Variety was the spice of life
We recall how Sunday Night At The London Palladium brought the biggest entertainers in the world to television 65 years ago
Sunday Night At The London Palladium offered families across the country a chance to enjoy the weekend with music, dance, comedy and even a quiz show thrown in for good measure.
The biggest stars of the day, from Bob Hope and flamboyant piano player Liberace, to Gracie Fields and Ella Fitzgerald, topped the bill and the ITV’s ratings hit was watched by millions.
The variety special launched 65 years ago, on September 25, 1955, with London comedian Tommy “You lucky people” Trinder as the compere. He also presented the show’s Beat The Clock game which challenged contestants to complete tasks within a time limit to win prizes.
Bruce Forsyth later took over as host and memorably fronted an entire hour-long show with just fellow comedian Norman Wisdom, when a strike stopped the usual line-up of guests from appearing.
Bruce later said: “My biggest regret is that my mother didn’t see me walk on to that London Palladium stage being the star she always wanted me to be, but I always say that when she reached Heaven she had a word with a few agents.”
It was the start of Brucie’s rise to becoming one of the UK’s best-loved TV hosts and he compered 77 shows up until 1964. Those that followed in his footsteps included Jimmy Tarbuck, Norman Vaughan, Jim Dale and Ted Rogers. Bradley Walsh also fronted Tonight At The London Palladium from 2016.
For many people, Sunday
Night At The London Palladium gave them their first chance to see performances by major entertainers like Julie Andrews, Andy Williams and Sammy Davis Jr.
Palladium producer Val Parnell also offered regular appearances by the highkicking Tiller Girls and, of course, the finale of each show featured the guests waving goodbye on the slow-turning Sunday Night At The London Palladium
podium.