Popular but short-lived (October – December 1983) weekly entertainment news magazine series fronted and written by Radio 1 Disc Jockey/television presenter/panel game show host Mike Smith.
Broadcast Friday early evenings on BBC1 and featuring a look at the latest news in movies, theatre, music and television on both sides of the Atlantic. The opening and closing music to the series was Broadway show tune They're Playing Our Song.
A weekly report was given each week on the U.S. entertainment industry by the BBC's resident man in the U.S., journalist Tom Brook. Roving celebrity reporters giving outside broadcasts, conducting interviews etc included Anneka Rice and Sally James.
Some segments/reports/interviews in the series included: Spandau Ballet on their upcoming world tour; Burt Reynolds being asked on the set of his movie Stick about auditioning for movies; Joan Sims reminiscing about the "Carry On" series of movies; a famous English singing coach talking about some of her celebrity clients. The series also features probably Bananarama's most memorable television appearance, they are shown at the annual London Black and White Charity Christmas Ball unashamedly yelling that they love and want briefly famous teenage radio pirate Mark Gould for Christmas.
It would be interesting to see some of these shows again from an historical point of view. Perhaps some/all of the shows will be available to view again if the BBC archive eventually becomes available online.
The series contained some really rare celebrity interviews, so hopefully it isn't yet another one of those BBC series that have been wiped/lost/permanently misplaced in the archives.
