Bruce Forsyth criticises reality shows

Strictly Come Dancing host Bruce Forsyth has revealed that he cannot bear to watch reality TV shows.

The 80-year-old TV legend said that he will never be able to understand the appeal of Big Brother and other similar programmes.

"I like The Apprentice - otherwise I've had it with reality shows," Forsyth is quoted by The People as saying. "I can't abide Big Brother. How could I be interested in someone just walking across the screen? My favourite shows are on the History and Biography channels."

However, he admitted that his career would be now be over if he had not got involved in reality TV by accepting the offer to host Strictly, which has been a massive hit for BBC One.

"If Strictly hadn't come along I'd probably have faded into the sunset, never to be heard of again," he explained. "If I had written a script about my life, it would have been rejected as too fantastic to be believable. But it's all true. Every day I pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming."

Forsyth will receive an Academy Fellowship at the BAFTA Television Awards tonight.