TOMMY STEELE TELEVISION APPEARANCES

Within two weeks after being discovered at the 2 I’s Coffee Bar in Soho on September 19, 1956, Tommy’s records were selling like wildfire, and playing on every jukebox in the Kingdom. Tommy’s agents began a televised campaign to get his name and face before the public.

1956

October 15^th – First television appearance on “Off the Record”. Studio swamped with calls for a return appearance.

Voted #8 outstanding British Male singer by NME Poll.

Voted #12 outstanding British Musical Personality by NME Poll

1957

January – “Sunday Night at the Palladium”. 20 minute spot televised show in cooperation with the Palladium Theatre

March/April - Appeared in first five episodes of the “6-5 Special” television show on BBC.

May – ITN News reported that Tommy was killed in a car wreck. This proved to be a hoax perpetrated by the agent of another performer.

June – News. Report of Tommy’s association with Ann nearly wrecks his career.

Sept 29^th - The Jack Jackson’s “Off the Record” Show on ATV

Oct18^th - Off the Record, again on ATV

Oct 19^th - The Golden Year – biographical TV special to celebrate his 1^st year in show business

October – Royal Variety Show. The Queen told him that Prince Charles and Princess Anne had enjoyed his first film.

Nov 10^th – ITN News – being presented to the Queen after the Royal Film Festival

Nov – Headlined a live episode of “6-5 Special” from the 2 I’s coffee bar.

Dec 24^th – ITV Christmas Eve Show, singing “Princess” to his little sister Sandra in a wintry scene.

1958

January 5^th – “Sunday Night at the London Palladium” – 15 minutes of excerpts from “Goldilocks”

June 12^th – ITN News – Interview with Tommy and Ann at their engagement party.

June 28^th – “Saturday Spectacular”, hosted by Bob Monkhouse.

August – “Oh Boy”, premier episode of new pop TV show.

Oct 28^th – “This is Your Life, Tommy Steele” Surprise guest star.

1959

Appeared in four television specials, “Saturday Spectaculars”

Appears in “The 1959 Show” on ITV

Appearance on “Oh Boy!” is cancelled due to broken ankle.

Appeared in “Picture Parade” on BBC in excerpts from, “Tommy the Toreador.”

1960

June 18^th - News – televised accounts of Tommy’s marriage to Ann at St. Patrick’s Church in London (British Pathe`)

1961

One hour special for ATV is lauded among the best variety shows on British television.

1962

Live at the Festival – Festival of London

November 4th – Appears at the Royal Variety Performance

November 29^th - Appears before an invited audience at the ATV Wood Green.

Records Quincy’s Quest for future broadcast on television and radio.

1963

Appears as a guest of John Betjeman in “Sing a Song of Sixpence” on ITV.

April 7 - Light Programme’s “Showtime” with an excerpt from “Half a Sixpence”

1964

December – “Richard Whittington, Esquire”. Writes music and lyrics for filmed TV special later turned into the stage musical “Dick Whittington”

1968

March 4^th - Royal Film Performance.

1969

Appeared as Feste in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, filmed by ATV

“Tommy Steele and Things”. Composes, arranges and writes his own award winning documentary for BBC Omnibus.

March – Televised accounts of Tommy and Ann bring baby, Emma Elizabeth, home. British Pathe`

1970

“In Search of Charlie Chaplin”. Composes, arranges and writes his own award winning documentary for BBC Omnibus.

1973

“A Special Tommy Steele”. Writes, composes, and stars in TV special. Later selected as Britain’s entry to the Montreaux Film Festival.

1974

“My Life, My Song” – Biographical musical. Writes, composes, produces, films and stars in TV special for BBC Omnibus.

Album released in September.

1977

“Tommy Steele and A Show” – Thames Television. Nominated for an Emmy. Selected as Britain’s entry to the Montreaux Film Festival.

1978

December 23^rd - “Yeoman of the Guard” film in a staged play format for television. Filmed at the Tower of London.

1979

September 22^nd - “The Michael Parkinson Show” – guest star

December 24^th – “Quincy’s Quest” airs on television. Wrote, composed, and starred in TV special.

1980

September 22 - Appeared on the Michael Parkinson Show on BBC.

1981

Tommy hits the national news as his sculpture of Charlie Chaplin is “stolen”.

September – The Variety Club Luncheon “This Is Your Lunch” is televised in honour of Tommy’s 25 years in entertainment.

September - Named “Entertainer of the Year” by The Variety Club. Televised on national TV.

November – “A Handful of Songs”. BBC special tribute to Tommy’s 25 years in entertainment. Narrated by Sir John Mills.

December - BBC radio broadcast of “Tommy Steele: His Life, His Song”. With Don Burbridge.

1983

Appears on Pebble Mill to promote his novel “The Final Run” and to promote his upcoming “Singin’ In The Rain”.

Appears in national TV to mark opening night of “Singin’ In The Rain”. Rare back stage interview.

1988

November 19^th - Special guest appearance on “Superchance”, a Danish TV/Radio program in Copenhagen.

1991

Appears on regional TV from Southampton in interview with Fern Britain. Promotes “An Evening with Tommy Steele” which was playing at the Mayfair Theatre and then moving to Eastbourne.

1992

February 29^th - Appears on the Michael Aspel Show to promote “Some Like It Hot”.

1994

Appears on the Des O’Connor Show to promote “An Evening With Tommy Steele” 2^nd TV appearance in 10 years.

Appears on regional TV to promote “An Evening With Tommy Steele” in Southampton and East Bourne.

Makes special one-hour Showcase for Swedish TV.

1995

Special televised interview by Alan Tichmarsh for BBC Pebble Mill from the Prince of Wales Theatre to promote “What A Show”

2001

January 18^th – BBC Entertainment News. Her Majesty, the Queen, announces plans for her anniversary party at the palace.

Tommy Steele is among the first names on the list.

2004

December - Presentation of the coveted “Blue Plaque Award” by the Southwark Coucil.

December - Headlined the Royal Variety Show as “special guest”. Had Prince Charles performing the “Hand Jive” with the audience.

2005

June – Presentation of the most prolific performer award by the London Palladium for 1,767 performances.

Because so many television appearances are no longer archived, this list may not be complete. We continue to research. If you have any information with regard to television appearances that is not listed here, please contact us. Thanks!