After Dinner Speakers: Bruce Forsyth, Trevor Brooking, Marillion

Bruce Forsyth is born into a working-class, Salvation Army family in Edmonton, North London. His parents encourage his love for entertainment from the age of nine. At 14 he leaves the family garage business and sets off to become an entertainer. With talents for singing, dancing, playing the accordion, ukulele and banjo, and a natural comic timing, he spends years travelling the country, working seven days a week, doing summer seasons and pantomimes. His gets his big break when, after being spotted on TV with comedian Dickie Henderson, he is booked to compere 'Sunday Night At The London Palladium', initially for two weeks only. Proving an instant success, he is offered 36 more shows and, by the end of 1958, is one of the biggest stars on television. In 1971, Forsyth is offered 'The Generation Game'. It is the first show in which the public are able to perform directly on prime time Saturday night television. By the second series the viewing figures are at 21 million. Anthea Redfern, renowned for her famous twirl, toothy grin, and long legs (Forsyth met Redfern at a Miss Lovely Legs competition), co-presents the show. The couple marry on Christmas Eve, 1973, and remain together at the helm of 'The Generation Game' for a further four years. In 1977, Forsyth leaves 'The Generation Game' and, for the next few years, is dismissed by his critics as being outdated and uncool. His shows in the West End and on Broadway are slated, as is his ITV show, 'Big Night', despite regular audience ratings of 14 million. His marriage to Anthea Redfern ends in divorce. Continuing to work throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Forsyth steadily rebuilds a critical acclaim to match his unwavering public popularity, culminating in a triumphant return as host of a re-born 'Sunday Night At The London Palladium' for the year 2000.