Karen Kay – Nostalgia Central

1 9 8 3 – 1 9 8 4 (UK
12 x 30 minute episodes
1 9 8 6 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes

Debuting on 2 November 1983, this BBC series initially focused on the musical talents of singer/impressionist Karen Kay (the mother of jazz-funk singer and Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay), and her guest stars – including Tony Christie, Georgie Fame, Gloria Gaynor, The Barron Knights, Guy Mitchell, Jack Jones, Hank Marvin, Vic Damone, Ronnie Scott and Buddy Greco – reflected this.

But by the third and final series, Kay switched the emphasis strongly onto comedy and her talents as an impressionist.

Popular among her repertoire were Shirley Bassey, Cilla Black, Barbra Streisand, Sybil Fawlty, Peggy from Hi-de-Hi!, Julie Walters, Cleo Laine, Edith Piaf, Dame Edna Everage, Zola Budd and the rather more difficult Max Boyce, Jimmy Cricket and, intriguingly, E L Wisty (a famously tedious character invented by Peter Cook, made famous during his weekly stint on ATV’s part-networked satirical commentary/magazine show On The Braden Beat in the autumn of 1964.)

Karen was accompanied on the show by a dance troupe called Powerpack, choreographed by Chris Power.

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