Grave robbers steal body of Italian TV star...

Grave robbers snatch body of Italy's Bruce Forsyth 

By NICK PISA
Last updated at 6:10 PM on 25th January 2011

The body of Italian quiz show host Mike Bongiorno has been snatched from a cemetery near Milan

Grave robbers have stolen the body of one of Italy's most famous TV and much loved personalities, police revealed today.

Quiz king Mike Bongiorno was the Italian equivalent of Bruce Forsyth and hosted several TV game shows over a career spanning more than 50 years.

He died 16 months ago and was buried in the family plot after a funeral service attended by 15,000 people including prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Police said the theft of his body had been discovered by workers at the cemetery in Arona near Milan.

Forensic officers were examining the scene for clues, and a helicopter was being used in the hunt for his body.

Insiders said the most likely motive was for ransom - in Italy thefts from graveyards are not uncommon and last year a Mafia informer revealed how the mob planned to steal designer Gianni Versace's corpse.

So far no one has claimed responsibility or made a demand for payment for the body back to be handed back.

Mr Bongiorno's son Michele jnr said: 'We are horrified. Words cannot convey what we feel.' 

Ten years ago the body of Milan banker Enrico Cuccia was astolen from his tomb and held to ransom but police arrested two people before any money was handed over.

Police guard the sealed off cemetery building in Arona where thieves stole the remains of Mike Bongiorno

Local priest father Mauro Pozzi said: 'It's a terrible sign of the times in which we live in. No-one has any respect any more - the only possible motive I can see is extortion.'

Ombretta Colli, a senator with Berlusconi's People of Freedom party, hinted the theft may have had something to do with his close friendship with the scandal hit prime minister.

She said:'This is a vile gesture that deeply saddens me. Everyone knows how friendly Mike and Silvio Berlusconi were and I hope this theft has nothing to do with that.'

Mike Bongiorno was a close friend of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, left, and was Italy's equivalent of British TV personality Bruce Forsyth, right

Mr Bongiorno, who was credited with bringing the quiz show to Italy in the Fifties and became one of the country's most popular entertainers, died in September 2009, aged 85.

His catchphrase was 'Allegria, allegria' (Happiness, happiness) and his TV shows attracted millions of viewers.

At his state funeral in Milan Cathedral, Berlusconi said: 'He was a great friend, a player in the history of Italian television. He was my lucky charm.'

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