By Hazelann Williams
Published: 12:43, 13 April 2014 | Updated: 13:50, 13 April 2014
Legendary television presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth has revealed he quit Strictly Come Dancing because he feared the show was affecting his health.
The 86-year-old admitted that the demanding routine of the show was taking a toll on him, when he announced his departure from the show last week.
According to the Sunday Mirror Bruce said: 'Live television is very strenuous, especially when some shows are an hour and 40 minutes.
End of an era: Legendary television presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth has revealed he quit Strictly Come Dancing because he feared the show was affecting his health
'I have to do all the announcements and introduce the judges. And I'm running up and down the stars 40 to 50 times per show.'
'And I was getting the flu. I always got the flu in studios.'
Bruce has co-hosted Strictly for ten years alongside Tess Daly, but he announced his departure last week.
Opening up on his decision to leave the show in an interview with the Mail, he admitted tiredness at hosting the live shows swayed his choice.
Time to bow out: The 86-year-old admitted that the demanding routine of the show was taking a toll on him
Dancing shoes: The entertainer has co-hosted Strictly since it began in 2004
Good game, good game: Bruce will continue to work in show business; he has revealed he will be performing three solo shows later this year
He explained: 'The last show of the last series, I knew (I wanted to leave the show). I walked back into the dressing room and looked at myself in the mirror and thought, ''Really? Why am I doing this any more? Is this really what I want to do?"'
'I always thought I'd know when it was time to go, but I was doubtful. So I thought it over during our winter break in Puerto Rico, and when I came back I said to my agent and my manager, "Right, that's it. I'm going to leave."
'And they said, "We don't believe you — you've said it all before," and I said, "No. This time it's definite. It's over."'
Dynamic duo: Tess Daly and Bruce have presented Strictly Come Dancing together since 2004
However, Sir Bruce will still continue to work in show business; he has revealed he will be performing three solo shows later this year.
He will also make a series of special one-off shows for the BBC and present the Strictly Christmas Specials.
Sir Bruce, who first appeared on Sunday Night At The London Palladium in 1958, has previously explained how physically demanding the job can be, albeit in a light-hearted way.
Despite a decade presenting the dancing talent contest, the star said his favourite show had been The Generation Game.
Back in the day: Bruce first presented the Generation Game back in 1971
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
