Sir Bruce Forsyth left behind a bonus £5.6 million to his wife in a company account.
The late entertainment legend – who died last year aged 89 – left his Bruce Forsyth Promotions company to his wife Lady Wilnelia, who he left most of his £11.7 million estate to.
According to the Daily Express newspaper, the former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ co-host’s productions company had built up £5.56 million in cash, accounts have revealed.
Bruce is thought to have left everything to his 60-year-old wife Lady Forsyth-Johnson after funeral and legal expenses to avoid inheritable tax, because had he left his fortune to anyone else, excluding charity, a 40 per cent tax would’ve been due on everything over £325,000.
Probate records show he did leave £100,000 to be split between his nine grandchildren when they turn 21, and an additional £20,000 to two executors his estate, but the rest of his £11.7 million went to Wilnelia, who could then give away £650,000 without paying additional tax.
A spokesman for his estate previously said: "All I would say is that I think 99.9 per cent of married people would do this."
Bruce – who earned £650,000 per series for co-hosting ‘Strictly’ – had previously been outspoken about income tax, saying he thinks a person’s money should go to their children rather than the country.
He said: "I think your inheritance should go to your children more than back to the country that you’ve lived in.
"I’m not saying you don’t owe the country something. Of course, you owe your country a lot for living there all those years.
"But I think it can be a bit over the top."
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.
Wilnelia has a close relationship with her step-children and previously praised Bruce’s daughters for being so welcoming when she married their father.
She has said: "I couldn’t sleep the night before [meeting them for the first time]. I changed my clothes 100 times; I put my hair up, then took it down, I wanted to look older. [My friend] Teresa said, ‘Just be yourself.’
"The girls welcomed me so quickly. I feel that when you give love you get love back – it’s as simple as that – and I have loved them from the start. Charlotte and Louisa were only four and five when we met. All credit to their mothers for the way they raised them. The girls have been my friends."
Bruce Forsyth left behind £5.6m bonus for wife
