Strictly Come Dancing pairings revealed as Bruce Forsyth bows out

Bruce Forsyth has stepped down as the host of Strictly Come Dancing as the final pairings for the show were revealed.

14:26 08 September 2014

Sir Bruce Forsyth has officially bowed out as the host of Strictly Come Dancing over the weekend.

Leading a “flashmob”, his departure was marked by his special participation in a routine on Sunday’s episode.

Going forward, the TV legend will be replaced by new presenting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. His resignation coincides with the announcement of the final pairings for the dance show. 

The celebrities discovered the identities of their dance partners on Sunday. The pairings are:

•    Steve Backshall and Ola Jordan
•    Frankie Bridge and Kevin Clifton
•    Thom Evans and Iveta Lukosiute
•    Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev
•    Jennifer Gibney and Tristan McManus
•    Alison Hammond and Aljaz Skorjanec
•    Pixie Lott and Trent Whiddon
•    Scott Mills and Joanne Clifton
•    Judy Murray and Anton Du Beke
•    Sunetra Sarker and Brendan Cole
•    Greg Wallace and Aliona Vilani
•    Simon Webbe and Kristina Rihanoff
•    Tim Wonnacott and Natalie Lowe
•    Jake Wood and Janette Manrara
•    Mark Wright and Karen Hauer

Speaking of his decision to step down as the weekly host of the popular dance programme, Forsyth said: "[Live television] takes its toll when you've been doing it for many years, it's a pressure thing. But I'm not retiring, that's the last thing in the world I want to do. This isn't Brucie walking into the sunset."