop show, a huge hit both there and in the UK. He appeared as a gameshow host and proved rather better than the material he was given. Sadly, he never came face to face with Selleck - possibly due to an over-abundance of facial hair from both parties.

Slinger’s Day (1987)

In 1984, Leonard Rossiter starred in a sitcom called Tripper’s Day about a beleaguered supermarket boss. Rossiter, however, died after the series was made and so it was cancelled. Yet despite negative reviews, ITV decided to bring it back, this time with Forsyth in the lead role. He takes over as the manager of the generically titled Supafare supermarket whose terrible staff include an alcoholic shop steward, a ditzy cashier and a typically militant shop steward.

Fiddley Foodle Bird (1992)

Or Fiddley Foodle Bim Bam Boodle Oo Diddley-Doodle Oodle Bird to give it its full title. Brucie’s only venture into children’s TV was this charming animated adventure series about a magical bird who accompanies a boy called Algernon as he attempts to find his parents. Brucie was the narrator, Dennis Waterman played the bird and Cilla Black popped up in one episode as the president of the Potty Explorers’ Club.