Sir Bruce Forsyth’s wife recalls worrying moment they made decision to operate on TV legend

Lady Wilnelia said there were fears that he could bleed internally if they didn't operate
Emma Powell10 November 2016
The Weekender

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Sir Bruce Forsyth’s wife has opened up about the worrying moment they made the decision to operate on the TV legend.

Lady Wilnelia said they were faced with the “big question” over whether or not the broadcasting verteran, 88, should undergo surgery for two aneurysms that were found after he fell at his home last year.

Recalling the fall on This Morning, Wilnelia said: “It was very scary to see him [after the fall] because he was very bruised. It was really really awful.

“But he managed to recuperate, and we wanted to know why he had that fall… [so] they did many different tests, but everything was fine. And then the doctor decided to do a whole body scan, and that’s when they found the two aneurysms. One is in the abdominal, and one was near his right hip.

Recovery: Sir Bruce Forsyth and his wife Lady Wilnelia
Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty

“Then it was a big question, do we go ahead and have the operation, and [doctors said] if you have internal bleeding it’s very difficult to make it. We were supposed to go to Puerto Rico for Christmas and I was thinking ‘my God if anything happened to him’ so we decided to go ahead with the operation.”

Bruce Forsyth - in pictures

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Wilnelia said Forsyth is doing “wonderful” despite the lengthy recovery process and said she wanted to thank fans for their continued support.

“The last couple of weeks, he’s been really really good and I wanted to take this opportunity to say to the people ‘thank you’,” she said.

“We’ve had so many wonderful letters and phone calls and good wishes for him and I do believe in all this energy and positive thinking… and he’s doing really really well.”

Forsyth was forced to turn down several public appearances following the surgery including Ronnie Corbett’s funeral in April and last year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.

When asked by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby if he will return to work Wilnelia said: “Yes, let's hope so. You know, I don’t expect him to go tap dancing - but he loves showbusiness and I’m sure with a little bit of luck, he should be back.”

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