Sir Bruce ‘may quit Strictly’ because of British weather

The TV star, 85, who has hosted the hit ballroom dancing competition with Tess Daly since its 2004 launch, said that he would consider living abroad for six months of the year if temperatures continued to plummet. Sir Bruce, who was knighted in 2011, said that the disappointing summer and “long” winter had prevented him from getting on to the golf course on the doorstep of his home.

“Look at this weather – I can’t even get out. It does make me depressed,” he told the Radio Times.

“I’m just back from Puerto Rico, where my wife’s (Wilnelia) family lives, and it’s 85F (29C) there. I mean, something’s wrong somewhere. I don’t know why I came back to this stinking cold place!”

The former Play Your Cards Right host added: “The winter has been going on for so long. No summer, and then into this! Well, we deserve a good summer. If we don’t, questions will be asked!

“I would contemplate just doing six months a year in this country, actually. If this is going to be our regular winter, I’m going to vanish in October and come back at the end of May!”

When told that he could not leave Britain in October because Strictly does not finish until December, the former Generation Game host added: “Oh, yes...but we’ll forget about that...”

Sir Bruce has previously dismissed reports that he is ready 
to step down, saying: “I am certainly not going to retire – that is the last thing on my mind. It is the buzz of working that keeps me 
going.”

The presenter revealed that he was doubtful that Strictly would be a success when he was first approached about the programme.