Jill Day Show, The – Nostalgia Central

1 9 5 7 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes

This one-girl show consisted almost entirely of sapphire blonde singer Jill Day, in a wide range of very fetching costumes, singing a wide range of very fetching songs.

There was a vague attempt at a story (scripted by Day herself) set backstage at a television show, and American actor Robert Ayres appeared at odd intervals (although for some reason his name in the show was Mark) – but what part he actually played in proceedings was a little obscure.

Jill was also accompanied by a dance troupe called The Redheads, comprising seven fetching redheads – even though the show was broadcast in black and white.

BBC TV producer Russell Turner interviewed around 150 red-haired dancers before settling on Wendy Murphy (29), Jane Taylor (20, who had starred in My Sister and I the previous year), Alma Jones (24), Ann Banbury (22), Sheila Dring (19), Ann Berrecloth (18), and Gillian Cobbold (16, direct from stage school).

The Johnny Pearson Trio provided the music. Guests included Anton Rodgers, comedian Harold Berens, Tonia Bern, Denny Bettis and Hugh Stewart.

The show aired on BBC Television on Thursday evenings from 7 March to 11 April 1957. The critics were not kind.