Young at Heart (lost episodes of Tyne Tees pop show; 1960-1962)

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4th May 1960 issue of Newcastle Journal listing the first episode of Young at Heart

Status: Lost

Young at Heart was a Tyne Tees Television pop show. Running for four series from 4th May 1960 to 25th April 1962, it showcased musical and comedic acts catered towards a teenage audience in the North East of England. The original programme was hosted by Jimmy Savile and Valerie Masters, in what marked Savile's first television presenting role. A reboot later aired under Gary Marshal.

Background

Young at Heart was conceptualised by Tyne Tees partly in response to ITV's sudden lack of national weekly music programmes.[1] It also aimed to attract a teenage demographic by presenting relevant musical and comedic acts, as well as quizzes and fashion contests.[2] The show aired exclusively in the North East of England at 6:30 pm, with episodes lasting 30 minutes.[3][2] Its initial producer was Philip Jones, a former programme controller for Radio Luxembourg who would later create ABC's Thank Your Lucky Stars.[4] Jones would bring along two other Radio Luxembourg names: Jimmy Savile and Valerie Masters.[1][4] At the time, Savile's career had begun to take off as a radio DJ.[5] Beginning with Radio Luxembourg in 1958,[6] his initial show was a major ratings success.[7] It prompted the creation of other Savile programmes including Teen and Twenty Disc Club,[8] building the DJ's popularity with a teenage audience.[7] Tyne Tees subsequently hired Savile to present Young at Heart,[1][2] where he earned £100 per week.[7] A year before, Savile appeared as a judge on the BBC music panel show Juke Box Jury.[9] Young at Heart marked his first television presenting gig.[7][1] Disturbingly, Savile had already sexually abused teenage girls at the BBC and Radio Luxembourg premises.[9][6]

Savile's co-host was Valerie Masters.[10][1][2] She had previously achieved success as the vocalist for the Ray Ellington Quartet, while also releasing singles records like "The Secret of Happiness" and "Banjo Boy".[11][10] Masters shortly afterwards hosted Valerie and Her Boyfriends for Radio Luxembourg, from 1958 to 1960.[10][11][1] With the presenters sorted, Young at Heart debuted on Tyne Tees (Channel 8) on 4th May 1960.[12][3][2] Among the inaugural guests included Glasgow singer Ray Cousins,[13] the Hillcresters, the Visionaires and Glen Mason.[3] The original run lasted eight episodes.[2][12] Adding to his "eccentric" reputation,[14] Savile opted to dye his hair each episode, including in tartan colours.[15][2] This despite the fact the episodes were aired in black and white.[2] He also did not let the show conflict with his training regime; prior to hosting the second episode, Savile had travelled all the way from Berwick via cycling.[16]

The original show's final episode was televised on 22nd June 1960.[17][2][12] Following this, Masters continued her music career throughout the 1960s, including an unsuccessful attempt to represent the United Kingdom at the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest.[10][11][18] As for Savile, he continued to expand his influence in Radio Luxeumbourg until 1968.[7][6] Four years after presenting Young at Heart, Savile's popularity in hosting Teen and Twenty Disc Club convinced the BBC to feature him in a new national music show: Top of the Pops.[8][5] This programme, alongside Jim'll Fix It,[5] quickly made Savile a household name across the United Kingdom.[14] He was even hailed as a national treasure.[19] But a year following his death in 2011, it was revealed Savile was a prolific paedophile and necrophile.[20][14] This led to Operation Yewtree, which uncovered the full extent of Savile's crimes and obtained convictions of Rolf Harris, Gary Glitter and others.[21] Most damningly, Dame Janet Smith's report into Savile's actions revealed he and numerous other sexual predators operated during recordings of Top of the Pops.[22] But likely due to its relative obscurity, it is unclear how prolific Savile's crimes were at Young at Heart behind-the-scenes.

Gary Marshal Reboot

Though Savile and Masters had departed, Tyne Tees still retained faith in the show. This time, they opted to centre the programme around Gary Marshal,[23][2] a singer and actor who recently hosted the BBC music show Dig This!.[24][25] Peter Glover directed the reboot with Marshal providing script input.[2] Series 2 debuted on 31st May 1961,[12] featuring Sylvia Sands among the guest musicians.[26] Five episodes were broadcast for that series;[12] to encourage a more diverse audience to tune in, a listing for the 14th June 1961 episode insisted that the show was "not just for people of that description".[27] Another advertisement proclaimed it as "the teenage programme with mum-and-dad appeal".[28] The series concluded on 5th July 1961 with Patricia Bredin as the main guest.[29][12] Just four regular episodes were aired in Series 3 from 25th October to 6th December 1961. However, a special was later televised on Christmas Day.[12]

Tyne Tees renewed the programme for a fourth series.[12][2] Indicating the growing potential in Young at Heart, the series was expanded to fifteen episodes.[12] The show landed a major star as Welsh singer Shirley Bassey headlined Series 4's debut episode on 25th January 1962.[30] It was later revealed that Bassey was in high demand because she was offered three other rival television gigs. However, she accepted the Young at Heart appearance as a mark of appreciation to Tyne Tee's programme directors George and Alfred Black, who helped build her career.[28] But perhaps the show's biggest achievement was securing prominent international talent,[2] including most notably Bobby Vee.[28] At the time, Vee was considered a teenage icon;[31] his appearance on the 31st January 1962 episode marked Vee's British television debut.[28]

The show's final episode premiered on 25th April 1962, with Vera Lynn booked as the main attraction.[32][12] With the programme quietly cancelled, Marshal moved to Las Vegas where he later appeared in the film Camelot and featured in multiple sitcoms and soap operas. He passed away on 15th June 2019, aged 85.[24]

Availability

In total, 35 episodes were aired between 4th May 1960 to 25th April 1962.[12] Ultimately, Young at Heart was no exception to the tape-wiping practices ITV franchises performed as a cost-saving measure.[33] Based on research from Kaleidoscope, no episodes survived the culling.[12] Even if Series 1's episodes were preserved, they would now be blacklisted from re-airing on British television following the Savile revelations.[34]

See Also

External Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Rock & Pop on British TV summarising the creation of Young at Heart (p.g. 1956). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Sixties Pop and Music Television summarising both versions of Young at Heart. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 4th May 1960 issue of Newcastle Journal listing the first episode of Young at Heart (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 8). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Thank Your Lucky Stars: The 60's Pop Show Featuring The Kinks, The Beatles And The Rolling Stones noting that Young at Heart was originally produced by Philip Jones (p.g. 62). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 BBC News summarising Savile's key radio and television programmes. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Daily Mirror summarising Savile's time at Radio Luxembourg and allegations he abused teenage girls during his stint. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 In Plain Sight: The Life and Lies of Jimmy Savile summarising Savile's success at Radio Luxembourg and being chosen to present Young at Heart (p.g. 150-151). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Top of the Pops: Mishaps, Miming, and Music - True Adventures of TV's No. 1 Pop Show noting Savile's time at Radio Luxembourg and Teen and Twenty Disc Club led to him being appointed host of Top of the Pops (p.g. 8). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Dame Janet Smith Review Report providing a timeline of Savile's media career and crimes (p.g. 139-149). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Archived Valerie Masters documenting the career of Masters, including her time on Young at Heart. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 AllMusic biography on Masters. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 Kaleidoscope listing the missing episodes of Young at Heart. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  13. ↑ 5th May 1960 issue of The Stage reporting on Ray Cousins appearing in the show's debut episode (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 4). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 BBC News documenting Savile's career, crimes and "eccentric" personality. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  15. ↑ The Guardian noting Savile presented one episode of Young at Heart with his hair dyed in tartan colours. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  16. ↑ 12th May 1960 issue of Berwick Advertiser reporting on Savile travelling from Berwick by bicycle prior to presenting the second episode (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 5). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  17. ↑ 22nd June 1960 issue of Newcastle Evening Chronicle listing the final episode of the Savile-Masters run of the show (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 2). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  18. ↑ Eurovision World listing Masters' unsuccessful entry to represent the United Kingdom at the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  19. ↑ CNN noting Savile was hailed as a national treasure prior to his crimes being exposed. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  20. ↑ The Guardian reporting on allegations of Savile's necrophiliac acts at Broadmoor. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  21. ↑ The Daily Mirror summarising the individuals convicted as part of Operation Yewtree. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  22. ↑ Independent reporting on how Top of the Pops was a "breeding ground" for sexual predators. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  23. ↑ 28th June 1961 issue of Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail promoting a Series 2 episode of Young at Heart with Marshal as host (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 3). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2019 summarising the career of Marshal (p.g. 279). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  25. ↑ The TV Rock 'n' Roll Years summarising Dig This!. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  26. ↑ 31st May 1961 issue of Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail listing the first episode of Series 2 (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 3). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  27. ↑ 14th June 1961 issue of Newcastle Evening Chronicle listing Episode 2 of Series 2 and insisting that the programme was "not just for people of that description" (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 2). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 25th January 1962 issue of The Stage reporting that Bobby Vee was set to make his debut British television appearance on Young at Heart (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 10). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  29. ↑ 5th July 1961 issue of Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail listing the final episode of Series 2 (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 3). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  30. ↑ 17th January 1962 issue of Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail listing the debut episode for Series 4 with Shirley Bassey as the headline singer (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 3). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  31. ↑ The Current detailing the career of Bobby Vee. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  32. ↑ 25th April 1962 issue of Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail listing the final episode of the show (found on The British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 3). Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  33. ↑ The Sundae detailing the tape-wiping practices imposed by ITV franchises. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
  34. ↑ BBC News reporting on programmes featuring Savile and other convicted/suspected sex offenders being blacklisted from being re-aired. Retrieved 23rd Oct '24
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