Sir Bruce ‘bashes’ Britain’s Got Talent

Sir Bruce Forsyth has criticised ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent for the use of young performers for the second time in a week, the latest comments airing on Sky News.

Originally the former Generation Game and Sunday Night at the London Palladium host had raised concerns about the appearance of children in the Simon Cowell devised series in a Sunday newspaper noting that the format could well be an ‘ordeal’ for a young child.

His comments came following concerns about the mental effect the show is having on under sixteens appearing on the show, a number of performances have been noted but the most famous incident concerned Hollie Steel who broke down while attempting to perform on a live transmission of the show in 2009.

Cowell indirectly referenced Forsyth during Monday night’s edition of Britain’s Got Talent, calling him ‘Mr Grumpy’ when talking to a group of young performers. 85-year-old Forsyth told Sky News despite the Cowell snipe he was unrepentant in his views.

“I went into the business when I was 14. I learnt the business and I didn’t become a so-called star until I was 30, I waited 16 years for anything to happen.” The performer added, “What I couldn’t get out of my mind was that poor little girl, last year I think it was, and she was emotionally drained. It was upsetting television to watch this poor little girl go through this ordeal of the show.”

Forsyth who first appeared on television in the 1950s after years working live theatre and clubs also noted that the answer could be to split the ITV talent series into two separate programmes.

“They should have two separate shows and Simon would make even more money.” He told Sky News, adding older performers were at a disadvantage to the ‘cute factor’ of the younger participants. “They do clash a bit, the older performers are put to the back a bit, the children are always going to get the ‘ah’ factor.”

Forsyth placed his longevity on television down to working to a family audience across all of his television series. He currently hosts celebrity ballroom contest Strictly Come Dancing for BBC One.

“I’ve had a very lucky career because I’ve always done shows for a family audience.” he told the news broadcaster.