TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 -
I must have missed that…
Unseen pilots / Un-
A December 1966 report in The Times claimed that at that time British television spent £250,000 a year on projects and programmes that never get shown.
1950s
GETTING SENTIMENTAL OVER YOU Associated Rediffusion January 1956. Singer Denny Dennis will be accompanied by a quartet. The first series of six might be extended with an option on a further seven. Each show would be fifteen minutes and broadcast late at night.
SATURDAY HOP ATV 1958. On March 23rd 1958 ATV recorded a pilot for this new show,
featuring three comperes, Jack Jackson, Teddy Johnson and David Jacobs. The King
Brothers, Marty Wilde and The Most Brothers participate. A tele-
ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ BBC 1958 On July 6th the BBC were to broadcast the first edition of this quiz which featured musical acts on the panel. Producer Arthur Lane talking to Disc magazine in May said "will be a marriage of a variety programme and a quiz show". Bill Owen and Barbara Roscoe were to be the hosts and Shirley Eaton, Marion Keene and Teddy Johnson as panel members.
SAM COSTA AND PETE MURRAY ABC September 1958. A series Sam and Pete was due to debut the same day as Oh Boy! both to be produced by Jack Good. However the two DJs were not entirely aware of the show's existence. Having given a start date of 13th September by the ABC press office, they backtracked the following week and stated in another press release "Sam and Pete has been deferred until the beginning of next month when it will reappear with the same format. Mr Murray, however, will not be participating." Disc magazine quoted a representative of Pete Murray saying "Mr Murray states that he at no time agreed to do a series under the title 'Sam and Pete'."
GUITAR CLUB BBC January 1959. A pilot edition of the popular Light Programme radio show was filmed, featuring Steve Benbow, The Diz Disley String Quartet, Bob Cort, Dorita and Pepe and classical guitarist Heather Larson.
MALCOLM VAUGHAN 1959. In March 1959 the comedy/singing duo of Vaughan and Earle record a pilot show.
JAZZ BRITAIN ABC March 1959. It was announced in Melody Maker in late January 1959
that a Dick Lester produced series will begin, although Jazz Britain was just a tentative
title. A spokesman for ABC said "We plan to feature the top jazz attractions in the
country. It will be just jazz -
The above is probably the same as…
CRESCENDO ABC 1959. Richard Lester was to produce a jazz show once a month from September
at 11.15 pm. Despite the American talent the show tried to book like Ella Fitzgerald
and June Christy they would have UK backing musicians. The show was originally planned
for March 1959 with Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Dankworth, Alex Welsh and The Jazz Couriers,
with Sam Wannamaker acting as host. Lack of studio space was given as the reason
for its cancellation then. Talking about the autumn 1959 version of the show Ron
Rowson of ABC told Melody Maker said "We shall be using all types of British jazz
groups -
UNTITLED PLAY ATV 1959. A play specially written for Adam Faith by Ian Dallas was due for broadcast before Christmas 1959, but later delayed until March 1960.
UNKNOWN BBC 1959. It had been the idea of Juke Box Jury producer Russell Turner to
have a show present an LP with accompanying visuals. The show would debut in the
autumn of 1959. Juke Box Jury had been launched in the summer and it was producer
Turner's idea to present something similar for albums, using the album's "visual
image", akin to Disney's Fantasia. This certainly pre-
PAUL ROBESON ATV October 5th 1959 onwards. A series of shows featuring the singer. For the first he will be backed by Johnny Dankworth and his orchestra. Robeson and Dankworth will discuss jazz and will round off the show with When The Saints Go Marching In.
1960s
HAVE JAZZ WILL TRAVEL Associated Rediffusion 1960. Dick Lester would direct a series of 26 or 39 episodes, each thirty minute show will feature two bands, one traditional and one modern. The show was due to go into production in June 1960, visiting major European cities shooting in Copenhagen, two shows in Paris, two shows in London, Moscow, two shows in Stockholm, two in Rome and one in Warsaw. Steve Race would be the musical director. The first session featured Chris Barber and Joe Harriott, both live at The Marquee Club in London. Each programme would also shoot film in the local area. The series was an independent production for Ron Rowan Associates.
DAD YOU’RE A SQUARE ATV, 1960. This father versus child Juke Box Jury style show was made as a pilot, featuring actor Bill Owen (later to star in The Last of the Summer Wine) as the host. The pilot still exists and probably served as a template for a later show made by Southern.
TRIBUTE TO LIONEL BART c.June or July 1960. Bart will be starring in his own TV special. Cliff Richard will perform ‘Livin' Doll’, Frankie Vaughan ‘Heart of a Man’, Max Bygraves ‘Fings Ain't What They Used To Be’.
THE TEEN AND TWENTY CLUB BBC late 1961. The show, named after Jimmy Savile's Teen and Twenties Disc Club on Radio Luxembourg, was produced by Barney Colehan and hosted by Savile. A pilot was recorded in front of an enthusiastic audience of 250 in Manchester and was considered successful, but in order for to be commissioned it was shown to BBC executives in London on 12th January 1962. The pilot had no musical guests, just Savile playing the latest releases with emphasis on the Twist, but if the show was to be commissioned then a guest star would appear each week and make a record especially for a competition winner.
THE BIG CHANCE ATV October 1961. A talent show produced by Jack Good and directed
by Rita Gillespie. Good will choose his favourite act that week and they will return
two weeks' later after they've been through talent training by Good. The Aberdeen
Evening Express announced that a new Good series, potentially titled The Big Chance
was to be considered by ITV. Pilot shows had been made with Good working alongside
his old director Rita Gillespie, choreographer Leslie Copper and scriptwriter Trevor
Peacock. Talking to the paper Good said "For 'The Big Chance' I'll have to travel.
You can't be happy about either people sifting the wheat from the chaff. There must
be personal assessment of any youngster because you alone may detect the vital spark.
Once we found talent in coffee bars, but it is everywhere for the earnest seeker."
He also claimed that he wouldn't act as an agent "My 'discoveries' will be free to
pick their own. Certainly I shan't 'represent' them. Nobody could be more un-
TOMMY STEELE ATV Christmas 1961. A projected Christmas TV special had been cancelled due to a dispute between the station and Equity.
QUILLOW AND THE GIANT BBC Christmas 1961. According to a Melody Maker report American songwriter Ralph Blaine will be writing a Christmas special for BBC TV, starring Jeannie Carson and Bill McGuire. It will contain ten songs.
THE GRAM GAME BBC January 1962. Barney Colehan produces the pilot for this Pop Quiz type game devised by DJ and guitarist Ken Skyora, who will also act as question master. The teams consisted of Jimmy Savile, Brian Mathew and Neal Arden versus Carole Carr, Steve Race and Jimmy Young. It will be played to BBC executives in London who will make the decision as to whether it will be commissioned.
BEAT THE RECORD ABC, c.March 1962. The show to be hosted by Jimmy Savile would see a panel of celebrities phone contestants at the their homes and challenge them to identify a hit song.
POP WORLD Associated-
DOROTHY PROVINE ATV June 1962. The Hollywood star was due to record an ATV special, but an attack of laryngitis meant that she had to cancel. The Kaye Sisters, Joe Henderson and Pete Murray who were due to guest on the show would now be given their own special.
THE SECRET KEEPERS Rediffusion, September 1962. Alma Cogan and Jess Conrad record the pilot episode of The Secret Keepers, a comedy about a lazy detective. There would be no singing for either of them in the show. The show was produced by Kenneth Hume, husband and manager of Shirley Bassey and the show would feature other guests comedians including Frankie Howerd. Shirley Bassey also appeared in the pilot as a street singer performing As Long As He Needs Me. Hume told the NME in October 1962 "We are, as yet undecided as to whether The Secret Keepers will be released to cinemas through the country or to be the first of a television series."
UNKNOWN TITLE Possibly BBC, November 1962. A pilot for a new Saturday evening pop show was recorded 1st November 1962 with guest Bobby Vee.
UNKNOWN TITLE Late 1962. A series of thirty minute shows featuring cartoon characters
miming to pop hits was being developed in mid-
MEL, MATT & ROSIE ITV April 1963. While in the UK for cabaret and other appearances
Mel Torme will co-
STEP LIGHTLY Associated-
RUSS CONWAY ABC, Summer 1963. It was announced in March 1963 that pianist Conway
was to star and host his own pop show for ABC-
THE ROLLING STONES BBC, Cops And Robbers. December 1963.This play would have featured The Rolling Stones, reportedly in acting roles.
ALIENATION OF THE YOUNG BBC January 1964. A forty-
KATHY KIRBY Associated Rediffusion 1964. The series would begin recording on her return from holiday, late February. Her series actually gets made for the BBC.
CHUCK BERRY Granada 1964. Due to record a TV special for Granada on June 1st. It was mentioned in the NME in early 1965, but again it was cancelled.
CLUB CARIBBEAN BBC1 July 1964. It was the idea by the BBC to promote Blue Beat and Ska with a weekly show.
BRENDA LEE Granada August 1964. Johnny Hamp was to produce a 45 minute special, starring Lee for showing in November.
THE HOLLIES BBC1 Muffin The Mule, January 1965. A report in Melody Maker in October 1964 "THE HOLLIES have been booked to accompany BBC TV’s “Muffin the Mule” programme for five weeks after their Christmas show with Gerry and the Pacemakers, They start sometime in January and will be the first modern group to be featured in the show, for which Eric Haydock has written a special number called “Clippity Clap”."
BRIAN EPSTEIN BBC, Ten Years Of Pop (1955 -
MATT MONRO March 1965. Singer Monro and Roy Castle film a pilot TV show in colour according to Alley Cat in the NME.
THIS IS YOUR LIFE BBC1, April 1965. Allegedly Ringo Starr was lined up to be the target of one show, but his mother refused to appear on it, so the idea was scrapped.
UNCLE CHARLES Rediffusion April 1965. The Man And The Machine, an episode of this
drama, recorded, but un-
BOB DYLAN Granada, 13th May 1965. Johnny Hamp was due to record a concert special, but the job eventually went to the BBC. The next report in Disc mentioned that he invited John Mayall's Bluesbreakers onto the show, possibly as a result of seeing them on Five O'Clock Club as seen in the movie Don't Look Back. In the movie Don't Look Back Albert Grossman's UK representative Tito Burns is asking for £1200 to £1300 for each of two shows.
DISCOTEC ITV, September 1965. A pilot for this weekly thirty minute pop show was made and is widely in circulation. Hosted by Radio Caroline DJ Simon Dee who introduces the musical acts and New Musical Express’ Andy Gray who discuses the current pop scene with Gene Pitney and Manfred Mann in the studio. Newly shot performance clips of P J Proby, The Kinks (See My Friends), The Walker Brothers (Make It Easy On Yourself), and Sandie Shaw (Stop Feeling Sorry For Yourself) are included.
FRANCOISE HARDY Rediffusion late 1965. An independently made thirty minute documentary about the French singer was was due be shown by Rediffusion. Also appearing in the show were Eric Burdon, Georgie Fame and Cathy McGowan. Shot shot in France and at her shows at the Savoy in London the show was produced by John Endcrombe and directed by Georges Robin.
THE BARON ATV, October 1965. Apparently The Rolling Stones and Cilla Black had agreed to appear in the show.
UNKNOWN TITLE Rediffusion October 1965. Rediffusion announce tentative plans to present a Desert Island Discs style show in which celebrities choose their favourite music, while appropriate graphics are shown on a background screen.
UNKNOWN TITLE Granada 31st December 1965. Following their Burt Bacharach special Granada prepare another two shows dedicated to songwriters. The Music of Lennon and McCartney will be broadcast, while another show about songwriters and their songs will feature performances from Sonny & Cher, The Ivy League, Burt Bacharach and Graham Gouldman. The songwriters would introduce their songs one sung themselves and another sung by someone else. Johnny Hamp envisaged that the show would be broadcast from 9.30 pm on New Year's Eve before the Ready Steady Go special. Invites had also gone out to Lennon & McCartney, Bob Dylan, Chris Andrews, Tony Hatch among others.
BEATWAVE Border January 1966. The one-
TONY HATCH Granada February 1966. Granada producer Johnny Hamp announces that the next songwriter special after the Burt Bacharach and Lennon & McCartney shows is likely to by Tony Hatch.
UNIT 4 + 2 Southern 1966. A six part pop show to be made with Unit 4+2 as resident group with guests. In a Record Mirror report in May 1966 the show now looked to be a eight to ten week run with female singers guesting each week, with the show beginning its run in August 1966. Tommy Moeller of Unit Four + Two would go on to write the theme for Southern's A Tale Of Two Rivers series in 1966 for showing in 1967/8.
KATHY KIRBY SINGS Rediffusion 1966. Kathy Kirby had signed on to make a series of
thirteen half-
LULU Rediffusion July 1966. According to a report in Disc Lulu will travel to London to participate in a show about four successful women.
THE CREATION July 1966. Melody Maker announces that the band are to play background music for an upcoming documentary about British painters, to be shown later in the year, probably on Monitor. However the series had finished some time before in 1965.
FOUR TOPS BBC1 August 1966. A film of the Four Tops' Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever is made for inclusion in Top Of The Pops, but is not used as it wasn't a big hit.
SIMON & GARFUNKEL BBC September 1966. The duo were due to arrive in the UK 15th September
1966 "primarily to record two BBC-
THE SMALL FACES Granada, 28th September 1966. The band were to star in their own
thirty minute special. Producer Rod Taylor told Disc Weekly "It is the most exciting
spectacular we have made since the one featuring Little Richard." It was filmed mid-
THE WHO BBC1, Sound And Picture City. 1966. A music and comedy sketch show. The promo film for Happy Jack was shot as a demo for this proposed series. By April 1967 the idea had been dropped. Kit Lambert told Disc "Really, the production costs did not warrant such a series." However, the idea had reappeared in Spring 1968 for showing autumn 1968. The band will perform a new song each week with an album of all the new songs to appear at the end of the series.
TOM JONES & JERRY LEE LEWIS October 1966. The NME reported that Jerry Lee Lewis would fly into Britain on October 14th 1966 to record a TV special with Tom Jones to be called Tom & Jerry.
EXIT -
ALBERT AYLER BBC2, November 1966. A live show starring Albert Ayler recorded at the London School of Economics for Jazz Goes To College was recorded but never broadcast.
THE ACTION BBC late 1966. A two part documentary Twentieth Century Happening, devised by BBC producer Liz Kustow. Shooting began mid October 1966.
DONOVAN BBC, 1967. According to Melody Maker in late 1966 "Negotiations are also
far advanced for Donovan to do six children's shows for BBC-
BOBBY DARIN Rediffusion, 1967. Darin was to direct his own TV special for British TV.
OTIS REDDING BBC, 1967. The BBC sent a film crew over to Otis Redding’s ranch home The Big O to film him for a potential documentary.
MAMAS & PAPAS February 1967. The group were due to appear on Top of the Pops, The Rolf Harris Show and The London Palladium show.
SANDY POSEY BBC2 February 1967. The singer was due to record BBC2's International Cabaret on 25th February 1967 for later broadcast.
THE MOVE BBC1 Morning Service 26th February 1967. The Move had been invited to appear on the regular Sunday morning worship show, this time broadcast from the Cathedral in Birmingham. They asked producer Barry Edge if they could cut up an effigy of the devil in church, but were refused.
THE MOVE Granada 6th or 7th March 1967. The Rave was to be transmitted live in the Granada region, but to be played elsewhere later in the month. The Pink Floyd were to appear as guests. According to Record Mirror 4th March 1967 "The Move have their own half hour 'live' TV show on Granada this Saturday entitled "The Rave"". Except that Granada wasn't broadcasting on Saturdays at that time. From Disc music weekly 18th March 1967 "After Move's Manchester TV spot last week their road manager was trapped beneath the stage in the middle of of a riot of thunderflashes and smoke bombs. Stage had to be destroyed to get him out quickly..." Melody Maker have the transmission date as Monday 6th March 1967 shown live, with a showing in the south later in the month.
THE MOVE BBC March 1967. According to Record Mirror 4th March 1967 "The BBC are currently filming a 30 minute pilot show on The Move with a projected series in mind." Melody Maker also mentioned the same week "a mystery thing for a new series the BBC are scheduling for the autumn." They give a recording date of 16th March 1967. Melody Maker went for the "Move considered for a 'Monkee' type show" which the media would retreat to time and time again, including Madness and Haircut 100 in the early eighties.
THE PINK FLOYD ITV March 1967. According to weekly music paper Disc "They will make
a half hour pilot film for showing to EMI who will then decide whether to sponsor
a series on ITV." On 24th April they were due to start filming "The True Life Story
of Percy The Rat Catcher", the first of a full-
THE BEATLES March 1967. There were numerous reports about a TV special tie-
ROY ORBISON ATV March 1967. Roy was due to begin filming a TV special at ATV's Elstree studios on 28th March 1967 to be shown in colour for the USA market with a black and white showing in the UK. The show was cancelled as Roy wanted to get back home to the USA.
SANDIE SHAW March 1967. To make a 45 minute special in colour to be produced by Mike
Mansfield with guest Adam Faith and Chris Andrews. The show would be independently
produced by Evelyn Taylor, manager of both Shaw and Faith. The show would be taped
at Wembley. This story would re-
LULU and ADAM FAITH Southern TV 1967. Both stars were linked with potentially hosting their own series for Southern TV, both produced by Mike Mansfield. The Lulu show would be a straight music show, while Faith's would involve comedy and acting. Each would star in their own six part series for summer 1967.
UNKNOWN TITLE Southern Spring 1967. Southern TV were preparing their own national song contest to be broadcast Spring 1967 and produced by Mike Mansfield. It would have been held in Brighton or Southampton.
AROUND WITH ALLEN ABC March 1967. Having been given the job of hosting The London Palladium Show comedian Dave Allen was probably the hottest property in the UK, so ABC decided to give him a pilot to host, recorded 5th March 1967. It would have been the usual chat show style, with musical guests, and on the pilot Marion Montgomery was the guest singer. How or why this would have been so different to The Eamonn Andrews Show, broadcast by ABC late night Sundays is unknown.
PRESENTING THE TREMELOES April 1967. In a May 1967 interview with the Record Mirror the band explain their proposed TV series. "They talked it over and got the scripts written and everything. The offers we've had from America for the series have been ridiculous." The pilot for the series has the band walking the length of Britain to test the strength of boots for the army. The baddies who sold cheap boots to the army are called Sole and Heel. Their manager Peter Walsh told Disc in April 1969 "The Trems made a film about 18 months ago which never got shown. But the film company were so impressed that they decided to do more pilot films with The Trems and the American deal is the result of them." Shooting for the show was due to begin with a scene to be shot outside of Buckingham Palace, but the producers failed to get permission to do so and got moved away by police. Filming on the 1967 series actually got underway and a photo of the band wearing army boots made the back page on the NME in April 1967. Talking to Rave magazine in July 1967 singer Dave Munden claimed "Next on our list is to get this TV series together, it is definitely due to be shown in America, but the televising date has yet to be fixed. We’ve already shot one piece. The style has been compared to the Monkees' show. We did act before, if you can call it that, in ‘A Touch Of Blarney', which we made in Ireland. On the strength of that comedy film we were picked for this series. The man who's doing these films is an English fellow who was responsible for that great series, the Telegoons! Just look at our faces and you'll see why he picked us! Seriously though, the film is about a firm who will undertake to do anything. We have to test boots for the Army by marching from Land's End to John o’Groats! Only in the film that is. Ricky here, plays a young girl and an old woman, apart from himself! It was very difficult filming all day and playing in the evenings. That's why It took two weeks to get that one in the can. But it will be planned much better in future."
SOUND AND PICTURE CITY May 1967. Jonathan King and BBC DJ's Chris Denning and Kenny
Everett appear in the pilot edition. Denning described the show as a "satirical pop
psychedelic freak-
THE BEACH BOYS BBC2 May 1967. According to Disc magazine BBC2 will screen a special
hour-
VINCE HILL ITV May 1967. In a report about Dave Dee etc it was mentioned that they were taping a spot for The Vince Hill Show on 15th May 1967. There was however a radio series with the same name, so was probably a mistake.
RAY DAVIES June 1967. It was announced in the New Musical Express that Davies would,
as a result of wanting to pursue solo projects, finance, set up and produce a fifty-
DONOVAN BBC, June 1967. To make a 14 part series for BBC TV where he would set famous poets work to music as well as singing his own songs.
THE SPECTRUM June 1967. Century 21's Gerry and Sylvia Anderson sign the group for
a 32 week series for ATV and a full length feature film. Music publisher Cyril Black
had recommended them. Talking to Disc Black claimed "This contract almost guarantees
these boys international stardom. Several of the films will be seen around the world
-
UNKNOWN TITLE June 1967. DJ Rick Dane makes a pilot for a proposed 13 week series for Tyne Tees. The pilot featured Marianne Faithfull.
THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP BBC2 Autumn 1967. According to a report in the NME "A colour
documentary about the re-
ANITA HARRIS ATV September 1967. ATV to make a six part half hour series with the actress/singer to be shown in early 1968.
THE BEE GEES Southern, October 1967. Cucumber Castle was announced as an hour long
show made in colour for Southern Television with filming due to start on 4th December
1967 at Leeds Castle in Kent. Colin Peterson was a still member of the group when
it was finally completed in spring/summer 1969, but was edited out of the show after
he was asked to leave. Vincent Price and Sammy Davis Jr's name were attached to the
project in summer 1969. One portion of the show would be a re-
ROY WOOD BBC1 Autumn 1967. Melody Maker report that Roy Wood would be writing the music for a forthcoming Wednesday Play.
AMEN CORNER October 1967. The band are to participate in a documentary about fan worship. The film is to be made by Peter Madge for Inca Films and sees the band perform live at the Wykeham Hall, Romford, Essex where they are to record live for a forthcoming EP.
PAUL ANKA Tyne Tees, November 1967. While on a promotional visit to the UK he was to record The Paul Anka Show for Tyne Tees.
LONG JOHN BALDRY November 1967. A spokesman for Baldry tells Disc of his plans to
form his own TV production company "It's always been his ambition to do something
like this. He wants to be in complete control of the project himself. The shows would
be on the lines of the old 'Ready Steady Go', snappy, happy, fast-
THE BEE GEES Southern, November 1967. Recorded in October for broadcast the following month this TV special also featured Lulu, Julie Rogers, Esther and Abi Ofarim. Produced by Mike Mansfield. The show might have been based around songs from their debut album. There was also an idea where they would write a song on the spot and record it immediately in front of the cameras. "I see The Bee Gees as the best songwriting talent in Britain after The Beatles. They are the biggest influence on the pop scene at the moment" Mike Mansfield tells Disc in September 1967.
OPEN SPACE November 1967. Ken Howard and Alan Blaikeley, managers of Dave Dee, Dozy,
Beaky, Mick and Tich and The Herd explained their TV series to Disc "The plan is
to take a theme and let the different acts treat it in their own way. It would incorporate
things like poetry, drama and straight comedy -
BEAT PARTY late 1967. A new label Rutland Records are planning a new TV show featuring
Tony's Jynx, The Renaissance, The Fruit Pudding and Gary Scott. They would also play
a clip of The Beach Boys on their spring 1967 British tour. It was to be hosted by
ex-
PINK FLOYD BBC late 1967. According to Melody Maker "Pink Floyd recording with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop soundtrack for forthcoming BBC colour TV series."
ANITA HARRIS Southern December 1967. Southern were considering a pop flavoured panto starring Anita Harris.
CHRISTMAS ON EARTH CONTINUED December 1967. From the NME 9th December 1967 "The marathon
pop party being staged throughout the night of December 22 at London's Kensington
Olympia will be filmed for television. All the groups appearing -
LONG JOHN BALDRY 1968. A thirteen show series, to be shot in colour, starring Baldry.
He would be in an acting role, but would perform one song a week. There would also
be guests each show. The songs for the show would be written by Tony Macaulay and
John Macloed, while Simon Napier Bell would write the theme. Baldry would play a
"Sinatra-
PAUL JONES Southern 1968. There was a possibility of Paul Jones starring in his own Mike Mansfield produced series for Southern, according to Disc in late 1967.
AL MARTINO Granada, January 1968. To make a TV special for Granada with a soundtrack to be released by Capitol.
DAVE CLARK 1968. It was announced in January 1968 that Clark's Big Five production company would make six TV specials, with Hold On It's The Dave Clark Five being the first. That was the only one made.
MANFRED MANN 1968 To appear in thirty minute dramatisation of Tom McGuinness' novel Jester Versus Art.
BEE GEES 1968. Johnny Speight's play 'If There Weren't Any Blacks You'd Have To Invent Them' was to feature the Bee Gees. Speight's Associated London Films had a connection with Robert Stigwood which would also result in an offer for the band to appear in the movie 'Lord Kitchener's Little Drummer Boys' which was also unrealised.
DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK AND TICH Southern February 1968. It is announced that the band will make a full length TV show based on their song The Legend of Xanadu, with all the songs written by Howard and Blaikley. They had already made a promo film of the track.
THE WHO BBC1 March 1968. Along with the announcement of the re-
I WANNA KNOW March 1968. Jimmy Savile is to host a new quiz show starting 3rd March 1968 for eighteen weeks. Tuesday's Children will be the resident group, playing two songs each week. The show was sold to ABC in America.
THE PAPER DOLLS March 1968. The trio are to have their thirteen part own series made by Playhouse Productions. It would be shown in colour in the US and shown by Southern in the UK. The plot centred around three young women sharing a flat and would have three songs each week. A spokesman told the NME "The girls have strong comedy acting roles, but they have all been to drama school and appeared in repertory."
THE SEEKERS BBC1 April 1968. The Australian stars were to be given their own six-
DON KIRSCHNER April 1968 Announces a new cartoon TV show similar to The Monkees featuring two British and two American boys. All the songs for the sixteen part, thirty minute show would be written by Tony Macaulay and John Macleod. He made The Archies instead.
THE PAPER DOLLS April 1968. Despite having only one hit the girls have signed to
ATV for a six-
SEE MY MUSIC TALKING c.May 1968. An intended series which began with The Jimi Hendrix Experience featuring interviews, live footage and the artist(s) discussing the creative process. After the Hendrix edition was shown on BBC2's Late Night Line Up (and at the Montreux Television festival) further shows would have featured The Rolling Stones, Donovan, Traffic, The Incredible String Band, Jefferson Airplane, Buffalo Springfield, Country Joe & The Fish, The Doors and Love.
MY GENERATION BBC1 May 1968. A Tony Palmer directed series for which The Who would be the resident group.
ANITA HARRIS May 1968. It was announced that Harris would be starring in six, hour-
SAMMY DAVIS JR BBC1 June 1968. A proposed live series of thirteen shows was cancelled as the Musicians Union objected to him bringing his own musicians over from the USA. The shows would have been broadcast live from 10.45 pm on Sundays and would be open ended regarding the finishing time.
BLIND FAITH June 1968. Mike Mansfield will film their live set at Hyde Park, London, supporting the Rolling Stones. Five cameras and a helicopter will be used, as will an eight track recorder for the audio. The hour long show will possibly be shown by BBC2.
AMEN CORNER BBC Wales June 30th 1968 onwards. The band were given their own six part TV series, Amen Corner Spectacular. Each hour long show would have had a supporting cast of local Welsh talent.
MIREILLE MATHIEU ATV June 1968. The French singing star was due to begin filming
a six-
DON PARTRIDGE June 1968. Partridge had been approached by independent television
producer Barry Langford for a series of thirty-
THE BYRDS BBC2 Colour Me Pop, July 1968. The band flew into London 5th July 1968
and according to Disc "...will pre-
DONOVAN July 1968. Donovan was apparently offered a six part series on BBC2. Each
thirty minute show would have guests like Ray Davies, John Sebastian, Graham Nash
and one of The Beatles. The show would follow on from BBC2's Bobbie Gentry which
finished its run on 17th August 1968. He told Melody Maker in July 1968 "Then there
is a TV idea either one or three shows with BBC-
THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN July 1968. The band had been due to record an edition of Colour Me Pop for broadcast on either the 9th or 16th August.
SOLOMON KING August 1968. The singer was due to record his own ATV special on 11th August 1968.
JACK GOOD August 1968. An concert was to be recorded at Hatchett's Club in London as for broadcast as a part of his deal with Yorkshire TV. The show was to feature Eclection, Vanity Fare, Strawberry Jam, The Flirtations and Dr Marigold's Prescription. Thames TV were also said to be interested in the show.
ESTHER & ABI OFARIM Southern Autumn 1968. Mike Mansfield announces a six part series
for autumn screening, after Time For Blackburn was originally due to end. Talking
to Disc Mansfield defended the decision to make the show "One-
SOUND AND PICTURE CITY BBC1 Autumn 1968. The re-
BATLEY VARIETY CLUB 1968. With the London Palladium Show coming to an end, Yorkshire TV suggest an alternative replacement recorded at Batley Variety Club in Leeds. It would be broadcast every three weeks. The pilot was shown due to a lack of programming on account of the ITV strike.
THE BEE GEES August 1968. After the success of the Frankie Howard special another show with a different comedian was proposed for Christmas 1968.
KATHY KIRBY August 1968. The NME announce that the singing star will have her own series for ITV towards the end of the year.
LONG JOHN BALDRY Southern August 1968. He was apparently approached by Southern TV to read a series of late night horror stories.
THE ROLLING STONES etc BBC2 September 1968. Melody Maker announced that The Rolling
Stones, The Nice, Eclection, Alan Bown and Spooky Tooth would be appearing at the
Fairfield Hall, Croydon on 29th September as a fund-
MASON LINE Yorkshire September 1968. Songwriter and Radio One DJ Barry Mason recorded
a pilot show for a proposed thirteen part series. Each show would be forty minutes
and, according to an interview with Disc, "I have no definite ideas on the show's
format yet although there will be plenty of pop names as guests. I want to try and
get far greater audience participation -
CLIFF RICHARD September 1968. To record a special, Cliff Sings Scots, for Scottish TV, filmed in colour with consideration for entry to the 1969 Montreux TV Festival. Directed by Ian Dalgleish the thirty minute show was to feature Cliff on location at the Forth Bridge and Queen's View. The plot concerned Cliff falling asleep in a Mediaeval Scottish castle and in his dreams he is transported through a variety of Scottish historical scenarios, singing as he goes. When he awakes he is on the Forth Bridge and gets into battle of songs with the Black Watch. A Scottish themed special was eventually made for ATV in 1969.
TONY HATCH AND JACKIE TRENT BBC 1968. A proposed series planned for late 1968 with two music guests each week came to nothing.
THE BEATLES September 1968. Their press spokesman Tony Barrow tells Melody Maker
that "They have realised that they could easily do a show for TV like the live clips
of 'Hey Jude' and 'Revolution' -
THE BEE GEES The Year of the Joker 1968. A special featuring The Bee Gees.
CUPID'S INSPIRATION October 1968 The Birds and The Bees. The band were to record the theme and appear in a few episodes of this independently produced show, which was to have been broadcast in the UK and USA.
LEAPY LEE October 1968. The singer was to shoot a pilot chat show for London Weekend, based on The Johnny Carson Show format with Lee involved in stunts and gimmicks.
TIME FOR BLACKBURN Southern late 1968. A special filmed in Tangiers to co-
PENTANGLE Granada 1968. A Pentangle concert was filmed and a thirty minute version would be shown 4th November 1968. but wasn't. A part of their Royal Albert Hall show was filmed for the John Cassavetes movie The Husbands.
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION Granada October/November 1968. The band were lined up to appear in a Granada made TV special during their UK tour.
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE 16th November 1968. The San Francisco band were due to appear in The Doors' Granada documentary.
THE BEATLES ITV November 17th 1968. A ninety second commercial was made for The Beatles (aka The White Album) which might have featured Ringo and was due for transmission at 9.20 pm. The idea was later dropped as the £16,000 cost was considered too much.
GRANADA Late 1968. After The Doors Are Open special is broadcast Granada aims to record similar shows with The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, The Mothers Of Invention and Bob Dylan. Only the Johnny Cash project become reality. The Kinks show Arthur would eventually be released as an album.
THE ROCK N ROLL CIRCUS London Weekend or Granada, December 1968. Filmed 11th/12th
December 1968 at Stonebridge Park, Wembley, featuring hosts The Rolling Stones, plus
guests Taj Mahal, The Who, John and Yoko and Jethro Tull with guest guitarist Tony
Iommi. It was also due to include Traffic and Dr John. Stones' publicist David Sandison
said in regards to the intended inclusion of Brigitte Bardot, Jane Fonda and Candice
Bergen "There will be a lot of sexual interest in the spectacular. Hence the choice
of leading ladies. I shouldn't be surprised if the whole thing didn't come as a great
shock to most viewers." Although some of The Who footage surfaced in The Kids Are
Alright documentary in the late seventies, the whole show was finally released on
home video in the mid nineties, while extras in the shape of out-
ROGER COOK. Harlech 1968. Singer and songwriter Roger Cook to record a pilot show on December 2nd and 3rd. It will feature national and local talent from Wales and the west country.
UNKNOWN TITLE Harlech December 1968. Top Pop magazine reports that Harlech TV will transmit a show on 30th December 1968 featuring Mary Hopkin, Amen Corner who will likely perform their hits Bend Me Shape Me and High In The Sky, and popular Welsh singing duo Tony and Aloma.
GRAHAM NASH BBC2 December 1968. Nash's Save Rave charity show at the London Palladium to be broadcast by BBC2. It would have included The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Small Faces, The Nice, The Easybeats, Cass Elliott, Status Quo, Deep Purple and The Hollies.
ALAN PRICE ITV late 1968. He was approached to host a Top Of The Form youth club type show for ITV.
PETULA CLARK, SANDIE SHAW ETC BBC1 1968. BBC1's new years eve special would have
been hosted by Morecambe and Wise with guests including Petula Clark, Sandie Shaw
and Val Doonican. However Petula Clark couldn't make the show recording in London
so a closed circuit link between London and Geneva was made so the orchestra could
play in London and she could sing live in Geneva with her image shown on a large
screen in the London studio. Her section had been pre-
TONY MACAULAY BBC2 January 1969. It was announced in July 1968 that Macaulay will host his own series for BBC featuring many styles of music.
MOBY GRAPE BBC2 January 1969 Due to record Colour Me Pop while on a promotional tour of the UK.
STATUS QUO February 1969. They announce that they are to make a "rock musical" for TV with Ayshea as the female lead. The show will be shot in America in April.
THE LOVE AFFAIR February 1969. They announce that they are to make a self-
THE BONZO DOG-
STATUS QUO February 1969. The NME announce that they are to record their own thirty minute edition of Colour Me Pop for BBC2.
THE CHAMBER BROTHERS BBC2 March 1969. The band had recorded an edition of Colour Me Pop on 29th March 1969, but remained unbroadcast. The NME reported that a special for London Weekend was also on the cards.
THE HOLLIES March 1969. Reports in the NME suggest that the band were due to record their own TV special.
JOHN PEEL Granada March 1969. Peel records a pilot for a potential TV series in Manchester. Granada TV producer Johnny Hamp told the Melody Maker "This was really a trial show to see how John shaped up on TV. He was excellent. But it was a very loose format, and might be a quite different show if we were able to do a series." The guests were Tyrannosaurus Rex, Blodwyn Pig, Harvey Matuso's Jews Harp Band, an Indian dancer and poetry. Peel later recalled that a dog wandered on stage during the Tyrannosaurus Rex set.
THE RASCALS Granada March 1969. Sid Bernstein, rock promoter to talk to Granada's Sidney Bernstein about a series for the American group.
NINA SIMONE BBC2 c.April 1969. A concert from the London's Talk Of The Town was due to be recorded 13th April.
OTIS REDDING / SAM & DAVE April 1969. The NME report that the BBC have secure a fifty
minute film of Otis Redding and Sam & Dave which was currently being used to promote
the Atco label in the UK. Sweet Soul Music had been shown daily at Harrod's Way-
JEFFERSON / SIGHT AND SOUND BBC2 Colour Me Pop April 1969. The two bands were scheduled to appear on 26th April 1969.
FLEETWOOD MAC BBC2 Colour Me Pop May 1969. The band would have come back for a second time, having previously appeared on the show in 1968, for broadcast on 9th May 1969.
GLEN CAMPBELL BBC2 May 1969. Campbell's UK visit would see him record a concert show at the Talk Of The Town and a BBCTV studio special.
THE MARMALADE BBC Scotland May 1969. The band were to have their own hour-
RONNIE SCOTT'S JAZZ CLUB BBC2/BBC1 May 1969. It was announced that a weekly Jazz
From Ronnie Scott's series is to run for at least 26 weeks, with a possibility of
extending it to 39 weeks. The show will be broadcast in colour on BBC2, but possibly
transferring to BBC1 when the colour service begins in November 1969. A pilot show
was to be recorded on June 8th with Ronnie Scott's Band and an un-
THE PENTANGLE / JULIE DRISCOL WITH BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY. Early 1969. Jo Lustig, manager of The Pentangle and Giorgio Gomelsky who manages Brian Auger suggested the idea for a TV show in which the groups swap singers.
BILLY COTTON BBC1 June 1969. The band leader was due to host another ten week series with singer Vince Hill guesting in each show, but Cotton died in late March 1969. A series starring Roy Castle may have been a replacement.
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD London Weekend, June 1969. Melody Maker spoke of a proposed Dusty Springfield special which may feature The Beach Boys who were on tour in the UK at the time.
GROOVE London Weekend autumn 1969. On 15th July 1969 a pilot recorded for a new underground music show. According to an NME article the idea was proposed by Cephus Howard, from the Temperance Seven, who was now a set designer at London Weekend. Blodwyn Pig were to be approached to appear in the pilot.
THE BEATLES July 1969 A TV special built around recording sessions earlier in the year is set to co inside with a new LP in September. It's thought that the two hour show will be edited down from a three hour movie. An album from those sessions, 'Get Back, Don't Let Me Down and 9 Other Titles" would see a release soon.
UNKNOWN TITLE September 1969. Mike Mansfield is to make a pilot show for a new series,
possibly to be broadcast on ITV which it begins colour transmissions in November.
Talking to the NME in June 1969 Mansfield claimed "It will be an all-
TINY TIM BBC1 1969. His Royal Albert Hall show on 30th October with support from
Joe Cocker, Peter Sarstedt and The Bonzo Dog Doo-
JACK GOOD Yorkshire 1969. Jack Good to produce a thirteen week series, similar to the Master of Pop special broadcast in October 1969.
COLOUR ME POP BBC2 October 1969. Some more shows were recorded or due to be recorded featuring Gulliver's People, The Golden Earring, The Sands, Jefferson and Sight & Sound. Talking to Melody Maker in October 1969 Turner said "Whether this will be the thin edge of the wedge for further Colour Me Pop shows I can't say at present." It appears that Golden Earring actually recorded a session for the show, but was never broadcast, with photos from the session appearing on British and French album covers and some of the BBC studio recording appearing in their Eight Miles High documentary.
THE KINKS Granada c.October 1969. Arthur -
THE BEE GEES October 1969. It is announced that Cucumber Castle will become a thirteen week series.
TINY TIM London Weekend November 1969. Tim was to have recorded a TV special on 15th November.
DELANEY & BONNIE 1st December 1969. Their Royal Albert Hall, London concert with
Eric Clapton to be filmed for future TV showing, possibly by Granada. It is to be
directed by Jo Durden-
1970s
THE WHO Granada, January 1970. After Sound and Picture City failed to find any takers
Manchester's Granada offered them another chance. The show would be a fifty minute
colour special, co-
WRITING ON THE WALL Unknown. According to Record Mirror, 31st January 1970 "Writer On The Wall writing song for a TV play by Middle Earth's PR, John Marshall." Presumably they mean Writing On The Wall.
DONOVAN ATV series early 1970. Talking to Disc in May 1969 Donovan announces that he was putting together a series for ATV. In August 1969 Donovan's agency Vic Lewis confirms that it was being discussed with Sir Lew Grade. There would be an introductory special at the end of 1969, followed by a series around February 1970. It would be a six part series with Donovan choosing the guests.
THE NICE February 1970. A TV special, introduced by Andy Williams was due to start
rehearsals in Los Angeles in Mid-
LEGS LARRY SMITH interviewed for the 14th February 1970 edition of Record Mirror
he claims that he will make a half hour TV show. "What I have in mind is a half-
SCREAMING LORD SUTCH BBC April 1970. A BBC camera crew will film a concert in support of the Lord Sutch and His Heavy Friends album. The show at Hampstead Country Club on April 12th will feature also Pete Townshend, Vivian Stanshall and Matthew Fisher.
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL April 1970. Independent production company TVR Ltd are to film the American band in concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 14th April and at Pinewood film studios two days' later. The thirty minute special will be shown worldwide, but not in the UK.
LEONARD COHEN BBC 1970. While in the UK for his Royal Albert Hall performance Cohen would go into the BBC TV studios on 15th May 1970 to record an In Concert show for producer Stanley Dorfman.
THE BEACH BOYS DOWN UNDER Channel 7 (Australia) May 1970. A concert at the Beachcomber Tiki Village Motel, Surfers' Paradise, Queensland, Australia was recorded for a potential TV special. A 45 minute version, produced by Steve Turner still survives and was shown publicly in June 2024. The BBC partly financed the show, according to Keith Badman's book 'The Beach Boys' (Backbeat Books, 2004).
IVOR NOVELLO AWARDS ITV 10th May 1970. The annual songwriting awards were due to be broadcast in colour by ITV. It however did get shown in other countries. Participants included David Bowie, Roger Whittiker and Dusty Springfield. The show was made by TVR Ltd, who also proposed a Creedence Clearwater Revival special.
SCOTT WALKER May 1970. Talks were underway for Scott to host a second TV series of his own.
KITCH'S CLUB Scottish 4th June 1970. A pilot show was recorded at the Gateway The
Theatre studios in Edinburgh. Hosted by Chic Murray and Vivian Stanshall the guests
were The Tremeloes, Arrival, Clodagh Rodgers, Sandy Brown and The Rhada Krishna Temple.
The script was supplied by veteran writer Dick Vosburgh and according to The Stage
saw the hosts "taking a light-
MIKE WESTBOOK'S BAND Southern June 1970. The Westbook Band along with Edgar Broughton, Jelybread, Trader Horne, Pete Brown's Piblokto were to play the Grand Benefit Festival at the University of Sussex on 6th an 7th June and according to Melody Maker "Southern TV may film the event."
LED ZEPPELIN June 1970. A report in Disc claimed an hour-
STEVIE WONDER BBC, July 1970.The BBC had offered Stevie Wonder his own special, but his insistence of using his own backing musicians led to conflict with the Musicians Union. His agent Larry Kurzon told Disc music paper “Because Stevie’s blind we appealed to Ihe MU to make an exception, ft would be too much of a strain for him to have to rehearse the programme with British musicians. But they wouldn’t relent—so the ‘special’ has been scrapped."
TELEVISION CAROLINE Due to launch 1st July 1970. To broadcast between 6.00 pm to
midnight week days, extended to 2.00 am at the weekend. The evening will start with
two hours of pop music with psychedelic lighting and effects, followed by a ninety
minute chat show, called Out Of Your Mind. Ronan O'Rahilly had tried to persuade
his old Radio Caroline DJ Simon Dee to join after his London Weekend show was dropped.
Deals with American movie companies had been done, so movies would also be shown.
All the shows would have been pre-
BOB DARIN The former Bobby Darin was in the UK to promote his two Major Minor releases of his US independently made albums. He was scheduled to appear on the Morecambe and Wise Show to be broadcast 9th July 1970.
RALPH McTELL July 1970. Granada to record a thirty minute documentary about the singer songwriter. Filming him in concert and in the recording studio.
GENESIS 1970. Jackson, a documentary about the painter Michael Jackson which had been made, but not shown. Genesis provided four pieces of music.
MADELINE BELL A Touch of Music, September 1970. A Mike Mansfield produced series of six shows, featuring singer Bell with classical pianist Clive Lythgoe for Philip J Fox Television.
UNKNOWN London Weekend, October 1970. It was announced to the music press that a series of concert shows was to be made by LWT in conjunction with the RAF recorded on location at various British service bases around the world. Shirley Bassey, Petula Clark, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen and The Settlers were names announced at the time, with production expected to beigin in early 1971.
STRAWBS announced December 1970 in Record Mirror "The Strawbs have landed their own
London Weekend Television special. Titled "Nothing As Fundamental As Folk", it is
a half-
THE BIGGEST AND THE BESTEST Southern, 1970. Singer / Writer Kenny Lynch and co-
JOHN PEEL IN CONCERT Granada, 1970. A pilot show featuring T Rex was produced by Johnny Hamp.
CLODAGH RODGERS January 1971. Disc and Music Echo announced that the singer was "almost
certain" to get her own series. She told Disc "We've got lots of ideas in mind; away
from the usual run-
THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT February 1971. An independently made show involving the pop
writing and producing team Ken Howard Alan Blaikley. The half hour show would be
shot on video tape and was the idea of ex-
TAKE ONE PLUS ONE 1971. An independently produced show featuring Yes and Stephen Stills. The production credit goes to Stephen T Clive, allegedly Steve Turner.
D’ABO BBC1, 1971 A pilot was made featuring the host Mike D’Abo (ex-
SLAM HEFTY 1971. An independently produced series made by record producers Alan Blaikely
and Ken Howard -
THE ROLLING STONES Live at the Marquee Club, London, 26th March 1971.The Rolling Stones record two live shows in one night at The Marquee, London, before an invited audience. They tape a 28 minute set and a 52 minute set. Financed by Sagewise Ltd, to be distributed by British Lion. Directed by Bruce Gower, while Chip Monck handled lighting production management.
FACES July 1971. The band's set at the Weeley Festival was filmed and will be shown in January 1972 by the BBC.
THE KINKS BBC February 1972 Disc announce "Exciting format for Kinks pilot being
finalised for new BBC -
EUROPOP March 1972 An independent co-
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY Summer 1972. According to Record Mirror 'records for OGWT on June 6th and the Dave Cash Show on June 9th'
BOBBY DARIN Summer 1972. According to Record Mirror the star “will star in a 13 week
series for BBC-
QUINTESSENCE Summer 1972. According to Record Mirror, "Man Alive" programme built around the group Quintessence will be shown on either May 24th or 31st.
FATS WALLER July 1973. The BBC uses its new studio facilities at Pebble Mill in Birmingham to record a tribute to Fats Waller, due for transmission in December. George Chisholm who had recorded with Waller in London took part as did singer Salena Jones. It appears not to have been broadcast.
GALA POP ROCK CONCERT 25th June 1973. A charity concert in aid of a children's charity was due to be broadcast by ATV later in the year. It featured John Denver, The Bee Gees, Jose Feliciano, The Guess Who and Nina Simone and recorded at the Royal Festival Hall.
MOSTLY COUNTRY BBC 1973. Steeleye Span were due to record an appearance on the show 18th September 1973.
UNKNOWN. ITV c.January 1974. Trentdale Enterprises who promoted the London Music Festival at Alexander Palace in 1973 were to record a series of concerts which would be shown on Friday nights on London Weekend.
GILBERT O’SULLIVAN BBC, January 1974. Bill Cotton Jr announces that the BBC has acquired
the services of Gilbert O’Sullivan for six, one-
PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS One Hand Clapping. MPL 1974. The band are caught on video, rehearsing at Abbey Road recording studios for an upcoming tour, but no tour materialised at the time. Poor video copies started circulating years' later, sometimes including Paul's 'Backyard' solo set recorded in the Abbey Road garden. A 2024 vinyl/CD release included a poster which gave details about a potential TV special based on the rehearsals. Video of the show was released, albeit in pieces over the Band On The Run and Venus and Mars deluxe CD/DVD editions.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 1975. A Springsteen concert special
was filmed at the Hammersmith Odeon, London in October 1975 but not shown as the
lighting was too dark for the cameras to do anything with. According to David Hepworth
the audio then went back to the USA. It was eventually re-
CARPENTERS ITV, November 1975. It was announced by TV Times in September 1975 that their Birmingham Hippodrome show in November was to be recorded for a Christmas broadcast.
OUR KID BBC Summer 1976. The BBC had planned to make a documentary about teen one hit wonders Our Kid, subject to approval of the local education authorities as the group were still school age.
OUR KID. Early 1977. A thirteen week series was planned, but since they only had one hit in mid 1976 the idea was dropped.
BLUE JEAN SET Granada Autumn 1977. Described by Music Week in March 1977 as a "straight pop show", it never materialised.
QUEEN Old Grey Whistle Test. 1977. A documentary about the making of Queen's News Of The World was shot in the UK and in America, but was never edited in to a completed programme. Some of the footage was damaged but was restored and shown in BBC documentaries in the 2010s.
BLAST OFF Southern 1977. A pilot show, produced by Mike Mansfield, featuring The
Damned, Sandie Shaw and Liverpool Express was shown without any publicity in August
1977. According to Music Week in October 1977 "Mansfield's Blast-
IMPACT Mike Mansfield Enterprises, December 1977. A pilot for a punk show featuring The Damned, The Rich Kids, Generation X and The Adverts all playing live in front of an audience.
THE RECORD BREAKERS Scottish 1978. It's possible that Scottish TV had intended to show two programmes under this title, despite the fact that it was already being used by the BBC. Shows for 11th April 1978 featuring Lena Zavaroni and 14th April 1978 featuring Linda Lewis recording her Woman Overboard might have been prepared. A series called The Record Makers was broadcast by Scottish TV in June 1978.
ELTON JOHN Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. Thames, 1978. An Alan Aldridge directed special cartoon special based on his artwork for Elton’s autobiographical 1975 album.
THE STRANGLERS Rock Goes To College. BBC2, October 1978. Recorded at Guildford University. The band walked off after fifteen minutes accusing the student audience of being elitist. One song was subsequently shown on Sounds Of The 70s.
DANCE CRAZY Southern late 1978. A show which would cover dance crazes from Ragtime to disco, according to a Music Week report in late 1978. Produced and devised by Britt Allcroft.
KATE BUSH Granada On The Road 1979. A documentary about her UK tour, but not transmitted. Recorded at the Manchester Apollo on 10th April 1979.
1980s
JOHN LENNON Thomas The Tank Engine, March 1980. In a diary entry he claimed HTV had approached him to narrate the stories of the famous steam engine, but his reaction was "A Beatle? I told them to fuck off."
GALAXY 1980. A pilot, directed by Mike Mansfield and hosted by Kenny Everett was
shot featuring the Average White Band, Electric Light Orchestra. Hot Chocolate, Catherine
Howe, Grace Jones, Peter Straker and Sweet plus promo clips of ABBA and David Bowie.
From Music Week: 5th July 1980 Mike Mansfield, Kenny Everett, former Miss World Mary
Stavin — add a sci-
BULLET Granada 1982. A half-
MADNESS BBC c.1982 Madness The Pilot, a twelve minute demo for what would never have
been a series. The group now find themselves ruling the country from a cafe in Camden
Town, however, they've lost the country's only bomb. Hardly a House of Fun. It was
written by Ben Elton and Richard Curtis, produced by and directed by Geoff Posner,
so the pedigree was there. Their videos were the best there were, but it just didn't
work when re-
UNKNOWN TITLE. February 1984. Legendary radio DJ Dave Cash intends top produce a
rival for Top Of The Pops with a show based on a version of the rival ILR chart.
This chart will combine the ILR chart with listener voting hit-
THE FIRST SIGHT SHOW. BBC1. 1986. In April 1986 two producers from the BBC's Pebble Mill studios were due to meet BBC1 chief Michael Grade with the idea for a five days a week pop video show, to be broadcast between 5.30 and 6.00 pm. The idea is very similar the Channel Four's The Chart Show.
INDEPENDENTS DAY Greendow 1987. Record producer Martin Hannett had the idea to put together a show based on the indie music scene for sale to channels worldwide.
PHEW! ROCK N ROLL c.1989. Hosted by Danny Baker.
POP ADDICTS late 1980s. BBC1. Mike Read was to host this update of Pop Quiz, but this time with members of the public rather than pop stars, similar to BBC1's Telly Addicts.
1990s
EMOTION Granada 1990. A pilot, subtitled Rave On, hosted by Tony Wilson and Jane Parker. It appears not to have any new content, so was probably just a filler documentary on the then Manchester scene, featuring Mike Pickering, footage of the Stone Roses gig at Spike Island etc.
THE BEACH BOYS The Making Of Pet Sounds. London Weekend, 1995. A South Bank Show special, similar to the Sgt Pepper special. A version would eventually be made by the Classic Albums series years' later.
MUSIC FOR PLEASURE LWT, 1996. Another Pop Quiz style show, hosted by Phill Jupitus. The panel for the pilot show was Vic Reeves, Trevor and Simon, Graeme Le Saux.
CLASSIC ALBUMS BBC1 (Isis Prods / Daniel T / BBC-
ELTON JOHN January 1998 A chat show hosted by Elton, produced by Ginger Television.
CILLA BLACK 1990s Led Astray. A sitcom with co-
CILLA BLACK 1990s Little Cilla. The animated adventures of young Cilla in Liverpool only got as far as a five minute test reel. John Peel played the voice of her dog.