In Pictures: Sir Bruce Forsyth

Sir Bruce Forsyth

Sir Bruce Forsyth, who has announced he is stepping down as the regular weekly host of Strictly Come Dancing, has presented the show since it started in 2004. The 86-year-old entertainer said it was the "right time to step down from the rigours" of hosting the live shows, but he will continue to present one-off specials of the show.

Bruce Forsyth on a beach in 1958

Sir Bruce began his career as a variety act called The Mighty Atom, in which he danced, sang and played the ukulele.

Bruce on stage with The Beatles at the London Palladium in 1963

Seen here on stage with The Beatles at the London Palladium in 1963, Sir Bruce became a household name with his first major TV show, variety programme Sunday Night at the London Palladium, which he compered in the early 1960s.

Bruce Forsyth with wife Wilnelia at Wentworth Golf Club, Surrey.

Sir Bruce is well known to have long enjoyed playing golf as a hobby, seen here at Wentworth Golf Club, Surrey.

Sir Bruce Forsyth seen here with the four female hostesses, or "Dolly Dealers" of "Play Your Cards Right"; Denny Kemp, Natalie Shaw, Jo Thomas and Yvonne Younger.

He built his career through his role of jovial gameshow host on shows including Play Your Cards Right and The Generation Game.

Sir Bruce Forsyth, with singer and dancer Sammy Davis Jnr.

In the past, Sir Bruce has said he regretted some of his game shows and admitted he would have liked to produce more programmes in the vein of his special with Sammy Davis Jr in 1980.

Sir Bruce and his wife Wilnelia

Sir Bruce and his third wife Wilnelia, a former Miss World who is 30 years his junior, have been married for more than 20 years.

Bruce Forsyth collecting his OBE

In 2011 he was knighted, which came after he was made an OBE in 1998, and a CBE in 2005.

Bruce Forsyth poses with his Academy Fellowship award at the British Academy Television Awards 2008.

In 2008, Sir Bruce was awarded the Academy Fellowship, Bafta's highest accolade, at its TV awards ceremony in recognition of the veteran presenter's "outstanding body of work".

Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly

Sir Bruce's career has spanned almost 70 years and he has become known to a new generation of television viewers as a result of hosting Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One. Mark Linsey, the BBC's controller of entertainment commissioning, called him "the all-time master and commander when it comes to Great British entertainers".