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    Sir Bruce Racks Up A World Record Bonus

    Strictly Come Dancing host Sir Bruce Forsyth heads the list of a number of personalities acknowledged for their achievements with a Guinness World Record.

    The 84-year-old star is to be included in the 2013 edition of the book, which is out next week, 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 the BBC's Top Gear team who took the record for the world's most widely-watched factual TV programme. The show is seen by audiences in 212 territories.

    Sir Bruce is recognised for a TV career which began when he was aged just 11.

    And when he returns to our screens for the next series of BBC1's Strictly in little over a week, he will actually take the overall title for the longest career of a TV entertainer, surpassing former Golden Girl, US star Betty White.

    He said: "What a wonderful surprise, but what a shock - and it's all true."

    Other new records include re-formed band The Stone Roses whose comeback concerts became the fastest selling rock shows in the UK with 220,000 tickets selling out in just 68 minutes.

    Peter Kay was rewarded for the highest number of tickets sold for a stand-up comedy tour, shifting 1.14 million tickets for his series of dates from 2010-11.

    He said: "Just goes to show that the lovely Roy Castle was right - dedication is exactly what you need if you want to be a record breaker."

    Manchester United star Ryan Giggs has scored four records in the new edition of the book, including the most appearances in the football Premier League (598) and most Premier League winner's medals (12).

    He said: "To have my records in the Guinness World Records book, which I remember reading as a kid, is an amazing feeling."

    Veteran Canadian music star Leonard Cohen, 77, is recognised for achieveing the longest gap between top ten UK albums.

    His 12th, Old Ideas, went to number two 40 years and eight months after his previous top ten entry Songs Of Love And Hate.