Sir Bruce – nice to see you break a world record

The 84-year-old star, is to be included in the 2013 edition for having the longest career as a male TV entertainer with an on-screen career spanning 72 years.

Also among those honoured in the new volume are BBC’s Top Gear team who took the record for the world’s most widely watched factual TV programme, seen in 212 territories.

Sir Bruce’s TV career began when he was just 11. When he returns with BBC1’s Strictly in little over a week, he will break a record set by former Golden Girl, US star Betty White.

He said of his record: “What a wonderful surprise, but what a shock – and it’s all true.”