Nice to see you, to see you again

IT IS no surprise that Sir Bruce Forsyth has singled out Lulu as his “favourite” on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. The pair are old friends and performed together on the Bruce Forsyth Show almost 40 years ago. But they look barely a day older than when this publicity shot was taken in 1974, although Brucie’s taste in ties has, thankfully, improved now he is 84. Meanwhile, many would say Lulu looks better now, at 62, than she ever did, thanks to great skin and a choppier, more fashionable haircut. Sir Bruce, who left school at 14, has admitted that he owes his 60-year career to hard work and staying young at heart. “Even though I’m in my 80s, when I walk out on to a studio floor I still feel 30,” he has said. Lulu, who released her Shout single at 14, has brought out her own range of anti-ageing skincare, called Timebomb, to stave off the years. But she says her success is all down to her manager, Marion Massey, and good timing. “I definitely would not want to be launching a career now,” she says. “You have to achieve world domination or you get dropped by your label.” Also apparently refusing to let age wither her is fellow Strictly contestant Nancy Del’Ollio. Said to be 50 but never keen to reveal her real age, she has played down rumours that she is behaving like a diva on the Strictly set.