'He was very bruised, it was really awful': Bruce Forsyth's wife reveals his terrifying 'life-saving' surgery and the secrets to their 33 year marriage

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He has been one of the most beloved TV personalities since the 1950s.  

But his wife Lady Wilnelia Forsyth appeared on This Morning on Thursday to discuss his recent absence from screens - after suffering a host of serious and potentially life-threatening health issues.

The 59-year-old beauty revealed on the chat show that the beloved presenter, 88, had undergone 'life-saving' surgery after being diagnosed with two aneurysms - which he would not have survived without intensive care. 

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Loved-up as ever: Lady Wilnelia Forsyth, 59, appeared on This Morning on Thursday to discuss Bruce's recovery from life-saving surgery, and the secret of their long-standing marriage 

Bruce, who is known as the host of Play Your Cards Right and Strictly Come Dancing, was rushed to hospital in February for life-saving surgery - after his health hugely deteriorated since a serious fall in October 2015.

Recalling the terrifying event, Wilnelia explained: 'It was very scary to see him because he was very bruised. It was really really awful.'

Yet, she continued of her strong husband: 'But he managed to recuperate, and we wanted to know why he had that fall… so they did many different tests, but everything was fine.'

Getting better: Bruce, 88, was rushed to hospital in February for life-saving surgery - after his health hugely deteriorated since a serious fall in October 2015

However, after being told to rest up, doctors decided to take further precautions which is when things became more serious.

'The doctor decided to do a whole body scan, and that's when they found the two aneurysms,' the Puerto-Rican beauty said. 'One was in the abdominal, and one was near his right hip. Then it was a big question, do we go ahead and have the operation? As doctors said if you have internal bleeding it's very difficult to make it.

She added: 'It was really a worry. But we decided to go ahead [with the operation].'

Staying strong: Wilnelia explained: 'It was very scary to see him because he was very bruised' but assured he managed to 'recuperate'

However after the difficult surgery, Wilnelia now assures that the famous show host is on the road to recovery.

She gushed of both her husband and their fans: 'He is really wonderful. Especially the last couple of weeks, he's been really really good and I wanted to take this opportunity to say to the people ''thank you.''

'We've had so many wonderful letters and phone calls and good wishes for him and I do believe in all this energy and positive thinking…. and he's doing really really well.'

Scary: However after undergoing surgery for two aneurysms, the former beauty queen assured fans he is now 'really wonderful' and healthier than ever

Having stayed active and healthy until this point in his late 80s, Wilnelia continued that she believes it was his dedication to spiritual and relaxing exercises that helped keep him so fit. 

She revealed: 'My mother gave Bruce a book on the day of our wedding and it's the one called 'The Fountain of Youth'. It's about doing exercise the way the monks used to do.'

'And he really was doing those exercises and did them forever and I think this is one of the reasons he kept so well.'

Tricks of the trade: Having stayed active and healthy until his late 80s, Wilnelia revealed that his dedication to spiritual and relaxing exercises that helped keep him so fit

Despite their 29 year age gap, Wilnelia and Bruce have been married for more than thirty years, having crossed paths shortly after the beauty won Miss World.

Wilnelia said of the night they met: 'We met in 1980, five years after Miss World. He asked me for a dance and then started talking to me… and that evening he said 'thank you for the most wonderful evening of my life'. It seems like yesterday really, it's been amazing.'

When Holly and Phil asked what the key to their long-standing romance is, the beauty queen said:  'We have really good communication, we can talk about everything… and I think that's so important to say you're sorry when you're in the wrong. We like the same things. It's worked for us!'

Stand by me: Despite their 29 year age gap, Wilnelia and Bruce have been married for more than thirty years, having crossed paths shortly after the beauty won Miss World

The pair married in 1983 and welcomed their son Jonathan three years later - marking Wilnelia's first and Bruce's sixth child. 

However the brunette joked that while she loves her life and family, there is a part of her that regrets leaving the sunny sights of Puerto Rico - where she was born and bred.

She laughed on the show: 'It's wasn't until I arrived in England that I realised after our very long honeymoon I must be absolutely madly in love or absolutely crazy, because I left my family, my job, the weather!'

Yet, the move was undoubtedly all worth it after Bruce's career only went from strength to strength in the UK. 

Spilling all: When Holly and Phil asked what the key to their long-standing romance is, the beauty queen said: 'We have really good communication, we can talk about everything'

Happy family: Wilnelia married Bruce in 1983 and they welcomed their son Jonathan three years later

Having first risen to prominence as a game show host, Bruce retained his family-favourite status in modern times by fronting popular BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, between 2004-2013. 

However Wilnelia admitted that despite such a long and successful career, Bruce finds it incredibly difficult now to not be involved in showbusiness.

She said: 'OK, he's 88, and usually a man of his age had retired but he's been active until just recently and it is very hard.'

And, to the delight of fans, Wilnelia even confirmed that if he is fit and well to return to screens, he will be doing so.

She laughed: 'You know, I don't expect him to go tap dancing… but he loves the showbusiness and I'm sure with a little bit of luck, he should be back.' 

It's nice to see you, to see you nice! Hinting at a comeback, Wilnelia said of his restlessness at not working on TV: 'I don't expect him to go tap dancing… but he loves the showbusiness and I'm sure with a little bit of luck, he should be back'