Sir Bruce Forsyth in intensive care after severe chest infection

TV presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth has spent the last five days in intensive care with a chest infection.

The 89-year-old entertainer was admitted to hospital on Sunday after being was struck with the illness, which is said to be especially severe due to his age. It is not known when he will be allowed to return home.

In spite of the illness, a source told the Daily Mail Forsyth was in "great spirits".

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"Bruce got an infection last weekend but it got worse very quickly," they said. "He has been in a lot of pain but has stayed upbeat and doctors decided to keep him in for at least five nights so he could recover fully.

"His wife Wilnelia has been brilliant and was by his bedside almost constantly."

Forsyth last suffered a health scare in 2015, when a fell at his home in Surrey left him with two life-threatening aneurysms.

He has not been seen on TV since 2014, when his stood down as co-presenter of Strictly Come Dancing.

Last October, his wife, a former Miss World, told the BBC the Forsyth had "a bit of a problem moving".

She said: "He's in incredible shape mentally but he gets very tired. With a little bit of luck he should be back [performing].

"He doesn't want to do anything publicly until he's 100 per cent well. I respect that."

Forsyth's manager, Ian Wilson, said at the time: "As is widely known, Sir Bruce is recuperating from various health issues. His sole focus at the moment is to continue getting better and he has made no formal or informal decision about retiring from show business."