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The former Strictly Come Dancing presenter - whose career spans 75 years - passed away this afternoon, his family have announced. The statement read: "It is with great sadness that the Forsyth family announce that Sir Bruce passed away this afternoon, peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife Wilnelia and all his children. "A couple of weeks ago, a friend visited him and asked him what he had been doing these last eighteen months. "With a twinkle in his eye, he responded, 'I've been very, very busy... being ill!' Unfortunately, not long after this, his health deteriorated and he contracted bronchial pneumonia.

WENN • GETTY Sir Bruce Forsyth has passed away aged 89, his family have confirmed

Sir Bruce Forsyth life in pictures Fri, August 18, 2017 Sir Bruce Forsyth has died at the age of 89. We take a look back at Sir Bruce Forsyth's glittering showbiz career Play slideshow Getty 1 of 31 Bruce Forsyth in pictures

"The family would like to express their thanks to the many people who have sent cards and letters to Bruce wishing him well over his long illness and know that they will share in part, the great, great loss they feel. "There will be no further comment at the moment and it would be much appreciated if the privacy of Sir Bruce's family is respected at this most difficult time." Sir Bruce Forsyth had been out of the spotlight ever since undergoing keyhole surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm at the end of 2015. His manager told the BBC at the time: "The procedure was a complete success and while Sir Bruce needs to rest and recuperate, it is anticipated, given the minimally invasive nature of this operation, he will make a speedy recovery."

WENN Bruce pictured outside the ITV studios in October 2015

Unfortunately, not long after this, his health deteriorated and he contracted bronchial pneumonia. Bruce Forsyth family

The condition was reportedly discovered during check-ups the entertainer received after suffering a fall, but is not thought to have been a result of it. Forsyth, who started in show business at age 14, took the reigns of Strictly alongside Tess Daly when it started in 2004, but stepped down from hosting the regular series in 2013. He was replaced by Claudia Winkleman, who had previously fronted the Sunday results shows in Forsyth's absence.

GETTY Bruce, pictured here in 1959, had a career that spanned 75 years

He previously said of the BBC's flagship Saturday night hit: "In a way, whoever leaves a show at the top? I did! But it was time for me to go and there's other things to do. And it did take up all of my week. "When a show is so big, the hard thing is keeping it up there… When it's doing so well, you feel that pressure." In 2012, Guinness World Records recognised Forsyth as having the longest television career for a male entertainer.

GETTY Bruce pictured with his wife Wilnelia at Royal Ascot in 2014

He came to national attention from the mid-1950s through the ITV series Sunday Night at the London Palladium. Since then he has hosted numerous shows such as The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, The Price Is Right and You Bet! Forsyth attended the Latymer School. After watching Fred Astaire in films at the age of eight, he trained in dance in Tottenham and then Brixton. His first role, aged 14, was a song, dance and accordion act called "Boy Bruce, the Mighty Atom". Forsyth's first appearance was at the Theatre Royal in Bilston, with The Great Marzo at the top of the bill.

The star - known for his cheesy jokes - made his television debut in 1939 as a child, singing and dancing on a talent show introduced by Jasmine Bligh, which was broadcast from Radiolympia. Forsyth continued to perform throughout the Second World War, during which his brother John, a pilot in the Royal Air Force, was sadly killed in 1943. Forsyth's numerous showbiz awards include Variety Club Show Business Personality of the Year in 1975; TV Times Male TV Personality of the Year, in 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978; and BBC TV Personality of the Year in 1991.

GETTY Bruce pictured with Cilla Black during 'The Bruce Forsyth Show' in 1966

From 1953 to 1973, Forsyth was married to Penny Calvert, with whom he had three daughters: Debbie, Julie and Laura. According to his autobiography, he dated Miss World 1964, Ann Sidney, during her reign and in a 2009 interview, Kathy Kirby claimed that she had been Forsyth's lover and that he had proposed marriage. From 1973 to 1979, he was married to Anthea Redfern, the hostess on The Generation Game; they had two daughters, Charlotte and Louisa. Asked to judge the 1980 Miss World competition, he finally fell in love with fellow judge, the 1975 Miss World, Wilnelia Merced from Puerto Rico; they married in 1983, and have one son together.

So sad to hear that the true legend of TV and all round lovely man has taken his final bow. So long Brucie ������ love to Wilnelia and his family — Phillip Schofield (@Schofe) August 18, 2017

GETTY Sir Bruce presented BBC's Strictly Come Dancing alongside Tess Daly