TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 -
"Music the Beat way and fun the off-
Launched by ABC Weekend Television for the Midlands and North of England Gazette was like a weekend version of Granada's Late Scene Extra, providing reports, articles and live appearances by people in the popular arts, including music. The show's director Pamela Lonsdale told the Manchester Evening News on its debut "It won't be satirical, we're not getting at anybody. We're just out to entertain." It was described by the TV Times as "Comment, Comedy, Music."
A regular feature of the early shows was Liverpool music and poetry trio The Scaffold, who would, on occasion have Sheila Fearn (later of The Likely Lads) as an assistant. Roger McGough had read his piece Summer With Monika on the show as well as the songs with the group. Songs would on occasion be provided by host Jimmy Lloyd.
The ITV strike of summer 1964 saw the show disappear, and then not come back, replaced by The Best Of The Avengers.
One of the show producers, Roy Bottomley would go onto produce various notable ITV series, Emmerdale Farm, Man At The Top, Special Branch among others.
GAZETTE
ABC
11th January 1964 -
