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Bruce Forsyth

David Bell: ‘Legendary maestro of TV variety’ 150 150 mhamer

David Bell: ‘Legendary maestro of TV variety’

The late great David Bell whom my generation of fellow performers had the great pleasure of working with! David was gone too soon!

Jimmy Cricket has been delving into the archives again to fondly remember those with whom he has worked.

With the coronavirus pandemic meaning no shows for the foreseeable future, comic Jimmy has been looking through his old photographs.

And he found the picture above of the late David Bell, who was one of British television’s best light entertainment producers.

Award-winning David died aged 53 in June 1990 at his London home after being ill for several months.

The Scotsman worked for Scottish Television, the BBC and London Weekend Television (LWT) during a very successful career.

He worked with many big names in television, including Benny Hill, Bruce Forsyth, Dame Edna Everage and Elton John.

Hawick-born David was the man behind most of the ITV royal variety shows.

As controller of entertainment at London Weekend Television, he was in charge of many of ITV’s most popular series.
These included The Stanley Baxter Show.

Jimmy tweeted: “Going through archives, and here remembering the legendary maestro of Variety and sketch shows on Television…

“The late great David Bell whom my generation of fellow performers had the great pleasure of working with!

“David was gone too soon!”

Read how the Herald in Scotland reported on David’s death back in 1990

From this website – Golden memories: Performing in front of Princess Diana

 

Bruce Forsyth: Our living room friend for decades 150 150 mhamer

Bruce Forsyth: Our living room friend for decades

Jimmy Cricket's January column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket has described fellow entertainer Sir Bruce Forsyth as “an all-round performer of the highest calibre”.

Sir Bruce – known affectionately as ‘Brucie’ – hosted popular shows like the The Generation Game and Play Your Cards Right. More recently, he has presented Strictly Come Dancing.

In his January column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post, Jimmy says he has “been our living room friend for seven decades”.

The Irish comedian adds: “Bruce has enthralled, entertained and regaled us. He belongs to that elite band of all-round entertainers, like Sammy Davis Jnr and Roy Castle, who made versatility their stock in trade. You name it, Brucie could do it.”

There have been reports that Sir Bruce, 88, has been too ill to appear on TV over the past few months and Jimmy says: “Let’s hope he’s back to full fitness soon.”