TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 - 1999

Ex-pirate and later Radio One DJ Henry had proved himself not just a likeable and respected radio personality but a successful face on TV with his Top Of The Pops appearances starting in 1968, but by late March 1969 he had been given the boot in favour of Tony Blackburn and used the opportunity given to him by the press to plug his own Tyne Tees show.

Newcastle's Tyne Tees gave him the chance of his own show where he would introduce his guests and answer viewer's questions. There would be a main, usually musical, guest who would in turn select and introduce a act new to TV. Guests would include Alan Price, Happy Magazine, Una Stubbs, The Scaffold, Donald Peers and Hughie Green. Each week the interviewee would be able to introduce their chosen music act who will perform two or three songs between the chat. Talking to Disc Henry said "It will be a sort of mini David Frost show with me interviewing the sort of people who fascinate me and finding out what makes them tick. The show is initially only for Tyne Tees but if successful it will of course be offered for national networking." He also told the NME that it would be "basically a chat show with a musical interlude." The show never made it outside of the north-east.

The thirty-minute, seven-week series was produced by Roy (Royston) Mayoh who would also produce Opportunity Knocks for Thames.

THE STUART HENRY SPEAKEASY

Tyne Tees

21st February 1969 - 4th April 1969