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Part one of four from this full length music show.

Part three of four from this full length music show.

Part two of four from this full length music show.

Part four of four from this full length music show.

Part one of four from this full length music show.

Part three of four from this full length music show.

Part two of four from this full length music show.

Part four of four from this full length music show.

Radio Times - Series One, Episode Two

Television (Full Length Episode) – 1980

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The original launchpad for Billy T’s rise to TV superstar, Radio Times travels back in time to find a fresh angle on the musical variety show. Inspired by 30s and 40s era radio shows, the series features a swinging dancehall band, fake singing stars, German villains, and coconut shell sound effects. Creator Tom Parkinson’s masterstroke: casting Billy T James as oh-so-British compere Dexter Fitzgibbons. In this episode the cast go South American, forgotten bombshell Alita Gotti channels Marlene Dietrich, and The Yandall Sisters cover Fats Waller classic 'Handful of Keys'.

That was probably the best TV show we girls have ever worked on.
– Yandall Sister Adele Paris, quoted in Matt Elliott's book Billy T

Key Cast & Crew

Derek Payne

Writer, As: Various roles

Graeme Hodgson

Director

Tom Parkinson

Producer

Alistair Douglas

As: Sound effects man

Ian Watkin

As: Various roles

Laurie Dee

As: Chuck Rutter, Tommy Blackhouse

See all 26 credits

Produced by

TVNZ

Source

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision - TVNZ Collection

Music

Musical Director - Bernie Allen
Musical Associate - Tony Baker

Includes songs 'Radio Times' (originally released in 1934 alongside Radio Times magazine), 'Paper Doll' (made famous by the Mills Brothers in 1943), 'See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have' (from 1939 Marlene Dietrich film Destry Rides Again), Harry Warren's 'Keep Young and Beautiful' (from 1933 film Roman Scandals), and Fats Waller's 'Handful of Keys'.