Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1980s Television
    1980s Television Shows J Variety 2 Mins Read

    Joe Longthorne Show, The

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 8 8 – 1 9 8 9 (UK)
    12 x 30 minute episodes
    1 9 9 1 (UK)
    6 x 30 minute episodes

    Debuting on Wednesday 7 September 1988, lanky singing impressionist Joe Longthorne – a former rag and bone man from Hull –  finally landed his own ITV show after guesting on other people’s shows – notably Les Dennis – for a decade or more.

    Joe applied his uncanny musical mimicry to artists including Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, David Bowie, Barry Manilow, Buddy Holly, John Lennon, Johnnie Ray, Bryan Ferry, Shirley Bassey, Barbra Streisand, Tina Turner, Judy Garland, Johnny Mathis, Barry White, Julio Iglesias, Engelbert Humperdinck, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Matt Monro, Neil Diamond, Freddie Mercury, Andy Williams, Risk Astley, the Pet Shop Boys, Pavarotti and Al Jolson. He also sang as himself.

    He was supported on the show each week in the 1988 series by comedy illusionist Wayne Dobson and former Splash! presenter Lisa Maxwell. Dobson returned in the 1989 series, accompanied by American comedian Darryl Sivad and dancers, the Beaufort Girls.

    After a period of illness when Longthorne was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic lymphoma, for which he received treatment and continued to perform on live shows in spite of his illness, The Joe Longthorne Show returned to television in June 1991 with Joe now being assisted by American comedian Kelly Monteith.

    The third and final series also featured regular guest stars, including Marti Caine, Lulu, Dana, Australia’s Fabulous Singlettes, Welsh singer Iris Willims, and jazz singer Karen Kay (mother of Jamiroquai‘s Jay Kay).

    Longthorne’s impressions were uncanny, and the show provided bright variety for three series, but it certainly didn’t push light entertainment boundaries in any way.

    His lymphoma degenerated into leukaemia in 2005, and he underwent a bone marrow transplant. In 2014, Longthorne was found to have throat cancer but remained adamant that he would continue to perform after his operation. He died at home in Blackpool on 3 August 2019, aged 64.

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Kenny Everett Television Show, The
      Kenny Everett Television Show, The
      1 9 8 2 - 1 9 8 8 (UK) 44 x 30 minute episodes Defecting from Thames Television to the…
    • All You Need is Love
      All You Need is Love
      1 9 7 7 (UK) 17 x 60 minute episodes Director Tony Palmer bumped into John Lennon by chance on a…
    • This Is . . . Tom Jones
      This Is . . . Tom Jones
      1 9 6 9 - 1 9 7 1 (UK) 65 x 60 minute episodes Of all the superb television variety…
    • Joe Baker Show, The
      Joe Baker Show, The
      1 9 6 5 (UK) The "short fat comedian" Joe Baker starred in his own 30-minute ATV variety show -…
    • We'll Think of Something
      We'll Think of Something
      1 9 8 6 (UK) 6 x 30 minute episodes This dire but mercifully short-lived sitcom from Thames Television was set…
    • Judy Garland Show, The
      Judy Garland Show, The
      1 9 6 3 - 1 9 6 4 (USA) 26 x 60 minute episodes CBS had high hopes for…
    • Saint and Greavsie
      Saint and Greavsie
      1 9 8 5 - 1 9 9 2 (UK) 25 minute episodes Ian St John and Jimmy Greaves were the…
    • Des O'Connor Tonight
      Des O'Connor Tonight
      1 9 7 7 - 1 9 7 8 (UK) 1 9 8 0 - 1 9 9 9 (UK)…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleTube Mice
    Next Article Christmas with The Beatles

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small. 

    Thank you so much.
    Enjoy your trip in the time machine!

    You may also like

    • Tarby And Friends
      Tarby And Friends
      1 9 8 4 (UK) 6 x 45 minute episodes 1 9 8 6 (UK) 7 x 45 minute episodes…
    • Les Dennis's Laughter Show
      Les Dennis's Laughter Show
      1 9 8 7 - 1 9 9 1 (UK) 35 x 30 minute episodes This series - introduced by…
    • Dotty Mack Show, The
      Dotty Mack Show, The
      1 9 5 3 - 1 9 5 6 (USA) 30/60 minute episodes Singer Dotty Mack hosted this weekly show -…
    • Joe and the Gladiator
      Joe and the Gladiator
      1 9 7 1 (UK) 3 x 25 minute episodes Joe Darling (Dennis Lingard) is an apprentice on the Newcastle shipyards…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.