Seaside Special

Seaside Special is a European light entertainment show broadcast from 1975. It was an outside broadcast based at a big top around numerous British seaside resorts. Originally the big top belonged to various circuses (mainly Gerry Cottle's Circus), but in later seasons, the BBC bought its own to be the venue. The programme was developed by producer Michael Hurll. The series was developed after a short-lived, 6 part 'trial' aired on BBC2 in 1973, under the title Show of the Week: The Young Generation Big Top, starring the dance troupe The Young Generation and hosted by various personalities. The series was broadcast from various Pontin's Holiday Camps around the UK under the Gerry Cottle Big Top. The first show, airing on 6 August 1973, was hosted by Clodagh Rodgers. While this show was originally made in the United Kingdom, it was also co-produced in France, Switzerland and Belgium.

The format was revived by the BBC as Summertime Special with all eight episodes broadcast on BBC1 from Brighton, starting on 25 July 1981. The following year a further six episodes of Summertime Special were commissioned, this time broadcast from Eastbourne starting on 17 July 1982.

A final series was shown on BBC1 on 25 July 1987, this time called Seaside Special '87, all six episodes were broadcast from Jersey and hosted by Mike Smith.

Between 1986 and 1988, ITV broadcast their own incarnation of the format under the Summertime Special banner, hosted by Bobby Davro & others and produced by TVS.

The show
It was essentially a variety show, hosted by Radio 1 and Radio 2 DJs, consisting of a music act, a comedy act, and dancers New Edition. The 1977 series featured a beauty competition.

Typical acts were Little and Large, Keith Harris and Orville, Lena Zavaroni, The Jimmy Brown Dancers, Bernie Clifton, Showaddywaddy, The Wurzels, Sacha Distel, Peters and Lee, Val Doonican, Ronnie Corbett, The Goodies and Nana Mouskouri. Some segments of the show were shot outside the big top, including one occasion when the Brotherhood of Man sang "My Sweet Rosalie" sitting in a particularly unstable-looking lifeboat.

The show's theme, "Summertime City", written and sung by Mike Batt, was a UK Top 10 hit in 1975.

History
Very successful in its day, the show was briefly revived in the 1980s as Summertime Special, but by then the tastes of the viewing public had moved on (see Variety shows history).

1975
5 July 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top at Blackpool The first of a new series of variety shows featuring artists appearing at Britain's seaside resorts starring Ken Dodd with The Diddymen. Special guests Dana and Wild Honey. This show concluded with a record-breaking beef burger being handed out to the audience. Introduced by David Hamilton and featuring New Edition.

12 July 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top which this week visited Great Yarmouth Starring Peters and Lee with special guests Billy Dainty, Alan Randall impersonating George Formby, Frank Carson, Stu Francis, Cool Breeze and introduced by Noel Edmonds featuring New Edition. Stunts included a woman being fired out of a cannon and a tightrope walk. Edmonds even appeared on the shoulders of a trapeze artist but that was enough and he didn't make it across the tightrope.

19 July 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top at Blackpool Guests – Mike & Bernie Winters, The Three Degrees, Peter Gordeno & New Edition who this week have a 'Let's Keep Fit' routine in the big top and the local beach. Hosta are David Hamilton and impressionist Paul Melba (Mike and Bernie Winters were in the 'Mike and Bernie Winters Show' at the ABC Theatre. Blackpool and perform comedy routines plus Mike playing the clarinet. Paul Melba was in ' Showtime 75 ' at the North Pier, Blackpool). Also featured was a clown act with their crazy car that'd never past an MOT. This featured two members of the audience who both got custard pies in the face. 26 July 1975 Location – Big Top of Gerry Cottle 's Circus which this week visited Poole, Dorset. Guests – starring Cilla Black and her guests Paul Jones, Don MacLean (who comes on stage inside a dustbin), impressionists the Brother Lees, The Talbot School Band (playing 'Consider Yourself') and from clubland, Ronnie Dukes and Ricki Lee. Introduced for the first time by Tony Blackburn. New Edition performed 'Tiger Feet' and appear with Mike Batt who sings the show's theme song 'Summertime City' both in the big top and a local funfair. There was also a Royal Marines display, the Poole Pirates and Tony Blackburn water-skiing.

2 August 1975 Location – The BBC1 Big Top which this week visited Great Yarmouth for the second time in the series. Guests – Dick Emery was the host of the show with an all-star line-up eaturing Sacha Distel who performed his new single and 'Beach Baby' on Great Yarmouth beach with New Edition, singing in both English and French, Clodagh Rodgers, Little and Large, Norman Caley (keep an eye on his arms) and introduced by Noel Edmonds. There was also a knife-throwing act featuring a member of the audience and a fire dive by Don Lindberg plus New Edition performing 'Me and My Shadow.'

9 August 1975 Location – Gerry Cottle's Circus, Torbay Hosts – Noel Edmonds and Val Doonican Guests – Windsor Davies and Don Estelle with a comedy routine and two songs including their number one hit 'Whispering Grass', Lynn Rogers, Peter Hudson telling the longest joke in the world about a kangaroo and an elephant, Ian Lavender, Bill Pertwee (both from Dad's Army), John Inman, Mike Reid and Radio 1 DJs David Hamilton, Tony Blackburn (and his then wife Tessa Wyatt) featuring New Edition. There's also a daredevil stunt with Noel Edmonds in a car that drives through a lorry. Just who will win the Celebrity Go-Kart Race that's hosted by Ronnie Corbett, prepare yourself for a dramatic last lap. This is the first show in which both Hamilton and Blackburn appear and starts their playful' feud.'

16 August 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top which this week visited Torbay It's the second successive week in Torbay with a very special line-up. ABBA actually sing a couple of songs, namely "Waterloo" & "S.O.S.". Also appearing were New Edition who opened the show with 'Be a Clown' with help from the Gerry Cottle Circus team of clowns. Look out for the escaping monkeys though. Keeping the animal theme they then performed Funky Gibbon Also appearing were the hosts comedy double act Dailey & Wayne, Roy Hudd with strongman Khalil, 15-year-old Kimberly Clark, Des Lane and his penny whistle, Lulu making it two Eurovision Song Contest winners on the show, impressionist Janet Brown, Kenneth McKellar and Tony Blackburn as the presenter. When introducing Abba, he says they won Eurovision two years ago but it was in fact the year before. He gets the chance to sing this week but is in a lion's den! Mike Batt again sings the theme song with New Edition accompanying a video of a water-skiing display.

23 August 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top at Poole, Dorset. Rolf Harris is the host and also appearing are The Bachelors with the debut of new double act Stuart Gillies and with a cat and a shark but not his ostrich Bernie Clifton impressionist Johnny More, singer Rita Morris, New Edition and Tony Blackburn. This programme includes the Poole carnival and handgliding. 30 August 1975 Location – BBC1 Big Top which this week in Torbay]. The host in this last show of the series is [[Roy Hudd and there's a great army sketch with some 'local seaside landladies', asking some young children for some new jokes and 'Swimmin' with the Wimmin' with New Edition. Also appearing are Keith Harris and Orville with Cuddles, Tessie O'Shea, Lena Zavaroni, Derek Dene with a golfing sketch, Jon Britain and presenter Tony Blackburn and featuring New Edition. The daredevil sketch features Tony Blackburn out at sea in a dinghy being winched to safety, though he joked David Hamilton had offered them money not to do so. New Edition also join local children for a twirling display.

1976
19 June 1976 Just as with series 1, the first episode comes from Gerry Cottle's Circus in Blackpool This time it's marking the centenary of the town as a holiday resort. Radio 1 DJs Tony Blackburn and Dave Lee Travis help present the show. Travis was live on Radio 1 while introducing the series. Hosting the show was Ken Dodd who makes a right mess of a joke about Blackpool's piers. The audience was treated to the sight of [Wendy Richard]], Mollie Sugden, Frank Thornton, John Inman, (all from Are You Being Served?) performing a German folk dance routine,= though 'Mrs Slocombe' has been in the bar a bit too long, Showaddywaddy], clown [[Charlie Cairoli in a messy custard pie sketch with Tony Blackburn and The Goodies singng 'Bounce. Tom Baker is interviewed as Doctor, he'd earlier appeared at the Blackpool carnival. 'New Edition were back for the second series. They sing the new theme 'Sunshine Saturday' again written by Mike Batt. They also sing 'Keep Young and Beautiful' which includes Orinoco from The Wombles and also film of young children on the beach plus 'The Gypsy in my Soul.' The daredevil spot is an escapologist in a straitjacket on a burning rope.

26 June 1976 Scarborough hosts the show for the first time. It was held at the same time as the Scarborough carnival. Host of the show was Val Doonican with David Hamilton also presenting with his usual jokes about Tony Blackburn. Guests included Dana, ventriloquist Dawson Chance, Jim Davidson, Des Lane with his penny whistle, Don Robinson and his chimpanzees and resident song and dance group New Edition also performing.

3 July 1976 We're still in Scarborough and it's an (American Bicentennial edition) The show is hosted by The Three Degrees and also appearing are Kenneth McKellar, impressionists Brother Lees (one of the three has a bit of a problem with his chair which rather mucks up their synchronicity), from Italy 'The Flag wavers' and Dailey and Wayne. New Edition perform a tribute to the USA. David Hamilton also presents the sho and of course tells some Tony Blackburn jokes. He becomes the trainer of Salty, a Californian Sea Lion. We also get to see Californian dolphins. There's also some water-skiing and model battleships.

10 July 1976 For the first time the show comes from Southsea. Paul Burnett is the radio DJ on duty this week Paul Burnett. The main hosts are Basil Brush Show with Roy North Also are Lulu, Mike & Bernie Winters, Janet Brown, Dream Express, Ron Martin and the ever-present New Edition. Tony Blackburn is also on this show and he introduces stuntman Dick Sheppard as he attempts to drive his car through a burning van. It didn't go quite as planned with Dick taking a while to get out of his burning car but was thankfully safe eventually. We also get to see a local motorbike stunt team and plenty of twirling from children. They're seen as New Editon perform the theme tune yet again.

17 July 1976 It's back to Blackpool for this week as their centenary celebrations continue. It's also carnival time in the seaside town. Tony Blackburn is again presenting and telling jokes about David Hamilton. The hosts are Rod Hull and Emu and Rolf Harris. Rolf again sings 'Up a Tree' as he did in the first series. Also appearing were Al Dean, local singer Kate T. Fields and Little and Large New Edition performed some more routines including a 1950s rock 'n' roll tribute. In the daredevil section of the show we see an attempt by Tony Martin to jump over 10 barrels while on skates. That's followed by three amateur skaters trying to jump over four and then three barrels with mixed results. There's also some ice-skating too on another action-packed show. Dave Lee Travis returns with the Radio 1 Roadshow and again we see New Edition performing the theme tune.

24 July 1976 It's back to Southsea this week and we get to see a lot more of Gerry Cottles Circus. That's because it's circus week on Seaside Special. Both Tony Blackburn and David Hamilton present the show and of course make out they hate each other. Dave Lee Travis is also on the show and introduces the Cimmaro Brothers who cross a tightrope 25 feet above a cage full of lions and without a safety net and at one stage blindfolded. The host is Mike Reid who opens up with an extremely racist routine so get ready to be offended. Also appearing are Tony Monopoly, Paul Daniels and Cannon and Ball both before they became big stars, Surprise Sisters, Mary Chipperfield with her chimpanzee act and we also get to see some tigers too and clowns Jacko Fossett and Little Billy in a barbershop routine with David Hamilton and 'a member of the audience' most likely a stooge. Resident song and dance troupe New Edition are on the show as usual with one routine having them dressed as clowns.

31 July 1976 Weymouth is the seaside resort for this week's show. Again, we have both Tony Blackburn and David Hamilton presenting the show with lots of jokes at each others expense. Jimmy Tarbuck is the host of the show and New Edition again perform some song and dance routines. We also get to see The Bachelors, Sacha Distel, The Grumbleweeds who start with a tasteless impression of Peters and Lee, Keith Harris and Orville with Cuddles appearing and Kenny Lynch joins Jimmy Tarbuck for the closing section of the show with a few more racist jokes by both. The Weymouth Carnival Queens also make a brief appearance. The show also goes to Southsea where we see the Royal Navy display team in action.

7 August 1976 This was an important edition of the show. It was staged in Weymouth and Cherbourg. This was an Anglo-French edition with part of the show being fimed on a ferry. As the years progressed, the European content of the show steadily increased. The host is Sacha Distel who performs in both Weymouth and Cherbourg. Guests include [Brotherhood of Man]] who perform in a life boat, Frank Carson, Alan Randall (singing a song about football and also doing his George Formby impression on the ferry), Child (Dave Cooper, Graham Bilbrough, Tim Atack & Keith Atack), Santus Julian troupe (a circus cycling group) and of course New Edition. They also appear on both sides of the channel including in front of a train in Cherbourg and on the ferry.

14 August 1976 No trips to France this week. This is the first of three shows from Torbay with Tony Blackburn and David Hamilton doing their usual routine of taking the mickey out of each other. The hosts are Peters and Lee and guests include singer Vince Hill, Roger De Courcey and Nookie the Bear, The Patton Brothers, Fivepenny Piece, Jodie Grey and Alan Stewart and of course New Edition.

21 August 1976 Torbay is again the venue and Tony Blackburn, Dave Lee Travis, David Hamilton, Paul Burnett are all present. They all take part in a camel race hosted by Roy Hudd. Also appearing were singer Moira Anderson, Stu Francis, Don Maclean, Black Abbots, Sidney Devine and pianist Wayne King. New Edition again appear and their performances included one featuring a local tap dancing club.

28 August 1976 We're still in Torbay and it's a star-studded line-up this week. Tony Blackburn is the presenter and the host is Larry Grayson so lots of camp humour. He opens with the song 'Swimmin' with the Wimmin.' Roy Hudd would have been interested as he'd performed that song in the first series of this show and he's on tonight's bill. Also appearing were Nicky Benton, Peters and Lee (again siniging their new single), Frankie Vaughan, Roy Hudd, Diane Solomon, Wurzels, Fiddlygig, Terry Turner and of course more singing and dancing from New Edition. There's a Wild West theme to this show with whips and a knife-throwing act. New Edition sing the theme tune yet again and it's accompanied this time by film of a sea rescue.

7 September 1976 The second series comes to an end and we're back in Southsea. This time it's a highlights show which features the best of the second series. There is some new material with some terrible jokes from Tony Blackburn (what else would you expect?)and we meet the children of some of the circus performers. We see some of the best routines from New Edition, Keith Harris and Cuddles (still no sign of Orville), Jim Davidson, Frank Carson, Salty the Sea Lion and dareedevil stunts including Tony Blackburn parachuting but not enjoying a perfect landing, The Great Khalil and Dick Sheppard's car catching fire.

1977
11 June 1977 The third series begins with a show from Eastbourne. New to the show for this year is the Miss Seaside Special 1977 contest. There's also another new theme tune ('Get A Little Sand Between our Toes') sung by New Edition, not written by Mike Batt this time. Tony Blackburn is back and so are New Edition. The host is Ronnie Corbett, Anne Hart (who was Mrs Corbett but a singer in her own right), Nolans, Janet Brown, Patton Brothers and stuntman Dick Sheppard. He drives into a burning car and aims to split it in two. It's a varied show and where else would you see Ronnie Corbett in a strongman act and the Sussex handgliding society?

18 June 1977 We stay in [Eastbourne]] for the second show of the series. David Hamilton is a presenter and the host this week is Roy Hudd. There's the second heat of the beauty contest. Guests include Diane Traske, Don Maclean, Roger De Courcey and Nookie the Bear, Jeff Phillips and of course it wouldn't be the same without New Edition. They perform several routines and one sees them at nearby Michelham Priory House and Gardens. They also sing the theme tune while at a local aqua park. Dick Shepherd is back and this week the daredevil is again in a car that ends up on fire.

25 June 1977 This week sees the show being held in [Great Yarmouth]]. David Hamilton is the presenter and the host is John Inman. Also appearing are Berni Flint, Miquel Brown, comedy duo Hope and Keen and of course New Edition who sing the theme tune at a local funfair. Heat three of the beauty contest is held. This week's daredevil is a real hoot. It's described by David Vine as the biggest one-off ever seen on television. Dave Masters is the daredevil and he's "built a projectile" that is 100 foot high and will dive into water at around 100mph. Is all as it seems? The same can be said of the ballet sequence as one of the dancers is John Inman in drag. The theme continues with the ballroom dancing act Raval and Lolita. Sadly, Lolita can't appear and is replaced by John Inman. Ravel is played by Barry Howard (who often worked with Inman in panto) who went on to play a ballroom dancer in Hi-de-Hi!.

2 July 1977 This week's show comes from Great Yarmouth. David Hamilton is the presenter and in charge of the latest heat of the Miss Seaside Special beauty contest. Les Dawson hosts this show and guests are Dana, Bernie Clifton, Brother Lee (who have an hilarious series of problems with their props, Stuart Gillies (not teaming up with Clifton this time) and New Edition. Les Dawson was one of the judges of the beauty contest and put the sash on the winner. He did so in his sex-mad Cosmo Smallpiece character leading to Hamilton saying that you're supposed to sash her not make love to her.

9 July 1977 For the second week the show comes from Great Yarmouth. Tony Blackburn is a presenter and the host is Cilla Black. As well as singing, Cilla also interviews some members of the audience. Also appearing are Vince Hill, Frank Carson, Dream Express (who appeared in that year's Eurovision Song Contest, Jeff Phillips, Lennie Bennett and New Edition. There's another heat of the Miss Seaside Special beauty contest.

16 July 1977 Bournemouth is the venue for this week's show. Tony Blackburn is the presenter and hosting the show are The Bachelors with speical guests, Little and Large, plus chart-topping group Showaddywaddy, comedian Dave Ismay, James Boys, Shades of Love and the Cimmaro Brothers are back with a motorcycle act this time. It's the latest heat of the Miss Seaside Special beauty contest with a record 136 entrants this week. New Edition are of course back performing more song and dance routines.

23 July 1977 For the second week we're in Bournemouth. It's heat seven of the Miss Seaside Special beauty contest. The presenter is David Hamilton and we have New Edition starting the show with a rock 'n' roll routine. The show is again hosted by Peters and Lee and guests are Stu Francis, Michael Barrymore, Bobby Crush, Roger Stevenson and his puppets which include Peters & Lee, singer Jodie Grey and Harpo.

30 July 1977 Location Bournemouth Eighth heat of Miss Seaside Special 1977 Natural Beauty Contest. guests Val Doonican, Fiddlygig, Stan Boardman, Les Wilson, Van Buren & Greta, host Tony Blackburn, New Edition

6 August 1977 Location Honfleur First of two programmes from France guests Cliff Richard, Claude Francois, Half Wits, Norman Caley, host Tony Blackburn

13 August 1977 Location Honfleur Second of two programmes from France guests Mireille Mathieu, Boney M, Marie Myriam, host Tony Blackburn

20 August 1977 8pm to 9pm BBC1 Location Torbay The Final of the Miss Seaside Special 1977 Natural Beauty Contest guests Jeff Phillips, Tony Blackburn, Vera Lynn, Jim Davidson, Wurzels, Tony Selby, Patton Brothers, host David Hamilton, New Edition

27 August 1977 Location Jersey Features the first colour TV transmission of the 'Battle of the Flowers'. guests Johnnie and Roy, Mission Hall Jazz Band, Des O’Connor, Jack Douglas, George Truzzi, Roger Kitter, Brian Taylor, Shades of Love, Californians, Page Three, host David Hamilton, New Edition

30 September 1977 6:55pm to 7:40pm BBC1 Special end of Summer edition.

1978
24 March 1978 Snowtime Special Location Leysin, Switzerland The first of two holiday programmes recorded on location in the Swiss winter sports resort of Leysin and inside the Seaside Special Big Top 4,000 ft up in the Alps. Presented by Andy Williams with his guests Sacha Distel and Demis Roussos with Rod Hull and Emu, Boney M, Sheila with Black Devotion, Katja Ebstein, Jan Madd Magic Show. Jacqueline Harbord, and featuring Geoff Richer's First Edition.

This may have been the infamous outside broadcast where the snow melted the night before and was replaced by Leysin Fire Brigade fire suppressing foam in the town streets.

27 March 1978 Snowtime Special Location: Leysin, Switzerland The second of two holiday programmes recorded in Switzerland featuring music, song and dance combined with winter sports. Presented by Petula Clark with her guests Charles Aznavour, Manhattan Transfer, The Three Degrees, Claude Francois, Udo Jurgens, Wolfgang Danne and Jillian featuring Geoff Richer's First Edition.

8 July 1978 Location Torbay guests Little and Large, Caterina Valente, Sheila B. Devotion, Brotherhood of Man, Showaddywaddy, Hoppe's Unrideable Mules

15 July 1978 Location Torbay guests Clive Webb, Boney M, Joe Dassin, Plastic Bertrand, Matia Bazar, Ian Dury, Roy Walker, Peter Hudson

22 July 1978 7:35pm to 8:25pm BBC1 Location Torbay guests Marti Caine, Roy Castle, Jean Vallee, Brother Lees, Black Gold, Colin 'Fingers' Henry, Inarros Sisters

29 July 1978 8:20pm to 9:10pm Location Torbay guests Rolf Harris, Nicole Croisille, Smokie, Bernie Clifton, Stu Francis, Paul Nicholas, Charivari. Rolf sang a variation of 'Flogging Molly' with the chorus 'Come day go day, Wish in my hearty it was Sunday, Drinking buttermilk all the week, And whiskey on a Sunday.'

5 August 1978 8:30pm to 9:20pm Location Torbay guests Jim Davidson, Roger De Courcey and Nookie the Bear, Berni Flint, Larry Parker, Samson and Delilah, Udo Jürgens, Annie Cordy

12 August 1978 8:30pm to 9:20pm Location St Malo guests Joe Dassin, Chantal Goya, Laurent Voulzey, Était Une Fois, Café Crème, Arlene, Tony Crosse, Grace Jones

19 August 1978 8:15pm to 9:05pm Location St Malo guests Band a Basile, Chris Woodward, Arthur Scott and his Sealions, Dionne Warwick, Baccara, Alain Souchon, Annie Cordon, Patrick Juvet, Jeane Manson, Martin Circus

26 August 1978 8:10pm to 9:00pm Location Jersey and features the 'Battle of the Flowers' (again) guests Jackie Hall, Terry Wogan, Wurzels, Stuart Gillies, Black Abbots, Tony Hatch, Jackie Trent, Bobby Bennett

2 September 1978 8.10pm to 9.00pm Location Jersey guests Charlie Daze, Memory Lane, Peters and Lee, Mike Burton, Dooleys, Brian Marshall, Californians, Good Vibrations, Ron Martin. City Boy.

9 September 1978 8.20pm to 9.10pm Location Weymouth guests Mike Carter, Lenny Henry, Mike Hope, Albie Keen, John Inman, Dana Gillespie, Salena Jones, Norman Collier, Bobby Crush

22 September 1978 Location Weymouth guests Lennie Bennett, Jerry Stevens, Allan Stewart, Valerie Masters, Diane Cousins, Bobby Knutt, Turnstyle

18 December 1978 Christmas Snowtime Special A Yuletide Spectacular! Including ski-ing, ice-skating and Alpine sports, recorded on location in the BBC Big Top, 4,000 feet up in the Swiss Alps with international stars Andy Williams, Petula Clark, Boney M, Manhattan Transfer, Sacha Distel, Charles Aznavour, The Three Degrees, Sheila B Devotion, Jacqueline Harbord. Introduced by Demis Roussos and featuring Geoff Richer's First Edition.

1979
This series was more of a Eurovision production with French, Dutch and Swiss TV companies involved as well as the BBC.

Disco in the Snow Monday 9 April 1979, BBC1 at 6:55pm to 8:10pm A non-stop musical show featuring the world's top disco artists, recorded inside the BBC1 Big Top and on the ski slopes at Leysin in the Swiss Alps. Starring and introduced by Boney M and Leo Sayer. Featuring from the USA: The Jacksons, Curtis Mayfield, Leif Garrett, Amii Stewart. From the UK: Bonnie Tyler. From Canada: The Raes, Rozalind Keene. From Switzerland: Patrick Juvet. From Germany: Eruption. Also featuring Geoff Richer's First Edition.

ABBA in Switzerland Monday 16 April 1979, BBC1 at 7.45pm to 8.40pm Abba star in their first-ever European television special, recorded on location in the Swiss Alps, in which they mime to many of their million-selling hits together with some brand-new songs: "Take A Chance on Me" (with First Edition), "The King Has Lost His Crown" (with First Edition), "Hole in Your Soul", "The Name of the Game", "Eagle", "Mamma Mia", "Kisses of Fire", "Lovers (Live A Little Longer)", "Chiquittita", "Does Your Mother Know?" and "Thank You for the Music". Also featuring their guests Kate Bush performing "Wow" and Roxy Music performing "Dance Away". With Geoff Richer's First Edition singing and dancing to "Jump Shout Boogie".

Location Leysin, Switzerland (The skiing scenes were filmed 25 minutes away at Les Diablerets. The ice-skating scenes were filmed at 9pm one evening at the Leysin village ice-rink.) (Music tracks sourced from ABBA on TV website source)

14 July 1979 at 8:15 to 9:05pm Location BBC Big Top at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Little and Large with guests Mick Miller, Peters and Lee and Showaddywaddy, Chas and Dave and First Edition

21 July 1979 at 8:25pm to 9:15pm Location Bruges Introduced by Jeane Manson with guests Boney M, Amii Stewart, Clive Webb, Chantal Goya, Patrick Hernandez, and Gerard Lenorman

28 July 1979 at 8:25 to 9:15pm Location BBC Big Top at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Tony Brutus, Angels, Ken Dodd and his Diddymen, Brother Lees

4 August 1979 Location BBC Big Top in Poole Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Cilla Black who sang Bright Eyes with some kids holding rabbits. Cliff Richard and Don MacLean, Jerry Stevens, Keith Harris, Lenny Henry and Antonia Rodriguez

11 August 1979 Location Honfleur Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Rod Hull and Emu, Plastic Bertrand, Eruption, Gibson Brothers, Santos 'Loonies', Amanda Lear

18 August 1979 Location BBC Big Top at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Les Dawson, The Krankies, Stu Francis, Les Dennis, Roy Barraclough and from the world of pop music The Dooleys, Berni Flint, Dollar

25 August 1979 Location BBC Big Top, Isle of Man Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Petula Clark, The Grumbleweeds, The Wurzels, Frank Carson, Bobby Knutt, Diane Cousins, Tony Kent, Greg Bonham, Iris Williams

1 September 1979 Location BBC Big Top from Poole Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Rolf Harris, Roy Castle, Amii Stewart, Bernie Clifton, Candlewick Green, Neil Martin and First Edition

8 September 1979 Location Big Top from the Isle of Man Introduced by Peter Powell with guests Lennie Bennett, Ruby Winters and Boney M

Snowtime Christmas Special

Saturday 22 December 1979 BBC1 6.35pm to 7.25pm

Location Leysin, Switzerland This show used a mixture of previously recorded and broadcast segments from the Snowtime Easter Special plus additional guests hosted by Dame Edna Everage.

Songs performed in this show:

- ABBA – Chiquitita* **(1) - Boney M – Mary's Boy Child* **(2) - Leo Sayer – When I Need You (3) - The Jacksons – Destiny (4) - Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache (5) - Kate Bush – December Will Be Magic Again (6) - Wolfgang Danne and Jillian Denise Biellmann skate to "I Wonder (Departure)" (7)
 * with Geoff Richer's First Edition dance troupe doing their thing behind them

from ABBA on TV website source