1 9 7 5 (UK)
7 x 30 minute episodes
1 9 7 7 (UK)
1 x 60 minute episode
6 x 30 minute episodes
“Well, I’m worn out before I start”.
Following his success with Shut That Door (1972-1973), Larry Grayson starred in his own Friday night series from LWT, which premiered on Friday 19 September 1975.
The pride of Nuneaton descended a grand illuminated pink and blue staircase into a cloud of dry ice (that often more closely resembled a thick London fog) and – after a rambling opening monologue full of double entendre references to his friends Everard, Slack Alice, Once-a-week Nora, Pop-it-in Pete, Non-stick Nora and Apricot Lil, and with just a single chair for a prop – found himself involved in a series of hilarious situations with his guests.
Viewers saw him playing rugby, working on a dustcart, getting lost up the Amazon, struggling with a computer dating service called “Meetamate”, going “butch” and getting a job on a building site (he made scones in the cement mixer!), enduring Commando training, getting arrested by Customs at the airport, attempting a song and dance routine while distracted by a faulty fountain, assisting a short-sighted knife-thrower, and presiding over “Larry’s Phone-In”, where he did his best to solve his callers’ problems.
Larry was accompanied at the end of each week’s show by pianist Dennis Plowright as Larry sang his closing “Song For Tonight”.
Guests included Bill Pertwee, Rod Hull and Emu, The Bachelors, David Nixon, Dennis Weaver, Brotherhood of Man, Guys ‘n’ Dolls, and Our Kid.
Larry returned with a second series in January 1977 (now moved to Saturday nights), starting with a one-hour special on Sunday 9 January.
The following year, Larry landed the plummiest job on the box as host of The Generation Game (after Bruce Forsyth jumped to LWT for his own disastrous variety show).
“Ta-ra, and I love you very much”.