Strictly legend Bruce Forsyth’s wife reveals his heartbreaking final wish

Sir Bruce Forsyth, the former Strictly presenter, made a touching promise to his heartbroken wife just weeks before he passed away at the age of 89. The TV icon’s career spanned an impressive 75 years, with the beloved star hosting some of the UK’s most popular game shows, including The Generation Game and Bruce’s Price is Right.

His wife of 35 years, Wilnelia Merced, was left devastated when he fell ill in 2017, fearing the loss of her soulmate. Bruce was featured in the Strictly Come Dancing anniversary special 20 Fabulous Years, which aired on Saturday, 21 December. The late entertainer hosted the BBC dance show from its inception in 2004 until 2014, becoming a significant part of the competition for many fans.

Bruce, who was 29 years older than Wilnelia, first met her when she was just 23 and he was 51. Despite the age difference, the pair were deeply in love, with Wilnelia describing him as “the perfect partner. A friend, a lover, someone I could trust, respect and admire.”

Reflecting on his final weeks, before his tragic death from bronchopneumonia, she revealed that she had come to terms with the fact that his life was nearing its end. Speaking to the Mail, she shared that for two weeks before his death, “he was not well”, reports the Mirror. She even cancelled a meeting when she noticed that “for the first time”, he couldn’t get out of bed.

Wilnelia shared: “I said to him, ‘what am I going to do without you? I don’t even know how to use this television remote control.’ I’d bought him a huge, new television so he could watch his sport.”

“He said ‘Really? The control?’ He was showing me how to use it and I said, ‘how am I going to live without you? How am I going to make decisions? He said ‘don’t worry I’ll be here. Every time you see a rainbow you’ll think of me and you’ll know what to do.”

Since his poignant promise, and after his passing, she has noticed rainbows more frequently, interpreting it as a sign that Bruce is always watching over her. She revealed that even a few hours after he passed away, surrounded by his five daughters, son and wife, a rainbow filled the sky, with Wilnelia capturing the moment on her phone to cherish forever.

She explained how in her home country of Puerto Rico, they have a villa that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. With the weather pattern often resulting in rain before “glorious” sunshine returns, they would regularly see rainbows from their window.

Wilnelia wonders if this is why Bruce mentioned them on his deathbed. She added that she “wants to believe” that it’s him, explaining that in grief, the bereaved want to “grab anything that is there to make you feel good”. But Wilnelia has taken it as a sign that Bruce is looking out for her whenever she sees one.

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