Forsyth is leader of the pack of ‘golden oldies’

“Didn’t he do well?” Bruce Forsyth is the nation’s most admired male ‘golden oldie’ according to the results of a poll from Co-operative Insurance Personal Pensions.

After sixty years in show business the great British public clearly believe it is still a case of “nice to see you, to see you nice” when it comes to good old Brucie. Almost half (47 per cent) of respondents voted the 80 year old presenter of popular shows such as Play Your Cards Right and Strictly Come Dancing as their most loved and durable star.

Second in the poll was the original 007 and epitome of cool suave sophistication – Sean Connery (25 per cent) who is still going strong acting and producing movies at the age of 78. Meanwhile, fellow Scot Sir Alex Ferguson came third with one in five (21 per cent) of the 3,000 polled voting for the football legend who shows no signs of handing in his last team sheet.

Former England Manager Sir Bobby Robson gained 5 per cent of the vote to take fourth place in the poll, while fifth went to another star of the big screen Sir Michael Caine with 2 per cent.

There was a ‘surprise surprise’ in results for the most admired female, with sixty-four year old former Blind Date presenter Cilla Black voted the most inspirational women (38 per cent). While in second place, Eastender and queen of the Vic - Barbara Windsor – with 26 per cent clearly not wanting to call last orders on her career.

Oscar winning actresses Dame Helen Mirren came third (17 per cent) and Dame Judi Dench took fourth (14 per cent). The original glamour puss Joan Collins concluded the list of women who Briton’s aspire to be like when they reach retirement age with five per cent of the vote.

David Anderson, Chief Executive at Co-operative Insurance said: “Bruce Forsyth is a great example to aspiring ‘golden oldies’ who no longer see retirement as a time to just sit back and relax, but really want to enjoy their lives to the full.

“Many people have all kinds of different hopes and aspirations for when they reach retirement with most of them hoping to retire early. With the continuing rise of basic living costs, people should be making their future financial planning a priority in order to be able to afford the luxuries we are all becoming accustomed to.”