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A World of Music, 1976

A World of Music presents Petula at the New London Theatre in a special television adaptation of her hugely successful Las Vegas show, brought to London for a season at the Palladium and captured on BBC2 at the height of its acclaim. Joined by The Friends and vocalists Beverly Owens, Margaret Dorn Morouse and Linda Lawley-Smith, Petula performs an expansive set that moves confidently across contemporary pop, Broadway, chanson and modern standards. With her musical director Harold Wheeler conducting a full orchestra, the programme blends signature hits such as “I Know a Place” and “Downtown” with major musical-theatre sequences from Annie Get Your Gun and Sweet Charity, alongside solos including “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” “La Vie en Rose” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” The result is a vibrant, high-energy showcase that highlights Petula’s international versatility and the scale of her stage production, reimagined for television with the polish and flair of her acclaimed live performances. Originally broadcast on BBC2 in 1976, this television special was repeated on Super Channel (NBC Europe) in September 1987.

A World of Music formed part of a three-month BBC2 series launched in October 1976, in which Petula, Burl Ives, The Carpenters, James Last and John Denver each headlined their own special. Every edition showcased a broad mix of international performers and presented music in strikingly contrasting styles.

BROADCAST DETAILS:

• Broadcast Date: Friday 17 December 1976

• Broadcast Time: 9:40 pm

• Channel: BBC2

PRODUCTION:

• Telerecorded: Sunday 31 October 1976

• Venue: New London Theatre, Drury Lane, London

• Duration: 50'00"

• Producer: Yvonne Littlewood

• Choreographer: Steve Merritt

• Production Assistant: John Adams

• Sound: Chris Holcombe

• Lighting: Tommy Thomas

TAKING PART:

• Petula Clark

• The Friends: Larry Coles, Jerry Evans, Jeff Holland, Tim Michaels

• Orchestra - Conducted by Harold Wheeler

• Beverly Owens - singer

• Margaret Dorn Morouse - singer

• Linda Lawley-Smith - singer

MUSIC PERFORMED (as broadcast):

• The Orchestra
  This Is My Song
  Chaplin

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  Your Song
  John, Taupin

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  I Know A Place
  Hatch

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  Downtown
  Hatch

• The Friends, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  On Broadway
  Mann, Weil, Leiber, Stoller

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  You Can't Get A Man With A Goone – from Annie Get Your Gun
  Berlin

• The Friends, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  The Girl That I Marry – from Annie Get Your Gun
  Berlin

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  They Say It's Wonderful – from Annie Get Your Gun
  Berlin

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  Doin' What Comes Naturally
  Berlin

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  Big Spender - from Sweet Charity
  Fields, Coleman

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This - from Sweet Charity
  Fields, Coleman

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  Where Am I Going? - from Sweet Charity
  Fields, Coleman

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  I Don't Know How To Love Him - from Jesus Christ Superstar
  Lloyd Webber, Rice

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  La Vie En Rose
  Piaf, Louiguy

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  Could It Be Magic
  Anderson, Manilow

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  Land Of Make Believe
  Mangione, Satterfield

• Petula Clark, Orchestra under the direction of Harold Wheeler & Singers
  Every Time We Say Goodbye
  Porter

Critical Reception:

Regional press responded warmly to the special, with the Dundee Courier noting that A World of Music “featured Petula Clark in her Las Vegas show” and praising her decision to concentrate on the songs that made her famous, resulting in what the paper described as “an excellent 50 minutes.” Reviewers highlighted the scale and polish of the production, the strength of Petula’s vocal performances, and the seamless blend of her signature hits with musical‑theatre material, marking the programme as a confident and highly enjoyable showcase of her international stage success.

Archive Holdings:

A complete recording of this episode is held within the BBC Archives. The Fan Archive Collection also preserves a private reference copy (shelf mark [1]366 & [2]117).

All recordings remain under copyright, and we are unable to provide access or supply copies.

Survival Status:

This show survives in full. The BBC holds the master recording, and the Fan Archive Collection maintains a documented reference copy. No missing segments, edits, or partial-survival issues are known.