'He asked me to dance and I never looked back': Sir Bruce Forsyth's widow Lady Wilnelia reveals she was charmed by the showbiz legend from the moment they met

Sir Bruce Forsyth's widow Lady Wilnelia has opened up about the first time she met the showbiz legend, revealing that she instantly found him charming.

The 60-year-old Puerto Rican beauty, who was crowned Miss World in 1975, met the beloved entertainer in 1980 and was immediately taken in by his gregarious nature and sense of humour, for which he had become famous.

Speaking during an appearance on BBC One's The One Show on Wednesday evening, she recalled: 'I met him in 1980 - I was living in Paris, working there, and I was invited to be in the Miss World competition as a judge.

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Memories: Sir Bruce Forsyth's widow Lady Wilnelia has spoken fondly of the first time she met the legendary entertainer before they would go on to marry. Pictured in October 2011

Memories: Sir Bruce Forsyth's widow Lady Wilnelia has spoken fondly of the first time she met the legendary entertainer before they would go on to marry. Pictured in October 2011

'We met - he was one of the judges as well - and I thought [he was] very kind. He was making the girls so relaxed and so at ease. Especially when it was Miss Turkey's turn he turned around and said, "What do you eat at Christmas?"'

Recounting how everybody present laughed at his one-liner, Wilnelia noted during her interview: 'But then, you know, I can see he was so wonderful. After the competition finished they have a gala and we danced - we danced all night.

'[He] took a little bit of time to ask me to dance. I had a friend of mine, who wasn't my boyfriend and he thought he was my boyfriend, and then after that he asked me for a dance and I never went back.'

Fond: She spoke fondly of the star during an appearance on The One Show on Wednesday

Fond: She spoke fondly of the star during an appearance on The One Show on Wednesday

Charmed: The 60-year-old Puerto Rican beauty, who was crowned Miss World in 1975, met the beloved entertainer in 1980 and was immediately taken in by his gregarious nature

Charmed: The 60-year-old Puerto Rican beauty, who was crowned Miss World in 1975, met the beloved entertainer in 1980 and was immediately taken in by his gregarious nature

Appearance: She made an appearance on the BBC One show alongside TV star Catherine Tate

Appearance: She made an appearance on the BBC One show alongside TV star Catherine Tate

As the enchanting night came to an end, Wilnelia said that the man she would go on to marry made a surprising - yet 'special' - revelation to her.

She told her interviewers Alex Jones and Matt Baker: 'He kissed my hand and he said goodbye and he said, "By the way, I have five daughters." So I thought, "Why is he telling me this? Maybe he doesn't want to see me again."

'But these girls, they've been amazing in my life and I want to wish them a wonderful Mothers' Day to everyone - to all the mothers. They've been incredible and they've been my rock. And my boy JJ... It's been a very difficult time.'

Never looked back: As she recalled meeting Sir Bruce on a fateful night in 1980 while she was living in Paris, she said that the pair danced and she never looked back

Never looked back: As she recalled meeting Sir Bruce on a fateful night in 1980 while she was living in Paris, she said that the pair danced and she never looked back

Stepping out in style: She looked typically stylish for her appearance on the show, arriving in a black top with large sparkling buttons and high-waisted white trousers

Stepping out in style: She looked typically stylish for her appearance on the show, arriving in a black top with large sparkling buttons and high-waisted white trousers

Lady Wilnelia spoke ahead of a tribute show - Sir Bruce: A Celebration - dedicated to her late husband that is scheduled to air on Sunday, featuring performances from Dame Shirley Bassey, Alexandra Burke, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe.

Presented by his former Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly, the show also features two of the beloved entertainer's six children - Laura and Julie, from his marriage to his first wife Penny Calvert - singing in tribute.

Lady Wilnelia's appearance on The One Show comes several weeks after she sat down for her first interview since Sir Bruce's August death on ITV's This Morning. 

She spoke of her joy of marrying the iconic entertainer, who passed away aged 89 at his home, while surrounded by his family.

Let's hug it out: Lady Wilnelia was seen sharing a hug with The One Show co-host Alex Jones

Let's hug it out: Lady Wilnelia was seen sharing a hug with The One Show co-host Alex Jones

Special tribute: During her time on the show, Lady Wilnelia spoke about an upcoming televised tribute to her late husband, which is set to air on BBC One on Sunday

Special tribute: During her time on the show, Lady Wilnelia spoke about an upcoming televised tribute to her late husband, which is set to air on BBC One on Sunday

The former beauty queen said: 'I was so lucky to be married to him for 34 years. It was a very happy marriage.'

Wilnelia said she is thankful that she was able to make some special memories with Bruce before he passed away.

She said: 'He retired from Strictly, and he didn’t manage to do the last show; the Christmas show. He was planning to do some travelling and continuing and being in showbiz somehow. He wanted to be with his family.

'He was like that until the last year. He was still doing exercise at home. I was so lucky to have his daughters, they've been my angels, my strength and my son. They stayed. They entertained him, it was wonderful.'

First interview: Lady Wilnelia sat down for her first interview since Sir Bruce's August death in January, when she made an appearance on ITV's This Morning 

First interview: Lady Wilnelia sat down for her first interview since Sir Bruce's August death in January, when she made an appearance on ITV's This Morning 

Bruce was in showbusiness for 75 years - and discussing his fall, which was seen as the beginning of his major health problems, Lady Wilnelia said: 

'That was the beginning. There was a few other complications, there was the operation. But, we always had the hope that he was going to recuperate, until he had that chest infection.  

'We were able to be there and the last week and all the girls came to the house and stayed, we watched movies. It was a special time. We were lucky to say our goodbyes.' 

Wilnelia spoke about visiting Puerto Rico for her first Christmas without Bruce. 

She said: 'It was very special and this occasion I was able to have Bruce's daughters, I call them my five angels. We had a religious service there, it was special.' 

Love: The couple made a number of appearances at glitzy showbiz events over the course of their long marriage. Pictured together at the Pride Of Britain Awards in October 2014 

Love: The couple made a number of appearances at glitzy showbiz events over the course of their long marriage. Pictured together at the Pride Of Britain Awards in October 2014 

'After Bruce passed away I decided to go to Puerto Rico with my family and there was a lot of friends there as well, I thought it would be a healing process being there. The last thing I thought was there would be a hurricane.

'It was terrifying, when we knew it was coming, I had my mother with me, we stayed in a friend's building. I saw the roof tiles hitting the windows. I was completely distraught being there.'

She continued: 'After the hurricane passed, the next night and the section my father lives was under water. I was completely destroyed waiting to see if my family, my son was completely destroyed saying, "Mum you must come home."

'His father had just died. And you never know what would happen in this situation, the spirit of the people was brilliant.' 

Coming soon: The tribute, Sir Bruce: A Celebration, is set to air on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday

Coming soon: The tribute, Sir Bruce: A Celebration, is set to air on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday

 

 


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