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Radio Times - Series One, Episode Two
Television (Full Length Episode) – 1980
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
See all 26 credits
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'.
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