Strictly Come Dancing professionals to perform dance tribute to Bruce Forsyth on launch night

The Strictly Come Dancing cast are planning a special tribute performance to honour Bruce Forsyth following his death last week.

In a statement made via the Strictly Twitter page, the show’s executive producer Louise Rainbow revealed the professional dancers were planning a ‘heartfelt performance’.

“The thoughts of everyone here are still very much with Sir Bruce’s family.

“Of course, we will be paying tribute to Sir Bruce at our launch show and this will include a heartfelt performance from our Strictly professional dancers,” she said.

“We all want to celebrate him and all that he loved about the show. Sir Bruce was, and will always be, a huge part of Strictly Come Dancing.”

The presenter, comedian and actor co-hosted the series with Tess Daly for nine years before retiring aged 84.

Strictly Come Dancing’s 15^th series is due to start this autumn, with celebrities including X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, JLS’s Aston Merrygold, The Saturdays singer Mollie King and Loose Women panellist Ruth Langsford on the line-up.

​Daly will return as host alongside Claudia Winkleman and new head judge Shirley Ballas will join regulars Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Darcey Bussell on the panel.

There will also be three new professional dancers making their debut: Australian Open champion Dianne Buswell, Welsh Dancer Amy Downden and Ukrainian world champion Nadia Bychkova.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One this autumn.