Bright lights, big comeback!
Hi-de-hi! star Su Pollard on teaming up with other showbiz legends to perform the gig of a lifetime in Vegas…
Every entertainer dreams of performing under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
That’s exactly what happens when a group of British showbiz legends heads to Sin City, in Last Laugh in Vegas on ITV this week.
The five-part series follows eight top acts as they’re given one last shot at putting on a spectacular show in the world’s variety capital.
The famous faces are comedy duo Cannon and Ball, entertainer Bernie Clifton, comedian Mick Miller, pianist Bobby Crush, singer Kenny Lynch, 1960s pop star Jess Conrad, singer-dancer Anita Harris and actor-comedian Su Pollard.
‘I first went to Vegas about 30 years ago and I loved all the tall buildings and bright lights but never thought I’d ever go back,’ says Su, best known for playing chalet maid Peggy in classic sitcom
Hi-de-hi!. ‘When I heard we’d be putting on this fabulous show, I signed up straight away!’
Cameras follow the stars as they leave the UK for Las Vegas, where they’ll live together, explore the Strip and rehearse for their one-night-only show (which can be seen on ITV3 at the end of the series) at The Orleans Hotel & Casino. Here, Su, 68, speaks to
TV Times about how she prepared for the big night…
How did you find rehearsals for the show?
We had this lovely choreographer, who initially wanted to see what we could do and it was almost a form of bonding. Anita had great poise and Bobby was mincing around. I’m not such a brilliant dancer but you have to do your best. I felt vulnerable in there because there’s nothing to hide behind. You’ve got all your mates cheering you on but you’re thinking: ‘I’m absolutely dreadful!’
vegas drag act Frank Marino was the producer on the show. what was he like, and what pointers did he give you?
I thought Frank was the epitome of showbiz. He does a drag act in Vegas as Joan Rivers and he’s fantastic! He knows exactly what the Vegas audience wants and he gave each of us constructive criticism – he said I needed a translator because I speak too quick! in between rehearsals, you get to experience what life is like for the locals in vegas. we hear you all had a go at pole dancing!
Yes! We had a lady called Tanya, who would show us something different every day and, this time, she showed us how to do pole dancing. Well, Tommy Cannon was fabulous.
He’s got a core as strong as you like and he’s nearly 80! He could pole dance anybody into the ground – whereas the rest of us just fell on the ground!
How did you feel about being filmed 24/7?
We had a fabulous time but there was absolutely no let-up; the cameras want to capture all and any kinds of expression, so they were always there and only off when we were asleep. Mind you, how do I know? They could have found me snoring!
How did you all manage to cope with living together during filming?
I wouldn’t say that any of us were particularly messy. Me and Kenny were in charge of the sink, which was always full of washing-up. Generally, I think we all looked out for each other.
did you get much time in between rehearsals to see the sights?
We were let out once and went to a gay club, which was fantastic! I just love that environment. All the male dancers there wore bunny ears in honour of Hugh Hefner, who’d died that day.
Being in Las vegas, did any of you have a gamble? No, never! We had to walk through
the casino to
get to the theatre but we didn’t have the time – or the money – to stop. I was glad, though, because Jess had a run-in with one lady, who told him: ‘You’re in my seat, I’ve been coming here for years!’
You were filming in vegas when a mass shooting took place at a music festival near the Mandalay Bay hotel, leaving 58 dead and 851 injured. did that have an impact on filming?
Frank came round that following morning after the news broke and said he understood if we all wanted to leave. It was a very sensitive situation and very upsetting for the people of Las Vegas, who’d never seen anything like it. But we decided that, in situations like this, people want to be cheered up and entertained. So we knew we had to continue.
viewers will see your final show at the end of the series. How were the nerves on the night?
I just remember it being a very long day in the lead-up to it and you’ve got to keep the momentum going. And, of course, the cameras are there all the time with people asking you how you’re feeling. I’d always say: ‘There’s excitement but it’s obviously very tense.’
How would you sum up your
Las vegas experience?
If I never go again, I have the memories for the rest of my life.
I’d tell anyone to go to Vegas if they can. It was a great adventure.
Victoria Wilson