Tarby And Friends

1 9 8 4 (UK)
6 x 45 minute episodes
1 9 8 6 (UK)
7 x 45 minute episodes

The Liverpudlian comedian who made a name for himself in the 1960s on Sunday Night at the London Palladium became a household name by hosting the popular ITV quiz show Winner Takes All (1975-1987).

In the 1980s, he signed a five-year deal with London Weekend Television and produced a series of Saturday night specials called Tarby and Friends – a mixture of chat show and variety show which premiered on 24 November 1984.

Guests included Barry Manilow, Shirley Bassey, Phyllis Diller, Des O’Connor, Cilla Black, The Moody Blues, The Temptations, Julian Lennon, Marie Osmond, Max Bygraves, Lynda Carter, Frankie Valli, Anne Murray, Leo Sayer, Vic Damone, Samantha Fox, Millicent Martin, Jack Jones, Michael Parkinson, Russ Abbot, Lenny Henry, Frank Carson, Norman Collier, Joe Longthorne, Bobby Davro and Les Dennis.

Musical accompaniment was provided by Alyn Ainsworth and his Orchestra.

The final broadcast was on Saturday 17 May 1986.

TRIVIA
The show on 29 December 1984 was interrupted by a 20-minute unplanned break caused by an explosion in the electrical substation at LWT’s South Bank (London) HQ.

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