# Seaside Special

Seaside Special is a European light entertainment show broadcast from 1975. It was an outside broadcast based at a big top around numerous British seaside resorts. Originally the big top belonged to various circuses (mainly Gerry Cottle's Circus), but in later seasons, the BBC bought its own to be the venue. The programme was developed by producer Michael Hurll. The series was developed after a short-lived, 6 part 'trial' aired on BBC2 in 1973, under the title Show of the Week: The Young Generation Big Top, starring the dance troupe The Young Generation and hosted by various personalities. The series was broadcast from various Pontin's Holiday Camps around the UK under the Gerry Cottle Big Top. The first show, airing on 6 August 1973, was hosted by Clodagh Rodgers. While this show was originally made in the United Kingdom, it was also co-produced in France, Switzerland and Belgium.
The format was revived by the BBC as Summertime Special with all eight episodes broadcast on BBC1 from Brighton, starting on 25 July 1981. The following year a further six episodes of Summertime Special were commissioned, this time broadcast from Eastbourne starting on 17 July 1982.
A final series was shown on BBC1 on 25 July 1987, this time called Seaside Special '87, all six episodes were broadcast from Jersey and hosted by Mike Smith.
Between 1986 and 1988, ITV broadcast their own incarnation of the format under the Summertime Special banner, hosted by Bobby Davro & others and produced by TVS.

## The show

It was essentially a variety show, hosted by Radio 1 and Radio 2 DJs, consisting of a music act, a comedy act, and dancers New Edition. The 1977 series featured a beauty competition.
Typical acts were Little and Large, Keith Harris and Orville, Lena Zavaroni, The Jimmy Brown Dancers, The New Edition, Bernie Clifton, Showaddywaddy, The Wurzels, Sacha Distel, Peters and Lee, Val Doonican, Ronnie Corbett, The Goodies and Nana Mouskouri. Some segments of the show were shot outside the big top, including one occasion when the Brotherhood of Man sang "My Sweet Rosalie" sitting in a particularly unstable-looking lifeboat.
The show's theme, "Summertime City", written and sung by Mike Batt, was a UK Top 10 hit in 1975.

## History

Very successful in its day, the show was briefly revived in the 1980s as Summertime Special, but by then the tastes of the viewing public had moved on (see Variety shows history).

### 1975

5 July 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top at Blackpool The first of a new series of variety shows featuring artists appearing at Britain's seaside resorts starring Ken Dodd with The Diddymen. Special guests Dana and Wild Honey. This show concluded with a record-breaking beef burger being handed out to the audience. Introduced by David Hamilton and featuring New Edition.
12 July 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top which this week visited Great Yarmouth Starring Peters and Lee with special guests Billy Dainty, Alan Randall impersonating George Formby, Frank Carson, Stu Francis, Cool Breeze and introduced by Noel Edmonds featuring New Edition. Stunts included a woman being fired out of a cannon and a tightrope walk. Edmonds even appeared on the shoulders of a trapeze artist but that was enough and he did not make it across the tightrope.
19 July 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top at Blackpool Guests – Mike & Bernie Winters, The Three Degrees, Peter Gordeno & New Edition who this week have a 'Let's Keep Fit' routine in the big top and the local beach. Hosta are David Hamilton and impressionist Paul Melba (Mike and Bernie Winters were in the 'Mike and Bernie Winters Show' at the ABC Theatre. Blackpool and perform comedy routines plus Mike playing the clarinet. Paul Melba was in ' Showtime 75 ' at the North Pier, Blackpool). Also featured was a clown act with their crazy car that had never passed an MOT. This featured two members of the audience who both got custard pies in the face.
26 July 1975 Location – Big Top of Gerry Cottle 's Circus which this week visited Poole, Dorset. The star this week was Cilla Black and also appearing were Paul Jones, Don MacLean (who comes on stage inside a dustbin), impressionists the Brother Lees, The Talbot School Band (playing 'Consider Yourself') and from clubland, Ronnie Dukes and Ricki Lee. Introduced for the first time by Tony Blackburn. New Edition performed 'Tiger Feet' and appear with Mike Batt who sings the show's theme song 'Summertime City' both in the big top and a local funfair. There was also a Royal Marines display, the Poole Pirates and Tony Blackburn water-skiing.
2 August 1975 Location – The BBC1 Big Top which this week visited Great Yarmouth for the second time in the series. Guests – Dick Emery was the host of the show with an all-star line-up featuring Sacha Distel who performed his new single and 'Beach Baby' on Great Yarmouth beach with New Edition, singing in both English and French, Clodagh Rodgers, Little and Large, Norman Caley (keep an eye on his arms) and introduced by Noel Edmonds. There was also a knife-throwing act featuring a member of the audience and a fire dive by Don Lindberg plus New Edition performing 'Me and My Shadow.'
9 August 1975 Location – Gerry Cottle's Circus, Torbay Hosts – Noel Edmonds and Val Doonican Guests – Windsor Davies and Don Estelle with a comedy routine and two songs including their number one hit 'Whispering Grass', Lynn Rogers, Peter Hudson telling the longest joke in the world about a kangaroo and an elephant, Ian Lavender, Bill Pertwee (both from Dad's Army), John Inman, Mike Reid and Radio 1 DJs David Hamilton, Tony Blackburn (and his then wife Tessa Wyatt) featuring New Edition. There is also a daredevil stunt with Noel Edmonds in a car that drives through a lorry. Just who will win the Celebrity Go-Kart Race that is hosted by Ronnie Corbett, prepare yourself for a dramatic last lap. This is the first show in which both Hamilton and Blackburn appear and starts their playful' feud.'
16 August 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top which this week visited Torbay It is the second successive week in Torbay with a very special line-up. ABBA actually sing a couple of songs, namely "Waterloo" & "S.O.S.". Also appearing were New Edition who opened the show with 'Be a Clown' with help from the Gerry Cottle Circus team of clowns. Look out for the escaping monkeys though. Keeping the animal theme they then performed Funky Gibbon Also appearing were the hosts comedy double act Dailey & Wayne, Roy Hudd with strongman Khalil, 15-year-old Kimberly Clark, Des Lane and his penny whistle, Lulu making it two Eurovision Song Contest winners on the show, impressionist Janet Brown, Kenneth McKellar and Tony Blackburn as the presenter. When introducing Abba, he says they won Eurovision two years ago but it was in fact the year before. He gets the chance to sing this week but is in a lion's den! Mike Batt again sings the theme song with New Edition accompanying a video of a water-skiing display.
23 August 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top at Poole, Dorset. Rolf Harris is the host and also appearing are The Bachelors with the debut of new double act Stuart Gillies and with a cat and a shark but not his ostrich Bernie Clifton impressionist Johnny More, singer Rita Morris, New Edition and Tony Blackburn. This programme includes the Poole carnival and hang gliding.
30 August 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top which this week in Torbay. The host in this last show of the series is Roy Hudd and there is a great army sketch with some 'local seaside landladies', asking some young children for some new jokes and 'Swimmin' with the Wimmin' with New Edition. Also appearing are Keith Harris and Orville with Cuddles, Tessie O'Shea, Lena Zavaroni, Derek Dene with a golfing sketch, Jon Britain and presenter Tony Blackburn and featuring New Edition. The daredevil sketch features Tony Blackburn out at sea in a dinghy being winched to safety, though he joked David Hamilton had offered them money not to do so. New Edition also join local children for a twirling display.

### 1976

19 June 1976 Just as with series 1, the first episode comes from Gerry Cottle's Circus in Blackpool This time it is marking the centenary of the town as a holiday resort. Radio 1 DJs Tony Blackburn and Dave Lee Travis help present the show. Travis was live on Radio 1 while introducing the series. Hosting the show was Ken Dodd who makes a right mess of a joke about Blackpool's piers. The audience was treated to the sight of Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden, Frank Thornton, John Inman, (all from Are You Being Served?) performing a German folk dance routine,= though 'Mrs Slocombe' has been in the bar a bit too long, Showaddywaddy, clown Charlie Cairoli in a messy custard pie sketch with Tony Blackburn and The Goodies singing "Bounce". Tom Baker is interviewed as Doctor, he had earlier appeared at the Blackpool carnival. 'New Edition were back for the second series. They sing the new theme 'Sunshine Saturday' again written by Mike Batt. They also sing 'Keep Young and Beautiful' which includes Orinoco from The Wombles and also film of young children on the beach plus 'The Gypsy in my Soul.' The daredevil spot is an escapologist in a straitjacket on a burning rope.
26 June 1976 Scarborough hosts the show for the first time. It was held at the same time as the Scarborough carnival. Host of the show was Val Doonican with David Hamilton also presenting with his usual jokes about Tony Blackburn. Guests included Dana, ventriloquist Dawson Chance, Jim Davidson, Des Lane with his penny whistle, Don Robinson and his chimpanzees and resident song and dance group New Edition also performing.
3 July 1976 We are still in Scarborough and it is an (American Bicentennial edition) The show is hosted by The Three Degrees and also appearing are Kenneth McKellar, impressionists Brother Lees (one of the three has a bit of a problem with his chair which rather mucks up their synchronicity), from Italy 'The Flag wavers' and Dailey and Wayne. New Edition perform a tribute to the USA. David Hamilton also presents the sho and of course tells some Tony Blackburn jokes. He becomes the trainer of Salty, a Californian Sea Lion. We also get to see Californian dolphins. There is also some water-skiing and model battleships.
10 July 1976 For the first time the show comes from Southsea. Paul Burnett is the radio DJ on duty this week Paul Burnett. The main hosts are Basil Brush Show with Roy North Also are Lulu, Mike & Bernie Winters, Janet Brown, Dream Express, Ron Martin and the ever-present New Edition. Tony Blackburn is also on this show and he introduces stuntman Dick Sheppard as he attempts to drive his car through a burning van. It did not go quite as planned with Dick taking a while to get out of his burning car but was thankfully safe eventually. We also get to see a local motorbike stunt team and plenty of twirling from children. They are seen as New Edition perform the theme tune yet again.
17 July 1976 It is back to Blackpool for this week as their centenary celebrations continue. It is also carnival time in the seaside town. Tony Blackburn is again presenting and telling jokes about David Hamilton. The hosts are Rod Hull and Emu and Rolf Harris. Rolf again sings 'Up a Tree' as he did in the first series. Also appearing were Al Dean, local singer Kate T. Fields and Little and Large New Edition performed some more routines including a 1950s rock 'n' roll tribute. In the daredevil section of the show we see an attempt by Tony Martin to jump over 10 barrels while on skates. That is followed by three amateur skaters trying to jump over four and then three barrels with mixed results. There is also some ice-skating too on another action-packed show. Dave Lee Travis returns with the Radio 1 Roadshow and again we see New Edition performing the theme tune.
24 July 1976 It is back to Southsea this week and we get to see a lot more of Gerry Cottles Circus. That is because it is circus week on Seaside Special. Both Tony Blackburn and David Hamilton present the show and of course make out they hate each other. Dave Lee Travis is also on the show and introduces the Cimmaro Brothers who cross a tightrope 25 feet above a cage full of lions and without a safety net and at one stage blindfolded. The host is Mike Reid who opens up with an extremely racist routine so get ready to be offended. Also appearing are Tony Monopoly, Paul Daniels and Cannon and Ball both before they became big stars, Surprise Sisters, Mary Chipperfield with her chimpanzee act and we also get to see some tigers too and clowns Jacko Fossett and Little Billy in a barbershop routine with David Hamilton and 'a member of the audience' most likely a stooge. Resident song and dance troupe New Edition are on the show as usual with one routine having them dressed as clowns.
31 July 1976 Weymouth is the seaside resort for this week's show. Again, we have both Tony Blackburn and David Hamilton presenting the show with lots of jokes at each other's expense. Jimmy Tarbuck is the host of the show and New Edition again perform some song and dance routines. We also get to see The Bachelors, Sacha Distel, The Grumbleweeds who start with a tasteless impression of Peters and Lee, Keith Harris and Orville with Cuddles appearing and Kenny Lynch joins Jimmy Tarbuck for the closing section of the show with a few more racist jokes by both. The Weymouth Carnival Queens also make a brief appearance. The show also goes to Southsea where we see the Royal Navy display team in action.
7 August 1976 This was an important edition of the show. It was staged in Weymouth and Cherbourg. This was an Anglo-French edition with part of the show being filmed on a ferry. As the years progressed, the European content of the show steadily increased. The host is Sacha Distel who performs in both Weymouth and Cherbourg. Guests include Brotherhood of Man who perform in a life boat, Frank Carson, Alan Randall (singing a song about football and also doing his George Formby impression on the ferry), Child (Dave Cooper, Graham Bilbrough, Tim Atack & Keith Atack), Santus Julian troupe (a circus cycling group) and of course New Edition. They also appear on both sides of the channel including in front of a train in Cherbourg and on the ferry.
14 August 1976 No trips to France this week. This is the first of three shows from Torbay with Tony Blackburn and David Hamilton doing their usual routine of taking the mickey out of each other. The hosts are Peters and Lee and guests include singer Vince Hill, Roger De Courcey and Nookie the Bear, The Patton Brothers, Fivepenny Piece, Jodie Grey and Alan Stewart and of course New Edition.
21 August 1976 Torbay is again the venue and Tony Blackburn, Dave Lee Travis, David Hamilton, Paul Burnett are all present. They all take part in a camel race hosted by Roy Hudd. Also appearing were singer Moira Anderson, Stu Francis, Don Maclean, Black Abbots, Sidney Devine and pianist Wayne King. New Edition again appear and their performances included one featuring a local tap dancing club.
28 August 1976 We are still in Torbay and it is a star-studded line-up this week. Tony Blackburn is the presenter and the host is Larry Grayson so lots of camp humour. He opens with the song 'Swimmin' with the Wimmin.' Roy Hudd would have been interested as he had performed that song in the first series of this show and he is on tonight's bill. Also appearing were Nicky Benton, Peters and Lee (again singing their new single), Frankie Vaughan, Roy Hudd, Diane Solomon, Wurzels, Fiddlygig, Terry Turner and of course more singing and dancing from New Edition. There is a Wild West theme to this show with whips and a knife-throwing act. New Edition sing the theme tune yet again and it is accompanied this time by film of a sea rescue.
7 September 1976 The second series comes to an end and we are back in Southsea. This time it is a highlights show which features the best of the second series. There is some new material with some terrible jokes from Tony Blackburn (what else would one expect?)and we meet the children of some of the circus performers. We see some of the best routines from New Edition, Keith Harris and Cuddles (still no sign of Orville), Jim Davidson, Frank Carson, Salty the Sea Lion and dare-devil stunts including Tony Blackburn parachuting but not enjoying a perfect landing, The Great Khalil and Dick Sheppard's car catching fire.

### 1977

11 June 1977 The third series begins with a show from Eastbourne. New to the show for this year is the Miss Seaside Special 1977 contest. There is also another new theme tune ('Get A Little Sand Between our Toes') sung by New Edition, not written by Mike Batt this time. Tony Blackburn is back and so are New Edition. The host is Ronnie Corbett, Anne Hart (who was Mrs Corbett but a singer in her own right), Nolans, Janet Brown, Patton Brothers and stuntman Dick Sheppard. He drives into a burning car and aims to split it in two. It is a varied show and where else would one see Ronnie Corbett in a strongman act and the Sussex hang gliding society?
18 June 1977 We stay in Eastbourne for the second show of the series. David Hamilton is a presenter and the host this week is Roy Hudd. There is the second heat of the beauty contest. Guests include Diane Traske, Don Maclean, Roger De Courcey and Nookie the Bear, Jeff Phillips and of course it would not be the same without New Edition. They perform several routines and one sees them at nearby Michelham Priory House and Gardens. They also sing the theme tune while at a local aqua park. Dick Shepherd is back and this week the daredevil is again in a car that ends up on fire.
25 June 1977 This week sees the show being held in Great Yarmouth. David Hamilton is the presenter and the host is John Inman. Also appearing are Berni Flint, Miquel Brown, comedy duo Hope and Keen and of course New Edition who sing the theme tune at a local funfair. Heat three of the beauty contest is held. This week's daredevil is a real hoot. It is described by David Vine as the biggest one-off ever seen on television. Dave Masters is the daredevil and he has "built a projectile" that is 100 foot high and will dive into water at around 100 mph. Is all as it seems? The same can be said of the ballet sequence as one of the dancers is John Inman in drag. The theme continues with the ballroom dancing act Raval and Lolita. Sadly, Lolita cannot appear and is replaced by John Inman. Ravel is played by Barry Howard (who often worked with Inman in panto) who went on to play a ballroom dancer in Hi-de-Hi!.
2 July 1977 This week's show comes from Great Yarmouth. David Hamilton is the presenter and in charge of the latest heat of the Miss Seaside Special beauty contest. Les Dawson hosts this show and guests are Dana, Bernie Clifton, Brother Lee (who have an hilarious series of problems with their props), Stuart Gillies (not teaming up with Clifton this time) and New Edition. Les Dawson was one of the judges of the beauty contest and put the sash on the winner. He did so in his sex-mad Cosmo Smallpiece character leading to Hamilton saying that one is supposed to sash her not make love to her.
9 July 1977 Again the show comes from Great Yarmouth. Tony Blackburn is a presenter and the host is Cilla Black. As well as singing, Cilla also interviews some members of the audience. Also appearing are Vince Hill, Frank Carson, Dream Express (who appeared in that year's Eurovision Song Contest), Jeff Phillips, Lennie Bennett and New Edition. There is another heat of the Miss Seaside Special beauty contest.
16 July 1977 Bournemouth is the venue for this week's show. Tony Blackburn is the presenter and hosting the show are The Bachelors with special guests, Little and Large, plus chart-topping group Showaddywaddy, comedian Dave Ismay, James Boys, Shades of Love and the Cimmaro Brothers are back with a motorcycle act this time. It is the latest heat of the Miss Seaside Special beauty contest with a record 136 entrants this week. New Edition are of course back performing more song and dance routines.
23 July 1977 For the second week we are in Bournemouth. It is heat seven of the Miss Seaside Special beauty contest. The presenter is David Hamilton and we have New Edition starting the show with a rock 'n' roll routine. The show is again hosted by Peters and Lee and guests are Stu Francis, Michael Barrymore, Bobby Crush, Roger Stevenson and his puppets which include Peters & Lee, singer Jodie Grey and Harpo.
30 July 1977 We are still in Bournemouth and it is the eighth heat of the Miss Seaside Special beauty contest. Tony Blackburn is the presenter and introduces footballer Ted MacDougall and England's self-proclaimed mascot Ken Baily. The host is Val Doonican and guests are Fiddlygig, Stan Boardman, comedian Les Wilson and New Edition who go skateboarding.
6 August 1977 It is a very different show this week and illustrates the growing link with French television. The location for the main show is Déville-lès-Rouen and we also get to see the harbour of Honfleur. It is the first of two shows from France and there is no beauty contest this week. We start on a ferry with presenter Cliff Richard wearing a T-shirt that says 'Not Wanted on Board.' Guests include Claude Francois, Joe Dassin, acrobatic act, the Half Wits, Jennifer, Norman Caley (who surprises the unsuspecting French audience and even directs the traffic at one stage), New Edition and the host Tony Blackburn who still cannot resist a David Hamilton joke.
13 August 1977 This is the second of the shows that come from Déville-lès-Rouen and Honfleur. Tony Blackburn is again the presenter and guests include Mireille Mathieu, Boney M, magician Zoupy Gali Gali, singer Gerry Bruno, Marie Myriam, French pop group Martin Circus and headlining is Sacha Distel. New Edition cross over the channel and we see them singing the theme tune on the beach.
20 August 1977 8 pm to 9 pm BBC1 After the two shows in France, it was back to England and Torbay to crown Miss Seaside Special 1977. That was won by Cheryl Douglas. A surprise win as second placed Zoe Spink had won several beauty contests in the past. David Hamilton and Tony Blackburn were the presenters so plenty of banter between those two. We also get to see the Royal Yacht Britannia as Queen Elizabeth II and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh arrived back in England, not to see the show though. New Edition were in sailors outfits at the dock for another song and dance routine. Special guest was Vera Lynn and also appearing were Jeff Phillips, magician Clive Webb, singer Penny Croft, Jim Davidson, Wurzels, comedy actor Tony Selby sings for a change and we also see comedy double act and dancers the Patton Brothers.
27 August 1977 This is the last of the third series with a special compilation show being screened the following week. This episode comes from Jersey and features the first colour TV transmission of the Battle of Flowers. No big top this time, they are at Mont Orgeuil Castle. Guests this week include the newly crowned Miss Seaside Special, Johnnie and Roy, Mission Hall Jazz Band, Des O’Connor, Jack Douglas with George Truzzi, Alan Randall, Roger Kitter, Brian Taylor, Shades of Love, Californians, Page Three, David Hamilton is the host and of course New Edition sing and dance their way throughout the show, including a 'Mack and Mabel' routine filmed at Noirmont Manor.
30 September 1977 6:55 pm to 7:40 pm BBC1 Tony Blackburn and David Hamilton introduce a special edition looking back at series 3. Performers include New Edition, Hope and Keen with John Inman in their ballet scene, the spoof Dave Masters stunt, Roger Kitter with children doing impersonations, Michael Barrymore, Little and Large with their 'Kung Fu Fighting' sketch, circus act Van Buren with a disappearing motorcycle, the Ronnie Corbett strongman routine and the Battle of the Flowers.

### 1978

24 March 1978 Snowtime Special Location Leysin, Switzerland The first of two holiday programmes recorded on location in the Swiss winter sports resort of Leysin and inside the Seaside Special (Special Vacances Blanches) Big Top 4,000 ft up in the Alps. Presented by Andy Williams with his guests Sacha Distel and Demis Roussos with Rod Hull and Emu who does an act featuring a new trick also performed with Larry Grayson at the London Palladium, Boney M, Sheila and B. Devotion, Katja Ebstein, Jan Madd Magic Show. Jacqueline Harbord, and featuring Geoff Richer's First Edition - their new name - who begin the show by singing along while making their plane journey to Switzerland. They do not just sing in English but in French too. Their French is a bit better than that of Andy Williams with Sacha Distel blowing a whistle when he needs some help.
27 March 1978 Snowtime Special Location: Leysin, Switzerland
The second of two holiday programmes recorded in Switzerland featuring music, song and dance combined with winter sports. Presented by Petula Clark (who lived in Switzerland) in the big top with her guests Charles Aznavour, the Manhattan Transfer, The Three Degrees, Claude Francois (who sadly died before this programme was broadcast), singer Udo Jurgens, Wolfgang Danne and Jillian (performing a comic ballet routine) and again featuring Geoff Richer's First Edition with a Beatles medley and later in the show a disco one too.
8 July 1978 The new series begins in Torbay and Geoff Richer's First Edition are again present with a new theme song, 'All This and Heaven Too.' Sacha Distel is hosting now, the Radio 1 DJs are no longer being used. The European influence in the show is being seen in increasing amounts now. Guests include Little and Large, Caterina Valente (who sings her first song in French despite the show being in Torbay), Sheila B. Devotion, Brotherhood of Man and Showaddywaddy. We also get introduced to some audience members who have famous names. There is Ken Dodd, Joan Collins and James Hunt. Little and Large also give some holidaymakers the chance to show us what impressions they can do. No beauty contest this year but there are more circus acts on show in this series. A competition is launched to give a chimp a name, and there is a circus parade. There is also Hoppe's Unrideable Mules with audience members taking a few falls as the mules live up to their name.
15 July 1978 The second episode of the new series again comes from Torbay with Sacha Distel hosting. Geoff Richer makes an appearance in the opening disco dance routine by his First Edition. The stars of the show are Boney M and also appearing are singer Jean Valee, magician Clive Webb, Roy Walker, Plastic Bertrand singing "Sha La La La Lee", Italian pop group Matia Bazar (another act people in Torbay had probably never heard of), comedian Peter Hudson and Ian Dury. The circus act of the week are two motorcyclists from Argentina performing in the Globe of Death.
22 July 1978 7:35 pm to 8:25 pm BBC1 We are still in Torbay and this show begins with Geoff Richer's First Edition performing a routine in a local model village. Sacha Distel is again the host and the star of the show is Marti Caine. Again they do the audience members with celebrity names. This time it is Andy Williams and Mrs Ghandi (cue Goosey Goosey joke). Also appearing are Roy Castle (who does a trumpet routine before singing on a golf course with Sacha), impressionist Tony Venner, Brothers Lees, Jean Vallée from Belgium, pianist Colin 'Fingers' Henry (who at one stage plays while his head is on the floor) and The Black Gold. Just as he did in series one, Sacha sings "Beach Baby" in both English and French, though most of the time he has sat by the swimming pool of a hotel. He then takes a ride along the beach in a buggy.
29 July 1978 8:20 pm to 9:10 pm Week four and we are still in Torbay. Sacha Distel is still presenting the show and begins by singing a duet with Nicole Croisille. Also appearing are Rolf Harris, Smokie, Bernie Clifton, Stu Francis, The King's Singers, Paul Nicholas and Charivari. Geoff Richer's First Edition are back and perform a disco routine. The increased circus content sees a knife act and a parade of camels and Sacha Distel is riding one of them. Once the riders have departed, we then get to see the camels performing their act followed by an elephant routine.
5 August 1978 8:30 pm to 9:20 pm For fhe fifth show in a row we are in Torbay with Sacha Distel as the presenter. Guests are Jim Davidson, Roger De Courcey and Nookie the Bear, Berni Flint, Larry Parker, circus strongman act Samson and Delilah, Udo Jürgens and Annie Cordy. We see Geoff Richer's First Edition in the harbour singing the new theme song. Final call this week to give the chimp his name.
12 August 1978 8:30 pm to 9:20 pm We finally escape Torbay and head to St Malo for a very French edition of the show. Geoff Richer's First Edition are there of course and sing and dance while on the ferry on what looks like very windy conditions. Once they get to St Malo, performers include Joe Dassin (singing 'Sorry' again), Chantal Goya, Laurent Voulzey, Était Une Fois, Café Crème, Arlene, Tony Cross (who draws a clown while singing 'Send in the Clowns') and Grace Jones. It is a very song-orientated show this week and mostly in French. We do get to see a daredevil act with a somersaulting rocket car.
19 August 1978 8:15 pm to 9:05 pm This is the second of the two shows from St Malo and Sacha Distel is back as the presenter. Appearing tonight are Dionne Warwick, Baccara, Band a Basile, magician Chris Woodward, Arthur Scott and his Sealions (one of whom does a duet with Sacha), Alain Souchon, Annie Cordon, Patrick Juvet, Jeane Manson, Grace Jones Martin Circus. Geoff Richer's First Edition are of course present. The chimp finally has a name and it is going to be called 'Tinsel'. That is because when we first saw him, that's what he was playing with.
26 August 1978 8:10 pm to 9:00 pm This episode sees us back in Jersey and features the 'Battle of the Flowers' which has been seen in previous series. It begins with Geoff Richer's First Edition singing and dancing on the ferry from Portsmouth to Jersey. We see more of them later including Jackie Hall singing her debut single. The show is hosted by Terry Wogan who also presents the Miss Jersey Variety Sunshine Beauty Contest won by local girl Julie Parks. Star attractions are Wurzels, Stuart Gillies, Tony Hatch, Jackie Trent and Bobby Bennett. The newly named Tinsel makes an appearance along with the winners of the competition to name him. As well as all the action in the Big Top, we also see the Wurzels in the outdoor concert that traditionally follows the Battle of the Flowers event.
2 September 1978 8.10pm to 9.00pm For the second show in a row we are in Jersey but no Terry Wogan this week. Guests include Peters and Lee, Dooleys, comedians Charlie Daze and Mike Burton, Brian Marshall, Californians, Good Vibrations, Ron Martin. City Boy and of course Geoff Richer's First Edition. We also get to see the annual waiter and waitresses race held between Jersey hotel staff. There is more from the outdoor concert with Peters and Lee and The Dooleys and a children's sandcastle competition.
9 September 1978
This week's show came from Weymouth with John Inman as the host. Geoff Richer's First Edition opened the show before Inman's first routine with a song and some stand-up comedy. That included some seagull jokes that are almost as old as the sea themselves. Did Liberace really write him a letter?
Also appearing are singer Dana Gillespie (with some water clips thrown in for good measure), Lenny Henry, singer Salena Jones (in the big top and on location), comedy double act Hope and Keen wih their glamorous female assistant, singer Elaine Carroll and pianist Bobby Crush who ends up doing a routine with John Inman. We also see Geoff Richer's First Edition performing a dance routine on a local farm. The climax features a female balloooon dancing team which includes Inman and Barry Howard in drag.
22 September 1978 Location Weymouth guests Lennie Bennett, Jerry Stevens, Allan Stewart, Valerie Masters, Diane Cousins, Bobby Knutt, Turnstyle
18 December 1978 Christmas Snowtime Special A Yuletide Spectacular! Including ski-ing, ice-skating and Alpine sports, recorded on location in the BBC Big Top, 4,000 feet up in the Swiss Alps with international stars Andy Williams, Petula Clark, Boney M, Manhattan Transfer, Sacha Distel, Charles Aznavour, The Three Degrees, Sheila B Devotion, Jacqueline Harbord. Introduced by Demis Roussos and featuring Geoff Richer's First Edition.

### 1979

This series was more of a Eurovision production with French, Dutch and Swiss TV companies involved as well as the BBC.
Disco in the Snow Monday 9 April 1979, BBC1 at 6:55pm to 8:10pm A non-stop musical show featuring the world's top disco artists, recorded inside the BBC1 Big Top and on the ski slopes at Leysin in the Swiss Alps. Starring and introduced by Boney M and Leo Sayer. Featuring from the USA: The Jacksons, Curtis Mayfield, Leif Garrett, Amii Stewart. From the UK: Bonnie Tyler. From Canada: The Raes, Rozalind Keene. From Switzerland: Patrick Juvet. From Germany: Eruption. Also featuring Geoff Richer's First Edition.
ABBA in Switzerland Monday 16 April 1979, BBC1 at 7.45pm to 8.40pm Abba star in their first-ever European television special, recorded on location in the Swiss Alps, in which they mime to many of their million-selling hits together with some brand-new songs: "Take A Chance on Me" (with First Edition), "The King Has Lost His Crown" (with First Edition), "Hole in Your Soul", "The Name of the Game", "Eagle", "Mamma Mia", "Kisses of Fire", "Lovers (Live A Little Longer)", "Chiquittita", "Does Your Mother Know?" and "Thank You for the Music" . Also featuring their guests Kate Bush performing "Wow" and Roxy Music performing "Dance Away". With Geoff Richer's First Edition singing and dancing to "Jump Shout Boogie".
Location Leysin, Switzerland (The skiing scenes were filmed 25 minutes away at Les Diablerets. The ice-skating scenes were filmed at 9pm one evening at the Leysin village ice-rink.) (Music tracks sourced from ABBA on TV website source)
14 July 1979 at 8:15 to 9:05 pm Location BBC Big Top at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Little and Large with guests Mick Miller, Peters and Lee and Showaddywaddy, Chas and Dave and First Edition
21 July 1979 at 8:25 pm to 9:15 pm Location Bruges Introduced by Jeane Manson with guests Boney M, Amii Stewart, Clive Webb, Chantal Goya, Patrick Hernandez, and Gerard Lenorman
28 July 1979 at 8:25 to 9:15 pm Location BBC Big Top at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Tony Brutus, Angels, Ken Dodd and his Diddymen, Brother Lees
4 August 1979 Location BBC Big Top in Poole Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Cilla Black who sang Bright Eyes with some kids holding rabbits. Cliff Richard and Don MacLean, Jerry Stevens, Keith Harris, Lenny Henry and Antonia Rodriguez
11 August 1979 Location Honfleur Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Rod Hull and Emu, Plastic Bertrand, Eruption, Gibson Brothers, Santos 'Loonies', Amanda Lear
18 August 1979 Location BBC Big Top at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Les Dawson, The Krankies, Stu Francis, Les Dennis, Roy Barraclough and from the world of pop music The Dooleys, Berni Flint, Dollar
25 August 1979 Location BBC Big Top, Isle of Man Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Petula Clark, The Grumbleweeds, The Wurzels, Frank Carson, Bobby Knutt, Diane Cousins, Tony Kent, Greg Bonham, Iris Williams
1 September 1979 Location BBC Big Top from Poole Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Rolf Harris, Roy Castle, Amii Stewart, Bernie Clifton, Candlewick Green, Neil Martin and First Edition
8 September 1979 Location Big Top from the Isle of Man Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Lennie Bennett, Ruby Winters and Boney M
Snowtime Christmas Special
Saturday 22 December 1979 BBC1 6.35pm to 7.25pm
Location Leysin, Switzerland This show used a mixture of previously recorded and broadcast segments from the Snowtime Easter Special plus additional guests hosted by Dame Edna Everage.
Songs performed in this show:
- ABBA – "Chiquitita"* **(1)
- Boney M – "Mary's Boy Child"* **(2)
- Leo Sayer – "When I Need You" (3) - The Jacksons – "Destiny" (4) - Bonnie Tyler – "It's a Heartache" (5) - Kate Bush – "December Will Be Magic Again" (6) - Wolfgang Danne and Jillian Denise Biellmann skate to "I Wonder (Departure)" (7)
* with Geoff Richer's First Edition dance troupe doing their thing behind them
from ABBA on TV website source