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BRUCE Forsyth WILL sign up for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing - telling the Beeb he won't do "a Christine Bleakley".
The veteran host, 82, had faced speculation he may retire from the hit Saturday night dance series.
Old romantic ... Brucie with Puerto Rican wife Wilnelia
But Brucie said he was planning to sign a new contract and wouldn't quit the BBC like The One Show presenter Bleakley.
He told Radio Times: "I have a couple more meetings, but it's going well. I'm not doing a Christine Bleakley."
The presenter took a 15 per cent pay cut in 2009, bringing his £650,000 salary down to £550,000.
He said: "I took a cut last year before anyone else. If they want me to this year, I will, but I've never thought about it."
He added: "The BBC won't disclose individual salaries. The last thing you want is people being competitive about them."
BBC sources said it was normal for Bruce not to have signed up by now, but they expect him to seal another deal soon.
This year's series is not due to start until the second half of September after the number of celebs was cut by two.
Brucie denied he was hanging on until big names were announced.
Holby City actress Patsy Kensit has agreed to go on the show and former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson has said she would love to take part.
Bruce said he and co-host Tess Daly "don't know who's on the show until a couple of weeks before."
The great-grandfather got into trouble last year for backing dancer Anton du Beke after he was caught up in a racism row for calling his celeb dance partner a "P***".
Brucie told the magazine: "Racially offensive language is never funny nor acceptable. But everybody has a nickname."
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He also thinks it was wrong for Strictly to sack judge Arlene Phillips, 66. He said: "Ageism against women on TV is terrible."
The light-entertainment king - who previously fronted The Generation Game and Play Your Cards Right - said he now regretted doing so many game shows, branding them "money for old rope".
But he said that they had enabled him to spend more time with his Puerto Rican wife Wilnelia, a former Miss World.
He said: "People don't understand I can be the laziest person in the world.
"In Puerto Rico, I eat well and lounge on the beach reading lots of books, mostly court dramas."
Brucie also took a swipe at ITV's Britain's Got Talent for allowing kids to audition.
He said: "They shouldn't put children through it."
The presenter appears in two new shows - tomorrow's Channel 4 documentary Living with Brucie and next week's Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC1.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0tXPKxu1W
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Strictly Come Dancing bosses have reportedly given four professional dancers an ultimatum to sign up for the show.
According to the News of the World, the show's executives are losing patience with the stars, who have not yet confirmed a deal with the BBC to return for the upcoming eighth series.
Ian Waite, Matthew Cutler, Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett are thought to be the names still yet to put pen to paper.
There have been numerous rumours of a revamp of the programme, which the dancers are apparently unhappy about.
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Stars appearing on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing will reportedly be paid by the dance.
In a bid to make the BBC show more exciting, the competitors could earn as little as £10,000 if they exit early or up to £100,000 if they reach the final, reports The Mirror.
"This is a way of rewarding those who do well rather than paying one big lump sum. It makes sense and will act as a healthy *incentive," a source said.
The move will ensure that large sums of money are not paid to celebrities who last only a few weeks. Martina Hingis, who was voted off first last year, reportedly received £50,000 for competing.
Gavin Henson and Felicity Kendal are among the stars linked to the new series.
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Former world heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno has been linked to the latest run of Strictly Come Dancing.
According to the Sunday Mirror, BBC bosses are keen to get Bruno on the show for the upcoming eighth series, following the popularity of boxer Joe Calzaghe last year.
"Frank is one of the country's best-loved celebrities. He is still very fit and trains every day so the gruelling schedule of Strictly wouldn't be a problem for him," said a source.
"The producers have made getting Frank onto the show their number one priority."
Bruno, 48, was the world heavyweight champion in 1995 and became well known after retiring from the sport for his appearances in pantomimes around the UK.
Last year, a friend of the ex-boxer claimed that the BBC has snubbed Bruno for the seventh series.
Rugby star Gavin Henson, actresses Patsy Kensit and Felicity Kendall and politician Anne Widdecombe have all been linked to upcoming run of the BBC dance show.
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Lime PicturesHollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe has been linked to the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Metcalfe, who plays Mercedes McQueen in the soap, has been approached by the BBC to take part, according to The Sun. The 26-year-old's former co-star Ricky Whittle finished runner-up in last year's Strictly.
"They really want Jen because she'd look amazing on the dancefloor," said a source. "She's really keen, the only problem is her Hollyoaks schedule."
Other stars linked to the upcoming eighth series of the reality show include Gavin Henson, Anne Widdecombe, Frank Bruno, Felicity Kendall and Patsy Kensit.
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Matthew Cutler and Lilya Kopylova will not take part in the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The duo had been asked to perform in a new dance group on the BBC One show alongside Ian Waite, Darren Bennett and Brian Fortuna. However, both dancers have decided to pursue other opportunities instead.
Fortuna pulled out of the reality show last month.
The new dance group was introduced following the reduction in the number of celebrities taking part in this year's programme from 16 to 14, and the arrival of three new male dancers - Artem Chigvintsev, Jared Murillo and Robin Windsor.
Waite and Bennett have agreed to take part in the new dance troupe and will be joined by four new recruits, three female and one male.
Speaking about his exit, Cutler said: "I've absolutely loved my time on Strictly, and now is a good time to focus on developing new areas of my career. I'm excited about having more time to commit to new projects, and of course, still having a hand in Strictly without all the training!"
Kopylova, who has been on the show for six years, said: "I will miss it, but I am looking forward to new opportunities ahead. Of course I will be there to support [my husband] Darren and all of my fellow professionals."
Cutler joined the Strictly family in the third series and partnered celebrities including Siobhan Hayes, Carol Smillie, Christine Bleakley and Alesha Dixon, with whom he won the 2007 series title.
Kopylova's partners have included Don Warrington, Matt Dawson, Aled Jones and 2005 champion Darren Gough.
Both Cutler and Kopylova have not ruled out guest appearances on the show and are expected to be involved on an ad hoc basis in training.
Strictly returns this autumn to BBC One.
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Pants it's not going to be the same without the professionals we know.
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SEXY ex-Coronation Street actress Tina O'Brien is the latest star to sign up for Strictly.
Tina, 26 - who played gymslip mum Sarah-Louise Platt in Corrie - joins the new series in September.
She will step out with former Holby City actress, Patsy Kensit, The Good Life star Felicity Kendal, rugby ace Gavin Henson and ex-Tory MP Anne Widdecombe.
An insider said: "Tina will definitely spice up the show."
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0uZz4mMwM
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Brian Fortuna has admitted that he feels "disappointed" at being axed from Strictly Come Dancing.
Speaking to the News of the World, the professional dancer insisted that he had a "fantastic time" on the BBC reality show.
Fortuna, whose departure was announced last month, said: "I'm very disappointed. I had a fantastic time while it lasted."
It was announced earlier this week that Matthew Cutler and Lilia Kopylova were also quitting the programme.
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Kym Marsh has backed Tina O'Brien for Strictly Come Dancing.
It was reported last month that the former Corrie star had signed up to the show to help boost her career.
Marsh wrote in her New column: "Good for her - think she’ll be brilliant!
"Tina’s gorgeous and she and I enjoyed a few nights out in Manchester when she was on the Street. She is lovely and such a laugh."
She added: "Now that her daughter Scarlett is a bit older, Tina’s probably ready to go back to work."
The actress, who plays Michelle Connor in the ITV soap, also admitted that she wants O'Brien to reprise her role as Sarah Louise Platt.
"I’d love to see her back on Corrie, but obviously that’s her decision. She’s a very independent woman!" she said.
