Legendary entertainer and face of dance show Strictly Come DancingBruce Forsyth has died at the age of 89.

His manager released a statement, reading: "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.

"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.

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"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."

Bruce had spent the last year recovering out of the limelight and had not been seen in public at all during 2016.

He had keyhole surgery in November 2015, when tests carried out after the fall revealed two life-threatening aneurysms.

Afterwards, his manager said: "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.

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The veteran TV star is said to have missed his annual winter break in Puerto Rico too - where he usually visits to escape the colder months in the UK – as he continued to recover from the procedure, as well as having to pull out of hosting the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.

The fall in October 2015 - which was followed by the operation the next month - left his 59-year-old wife Wilnelia scared for his health because of his age and the procedures required .

In an emotional interview previously, she said: "I'm not ready to lose him yet. This has scared me to death, particularly waiting in that hospital when he was having his operation.”

In November this year, she added to You magazine that she found it hard to envision a life without her husband.

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"I don't think about it too much. I hope I'll be prepared somehow, but it doesn't feel real," she said.

"He has a bit of a problem moving, but we still laugh and talk. I pray, I believe. The main thing is that he's doing well. The pain is more emotional; sometimes we cry, but mostly we laugh."

Frail Bruce was forced to miss the funerals of close friends Sir Terry Wogan and Ronnie Corbett in February and April last year, as he continued to recover from the surgery.

His manager Ian Wilson said at the time that Bruce was still “two or three weeks away” from being “out and about”.

He added: "If he asked my advice I'd tell him not to go to the funeral.”

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Bruce phoned into The One Show shortly after his friend Ronnie’s death at the end of March 2016, and opened up about their friendship.

When asked about his favourite memory was of the the legendary entertainer, Sir Bruce said: "Firstly, I have to say this is one of the saddest days of my life. Things have been going through my mind all day.

"When you know somebody so well, it's very difficult not to keep thinking about him.”

Sir Bruce giggled as he shared stories and brought a smile to the presenters' faces.

Bruce is recognised by the Guinness World Records as having the longest television career for a male entertainer.

He shot to fame in the mid-1950s on ITV series Sunday Night at the London Palladium.

He went on to host series including The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, The Price Is Right and You Bet!

The star also co-presented Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2013, and was well known for his catchphrase, "Nice to see you, to see you nice" – which went on to be voted the most popular UK catchphrase in 2007 by the British public.

Some of his many accolades include winning the Variety Club Show Business Personality of the Year award 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.

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He was later appointed Officer of the Order of the British (OBE) in 1998, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2006 New Year Honours.

Forsyth received a Royal Television Society Lifetime Achievement Award on March 17, 2009, and National Television Award’s special recognition award on January 26, 2011.

He was finally made a Knight Bachelor in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment and charity, and he became Sir Bruce Forsyth CBE.

The much-loved TV presenter was previously married to Penny Calvert, with whom he had three daughters: Debbie, Julie and Laura, from 1953 to 1973.

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Bruce later married The Generation Game’s former hostess Anthea Redfern, from 1973 to 1979, and they had two daughters, Charlotte and Louisa.

Following their split, he was asked to judge the 1980 Miss World competition, where he met and fell for fellow judge, the 1975 Miss World Wilnelia Merced from Puerto Rico, and they married in 1963.

The couple had one son together. By his six children, Bruce has nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The star has always been a huge supporter of children's charity, Caudwell Children, and was regularly seen fundraising for the cause.