A one-off musical special marking a decade in show business for Cliff Richard and The Shadows.
In a retrospective programme, Cliff Richard and his band The Shadows look back at their first ten years in the music industry. The show combines musical numbers with comedy sketches to recount their journey from rock and roll pioneers to established entertainers. The Shadows lineup features Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, John Rostill, and Brian Bennett. The group is joined by original drummer Tony Meehan, with dance routines from The Paddy Stone Dancers.
This light entertainment special served as a significant milestone, celebrating the remarkable durability of Cliff Richard and The Shadows a decade after their emergence. Written by Barry Cryer, the programme eschewed a straightforward concert format in favour of a blend of music and comedy, a popular television structure of the era. The production was a reunion of sorts, featuring an appearance by original drummer Tony Meehan, which reinforced the nostalgic tone. With musical direction from long-time collaborator Norrie Paramour and production by Bill Hitchcock, the special was a polished piece of prime-time television from Rediffusion, cementing the artists’ status as all-around entertainers who had successfully weathered the changing tastes of the 1960s.
Broadcast: ITV – Rediffusion, 1 Episode, 11 June 1968
Written by: Barry Cryer
Musical Director: Norrie Paramour
Designed by: Keith Norman
Producer: Bill Hitchcock
Production Associate: Peter Gormley
Main Cast: Cliff Richard, The Shadows (Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, John Rostill, Brian Bennett), Tony Meehan, The Paddy Stone Dancers
