TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 -
Californian singer songwriter Felix had been travelling throughout Europe in 1963 and after landing in London she started playing the London folk clubs, attracting attention from both BBC and ITV producers.
She became a regular on BBC's The Hoot'nanny Show and later the Eamonn Andrews Show, and in 1965 was given regular spots on ITV's That's For Me and Rediffusion's Heartsong, leading to her own show Meet Julie Felix in March. By the end of the year she was a familiar face on British TV which guest spots on Folk In Focus, Late Night Line Up, The Val Doonican Show, Juke Box Jury, even appearing on the Christmas Top of the Pops in 1967.
By 1966 she had become the resident singer on BBC1's The Frost Report, performing
cover versions and original material, resulting in the best-
BBC2's new colour service was the perfect place for her own series. The show was produced by BBC legend Stanley Dorfman, replaced by Mel Cornish in 1969. The pastel shaded psychedelia of Donovan, Incredible String Band, The Hollies and The Kinks proved ideal for colour TV. The shows were recorded from the 2nd to 10th December 1967.
She provided a home for some of the best and most popular British and North American folk. The musical director was John Cameron who worked with Mickie Most's acts, and would later work with Felix again when she signed with Most's RAK label in 1970, while British jazz icon Bill LaSage would also fill in on occasion. The show would also escape from Television Centre taking in locations like Edinburgh where she had been playing late night shows prior to the show's debut. The comedy sketches would be written by Neil Shand and feature comic talent like Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, Spike Milligan and Roy Kinnear among others.
Talking to Record Mirror about the upcoming show in October 1967 she claimed "It's not a folk series. I wanted to get on some interesting people and then give them the freedom to do what they wanted, without feeling the need to just stand there and plug a specific record." About her own role in the show she said "At first I didn't want to do any talking but they got on to me and so I agreed. I don't feel all that comfortable about it, but it was put to me that it was my job to link the different items."
Felix returned with The Julie Felix Show in 1970.
ONCE MORE WITH FELIX
BBC2
9th December 1967 -
