Towards the end of the '50's, the BBC had the brilliant idea of creating television specials at Christmas containing specially filmed sketches of popular comedy and light entertainment shows of the day, as well as featuring musical interludes from top singers and bands of the day. In 1958, the first edition of 'Christmas Night With The Stars', with David Nixon as the host.
Sadly, whilst it would without doubt have been popular in its time, it is fairly apparent that it has not aged well at all, and I realise that may sound unfair considering which era it came from.
Many of the musical sequences, by the likes of Vera Lynn and The Beverly Sisters I did not care for either. The edition was also hampered with the patently annoying acts from the likes of Ted Ray and Billy Cotton.
The only real worthwhile thing about this edition was the presence of Charlie Drake and Tony Hancock. Charlie did a funny sketch as a disgruntled carol singer who is frequently rebuffed ( sometimes violently ) by the households he visits. Tony Hancock performed a very funny sketch as a talking budgerigar.
Other than Tony and Charlie, the entertainment was pretty thin on the ground here. Sadly, many of the 'Christmas Night With The Stars' editions do not exist anymore thanks to the BBC policy of wiping videotapes back then. I own this edition, along with the editions from 1964, 1972 and 1994. Those ones are superior by far.
Sadly, whilst it would without doubt have been popular in its time, it is fairly apparent that it has not aged well at all, and I realise that may sound unfair considering which era it came from.
Many of the musical sequences, by the likes of Vera Lynn and The Beverly Sisters I did not care for either. The edition was also hampered with the patently annoying acts from the likes of Ted Ray and Billy Cotton.
The only real worthwhile thing about this edition was the presence of Charlie Drake and Tony Hancock. Charlie did a funny sketch as a disgruntled carol singer who is frequently rebuffed ( sometimes violently ) by the households he visits. Tony Hancock performed a very funny sketch as a talking budgerigar.
Other than Tony and Charlie, the entertainment was pretty thin on the ground here. Sadly, many of the 'Christmas Night With The Stars' editions do not exist anymore thanks to the BBC policy of wiping videotapes back then. I own this edition, along with the editions from 1964, 1972 and 1994. Those ones are superior by far.
