This long-running BBC2 variety series was devised and originally produced by American Buddy Bergman. It debuted in April 1964 with a show starring Shirley Bassey and US comedian Robert Clary.
The show aimed to reproduce the atmosphere of a chic Riviera nightclub in the BBC Television Theatre, and guest artists were backed by Ted Heath and his Orchestra. A house vocal group called The Heralds also appeared, along with The International Cabaret Dancers.
International Cabaret was not renewed at the end of its 1964 run but was revived for a summer run in July 1966 – this time with Kenneth Williams (pictured) as the compere and featuring Alyn Ainsworth and the Cabaret Orchestra. Stewart Morris produced.
This run of International Cabaret featured the final television performance of Alma Cogan on Tuesday 6 September 1966. She died seven weeks later, on 26 October, of ovarian cancer.
The series returned in October 1967, with Williams compering once again, but now broadcast in colour from the Talk of the Town in the heart of London and produced by Ernest Maxin.
The show ran through to April 1968, returning again in August of that year, with three special episodes produced by Stewart Morris and broadcast from Berns Restaurants in Stockholm, Sweden, featuring dance troupe The Young Generation.
The show returned to the Talk of the Town for a series from November 1968 to January 1969, with comedian Les Dawson (pictured) hosting some of the shows and Stewart Morris producing again.
Further revivals of the show were broadcast from September to November in 1974 and in January and February 1978, with comedians Lennie Bennett and Jerry Stevens hosting and Ernest Maxin producing.
International Cabaret was not renewed at the end of its 1964 run but was revived for a summer run in July 1966 – this time with Kenneth Williams (pictured) as the compere and featuring Alyn Ainsworth and the Cabaret Orchestra. Stewart Morris produced.
The show returned to the Talk of the Town for a series from November 1968 to January 1969, with comedian Les Dawson (pictured) hosting some of the shows and Stewart Morris producing again.
