CRAIG DOUGLAS – 'Only Sixteen'

Light Entertainment Watch: Craig Douglas was a frequent presence on UK TV in his heyday, but only the first two shows on this list survive;

BIG NIGHT OUT: with Mike and Bernie Winters (Hosts), Lionel Blair and his Dancers, Max Wall, Craig Douglas, The Peter Sisters, Freddie Frinton (1963)

BIG NIGHT OUT: with Mike and Bernie Winters (Hosts), David Hamilton (Voice Over Opening Credits), Lionel Blair and his Dancers, The ABC Television Showband, Hylda Baker, Susan Maughan, Craig Douglas, Frank Berry, Julie Samuel (1964)

BIG NIGHT OUT: with Mike and Bernie Winters (Hosts), Lionel Blair and his Dancers, Dusty Springfield, Craig Douglas, Daniel Rerny, Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen (1965)

THE GOLDEN SHOT: with Bob Monkhouse, Craig Douglas, Julie Crosthwait, Anne Aston, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (1970)

POPS AND LENNY: with Craig Douglas, Eden Kane, The Jolaes Puppets, The Springfields, David Jacobs (1962)

SET ‘EM UP, JOE!: with Danny La Rue, Tessie O’Shea, Craig Douglas (1969)

SIX-FIVE SPECIAL: with Lita Roza, Bill Raymond, Donna Douglas, Paul Beattie, The Southlanders, Craig Douglas, Janice Peters, Vince Eager, The Six-Five Dates, Leslie Watkins (1958)

SIX-FIVE SPECIAL: with Ronnie Carroll, Gary Miller, Billy Raymond, André Touati, Vince Eager, Shirley Western, Craig Douglas, The Ideal Four, The Six-Five Dates, Kendall McDonald (1958)

SIX-FIVE SPECIAL: with Ronnie Carroll, Marty Wilde, Don Rennie, The Giolli Sisters, Audrey Jeans, Vince Eager, Craig Douglas, Billy Raymond, Terry Burton, The Confrey Phillips Trio (1958)

SIX-FIVE SPECIAL: with Shirley Bassey, Marty Wilde, Ronnie Carroll, Don Lang, Craig Douglas, Chris Howland, Vince Eager, The Kentons, Claudio Venturelli, Suzy Lee (1958)

SIX-FIVE SPECIAL: with The Kalin Twins, Laurie London, Don Rennie, Joan Small, Jimmy Lloyd, Vince Eager, The Lana Sisters, The Six-Five Dates, Craig Douglas, Maurice Burman (1958)

SIX-FIVE SPECIAL: with The Six-Five Dates, Ruby Murray, Ronnie Carroll, Russ Conway, Audrey Jeans, Vince Eager, Craig Douglas, Frank Cook, Billy Raymond, The Tracy Sisters (1958)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen, Craig Douglas, Marty Wilde, Nick Villard, Doug Sheldon, The Polka Dots, Cleo Laine, Peter West (1961)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with The Beverly Sisters, Craig Douglas, Billy Fury (1961)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Brian Matthew, Cliff Richard, Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen, Ronnie Carroll, Petula Clark, The Karl Denver Trio, Craig Douglas, Frank Ifield, The Shadows, Helen Shapiro (1962)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Brian Matthew, Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen, Craig Douglas, Eden Kane, The Vernons Girls, Freddy Cannon, Kent Walton (1962)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Brian Matthew, Winifred Atwell, Ray Bennett, The Beverley Sisters, Craig Douglas, Mike Sarne, The Shadows, Rosemary Squires, Norman Vaughan, Bob Monkhouse (1962)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with John Leyton, Craig Douglas, Chris Barber’s Jazz Band with Ottilie Patterson, The Avons, Donna Douglas, Ian Gregory, Carole Carr (1962)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen, Craig Douglas, The Polka Dots, Doug Sheldon, Carole Dene, Don Neilson, Bill Crozier (1962)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Brian Matthew, Craig Douglas, The Searchers, Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Heinz, Patsy Ann Noble, Gregory Philips, The Rolling Stones (1963)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Brian Matthew, Craig Douglas, The Springfields, Mr Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band, Rolf Harris, Dorothy Baker, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates (1963)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Brian Matthew, Frank Ifield, Craig Douglas, Tommy Roe, Patsy Ann Noble, Johnny Burnette, The Dave Clark Five, Chad Smart & Jeremy Clyde, Janice Nicholls, Alan Freeman (1963)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Brian Matthew, Helen Shapiro, Craig Douglas, Rolf Harris, The Spotnicks, Christine Campbell, The Kestrels, Alan Elsdon and his Jazz Band, Alan Freeman (1963)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Brian Matthew, The Searchers, Craig Douglas, Sir Jimmy Savile (Guest Disc Jockey), Petula Clark, The Merseybeats, The Fourmost, Gregory Philips, Peter’s Faces, Richard Anthony (1964)

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS: with Brian Matthew, Manfred Mann, Terry Scott, Craig Douglas, The Troggs, Marilyn Powell (1966)

WESTWARD BEAT COMPETITION: with Chet and the Triumphs, The Rustiks, The Devonairs, The Barracudas, The Big Four, The Iveys, Craig Douglas, Brian Epstein, Russell Turner (1964)

Reading this excellent article by WL, I’m a bit worried about old Craig now:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/sep/15/copyright-extension-cliffs-law-beatles

Tsk… it’s always the subs who get blamed – in my now fairly epic experience, it’s section editors or above who add stuff in as opposed to surgical trimming and gentle correcting of unhappy syntax.

I seem to remember reading that Jet Harris lived on the island up until his holing out to extra cover earlier this year.

Re 8: You’re right, but this was his post-booze haven. He’d always been in London when he was scoring hits.

Re 9: Good spot! Milkmen from the Isle Of Wight! Let’s do a talent show there right now!

Hmm, will have to look out for it if i’m ever back on the island (just checked Popsike!)

Two more Popular/Wight connections: Ken Dodd has a holiday home in Freshwater Bay, and Melvyn Hayes (who starred in The Young Ones with Cliff and the Shads) lives in Sandown.

I knew there would be one… here’s a cracking Craig Douglas b-side, moody slow northern from 1969, the flip of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1JeH_aWYD8

The 1970 festival was lauded by Sandie Shaw on her flop Wight Is Wight (“Dylan is delight”). It’s not as good as Craig Douglas’s Don’t Mind If I Cry.

Dimbola Lodge in Freshwater, famously has a statue of Jimi Hendrix. There’s also a permanent exhibition of Festival photos and memorobilia.

Comme ci comme ca, HTGH, but you remain an enigma!

Robert Stigwood, connected to Come Outside as well as most of the Bee Gees no.1s, is currently resident on the Isle Of Wight. Andrew Loog Oldham told me that yesterday. Now I’m just showing off.

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Thanks anyway.