Sir Bruce Forsyth’s widow, Wilnelia, has opened up about her dating life, expressing openness to finding love again eight years after her husband’s passing.
Lady Forsyth, 67, was married to the iconic entertainer for 34-years before his passing aged 89 in 2017 following a battle with bronchial pneumonia.
During an exclusive interview with MailOnline at the Caudwell Children’s 25th Butterfly Ball at The Dorchester Hotel in London on Wednesday, she was joined by her and Bruce’s son, Jonathan, who is 38.
Radiating elegance on the red carpet, Wilnelia mentioned that although she doesn’t currently have someone ‘special’ in her life, she is not opposed to the possibility of meeting someone new.
Asked if she’d be open to dating, she told MailOnline: ‘Yes, well I have friends, and I go out, I have nobody special in my life right now, but you never know’.
Later sharing insight into her grief, the former Miss World star paid tribute to her son as well as Bruce’s five daughters from his first two marriages for their support.
Sir Bruce Forsyth ‘s widow Wilnelia, 67 has said she’s open to finding love again, eight years after the tragic death of her beloved husband (pictured on Wednesday)
Lady Forsyth who was married to the iconic entertainer for 34-years before his passing aged 89 in 2017 (pictured together in 2015)
‘Life goes on, but I’m surrounded by so much love, and the whole family. I’m so lucky to have the most beautiful stepdaughters, and our son, Jonathan, who is my rock’.
‘I’m very busy, and I also have an organisation for the Alzheimer’s charity in Puerto Rico, and it’s for the caregivers, so I’m quite busy with that’.
Wilnelia also spoke about the upcoming eighth anniversary of Bruce’s death and said she would be marking the occasion with a charity gold tournament in the village of Wentworth where the couple lived.
‘I just had a lovely birthday with one of Bruce’s daughters – his oldest daughter, and I had a party at home for her last Sunday. Her birthday was on Monday, but the whole family managed to get together, so it was beautiful, and we were talking about [Bruce’s upcoming anniversary]’.
Wilnelia and Bruce lived together in Surrey after she was first introduced to him at the 1980 Miss World competition gala in London.
She retired from modelling following her marriage to the Strictly host in 1983 but remained the only Puerto Rican to win Miss World until 2016.
Her husband sadly passed away in August 2017, aged 89 at his home, while surrounded by his family, after a battle with bronchial pneumonia.
A year after his death, she revealed that nothing had been moved at their home since he left; the books, ornaments and family photographs were left exactly where they were.
She spoke to MailOnline at the Caudwell Children’s 25th Butterfly Ball at The Dorchester Hotel in London on Wednesday where over £1.5million was raised (pictured with son Jonathan)
Asked if she’d be open to dating, she told MailOnline: ‘Yes, well I have friends, and I go out, I have nobody special in my life right now, but you never know’
Sharing insight into her grief, the former Miss World star paid tribute to her son as well as Bruce’s five daughters from his first two marriages
‘Life goes on, but I’m surrounded by so much love, and the whole family. I’m so lucky to have the most beautiful stepdaughters, and our son, Jonathan, who is my rock’ (pictured 2015)
Wilnelia spoke candidly about her husband’s death in a candid interview with The Mail On Sunday in 2018, where she revealed she still talks to him everyday.
She said: ‘Sometimes it feels like yesterday. I can’t believe it’s been a year.
‘I was in London the other day and rushing, thinking I had to get home. But then I realised, what’s the point?
‘I try to be strong for the family, but if I told you it’s been easy I’d be lying. I miss Bruce every single day. He was my mentor in a way.
‘He had so much knowledge about everything and was such an easy person to talk to. I could speak to him about absolutely everything.
‘I talk to him all the time anyway, but I miss sharing all the good news in the world, and the bad.’
Also in 2018, lady Wilnelia spoke of her joy at marrying the iconic entertainer.
During an appearance on ITV’s This Morning she passionately admitted: ‘I was so lucky to be married to him for 34 years. It was a very happy marriage.’
Wilnelia and Bruce lived together in Surrey after she was first introduced to him at the 1980 Miss World competition gala in London (pictured 1990)
She said she is thankful that she was able to make some special memories with Bruce before he passed away.
‘He retired from Strictly, and he didn’t manage to do the last show; the Christmas show,’ she said.
‘He was planning to do some travelling and continuing and being in showbiz somehow. He wanted to be with his family.’
Bruce had kids Debbie, Julie and Laura from his 20-year marriage to first wife Penny Calvert; Charlotte and Louisa from his second marriage to Anthea Redfern, and Jonathan Joseph ‘JJ’ Forsyth-Johnson from his third marriage to Wilnelia.
