Sir Bruce Forsyth’s brave words to wife Wilnelia about life after him

The nation is still reeling from the sad news that one of our greatest national treasures is no longer with us.

The death of Sir Bruce Forsyth – who entertained millions of TV viewers throughout his 75-year showbiz career – was announced yesterday afternoon.

While his fans mourn, and his celebrity peers pay emotional tributes, no one will be feeling the loss greater than his devoted wife Wilnelia.

Bruce trusted his wife’s strength (Credit: FameFlynet)

As old interviews naturally resurface as we all pay our respects to the legend, one stands out – and it shows the measure of the great man away from his public image.

Last year, Wilnelia spoke to You magazine about how Bruce – who was at the time already poorly.

It references him selflessly telling her ‘she’s strong and will make a life without him’.

Wilnelia – who became his third wife in 1983 – told the glossy at the time about that future: “I don’t think about it too much.

“I hope I’ll be prepared somehow, but it doesn’t feel real.”

Bruce and Wilnelia spoke candidly about the future (Credit: FameFlynet)

Read more: Sir Bruce Forsyth’s life in pictures

She went on to say: “He’s the man I fell in love with because his brain is there… We still laugh and talk. I pray, I believe.

“The main thing is that he is doing well. The pain is more emotional; sometimes we cry, but mostly we laugh.”

Sadly Wilnelia had just another seven months with her devoted husband after this interview in November 2016, before he passed away at the age of 89.

The couple met when Bruce was 52 and she was a 23-year-old model at the 1980 Miss World final.

Both of them judges at the event, their romance blossomed after he took her for a spin on the dancefloor – how beautifully fitting for the Strictly legend.