A long-running variety series from the popular Scottish musical duo and their weekly guests.
Brothers Tom and Jack, The Alexander Brothers, host this regular variety programme from Scottish Television. With Tom on accordion and Jack providing vocals, the duo performs a selection of their signature songs, including “A Highland Lad” and “The Scottish Carousel”. Each week they are joined by a roster of guest acts from the variety circuit, such as comedy double-act Earle and Vaughan, jazz vocalist Jeanie Lambe, and trombonist George Chisholm.
The Alexander Brothers’ Show was a fixture of the Scottish Television schedules and a prime example of regional variety entertainment in the 1960s. The programme presented a televised version of a traditional music hall bill, built around the hosts’ popular blend of patriotic Scottish tunes and contemporary songs. While the format was fundamentally conservative, the production, under director Clarke Tait, was noted for advancing beyond the static, stage-bound presentation of earlier variety shows. It found a more dynamic visual language for television, securing the brothers’ status as constants of Scottish light entertainment.
Broadcast: ITV – Scottish Television, 31 Episodes, 6 December 1965 – 22 October 1969
Director: Clarke Tait
Main Cast: The Alexander Brothers (Hosts)
