1 9 6 1 (UK)
9 x episodes
Jo Stafford was an American singer of traditional pop music and jazz standards whose career ran from the late 1930s to the early 1960s, by which time she had sold in excess of 25 million records. Among her best sellers were Make Love To Me, Jambalaya, Temptation and You Belong To Me.
This series of fortnightly variety specials aired once a month in the UK starting in 1961. The shows were later syndicated to AmericanTV in 1963/1964.
Produced at ATV’s Boreham Wood studios, each show had a theme. The first show dealt with the basic differences in the English language as spoken in America and the UK. Guests in this show included Graham Stark and Peter Sellers.
One show dealt with the subject of love and Stafford was joined by Ella Fitzgerald for a musical medley while Claire Bloom recited verse and Kathleen Harrison and George Benson performed in a sketch.
Another show on travel starred Kenneth More who bought with him the vintage motor car ‘Genevieve’ as seen in the movie of the same name.
Other guests included Roy Castle, Peter Lawford, Edd Byrnes, Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee, Bob Hope, Benny Hill, Harry Secombe and Mel Torme. Other themes included the four seasons, chivalry and big bands.
One show which was recorded at the London Palladium, starred Robert Morley, Stanley Holloway and Morecambe and Wise.
Stafford passed away in 2008.
