White Heather Club
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The White Heather Club was a BBC TV Scottish dancing show that ran on and off from May 7, 1958 to 1968.
It was an early evening BBC television program. Until 1957 there was a silent period in BBC TV broadcasting, between 6pm and 7pm, called "The Toddler's Truce". When this ended, the BCC was unsure of what type of program to broadcast. A topic news magazine program "Tonight" was broadcast on some days, and "The White Heather Club" on others. In the 1958 the so-called "Vera" was invented. This was the BBC's first videotape recording device. "The White Heather Club" was recorded and is therefore one of the earliest TV programs that can still be viewed today. It started at 6.20, and Jimmy Shand composed a melody "The Six Twenty Twostep" as the theme tune. This was usually followed by Andy Stewart singing "Come in, come in, it nice to see you...." The show was so successful that in the early 60's there was a company touring Scottish theatres, containing many of the performers. The show was filmed in Glasgow, at that time the only large TV studio in Scotland.
During the same period (1957 - 68) a new year's eve program, also called "The White Heather Club", used to herald in the hogmanay celebrationas. It contained many of the same performers plus special guests such a Jimmy Logan and Stanley Baxter in comedy sketches. From 1957 to 1963 there was yet another program called "The Kilt is My Delight", along similar lines. Most of there programs were produced by Alan Rees.
The performers were Jimmy Shand and band, Scottish country dancers, Joe Gordon's Folk Four, Robert Wilson, duo Anne and Laura Brand, duo Robin Hall and Jimmy McGregor, Moira Anderson, Roddy McMillan, Duncan Macrae and later, The Corries. Andy Stewart was the master of ceremonies. He also sang songs and told jokes. All the dancers, and Andy Stewart, wore kilts, and the women dancers wore long white dresses with tartan sashes. To many in Scotland and outside the program was the epitome of tartan shortbread naffness. Country dancing brings joy to many participants, but as a spectator event, it leaves a lot to be desired. The Penguin TV companion in 2006 voted "The White Heather Club" one of the 20 worst TV shows ever. In 1965 Fontana issued an album called "The White Heather club", featuring Hall and McGregor. The duo issued dozens of folk albums, and even had a hit single "Football Crazy"(1960) during the period that show was broadcast. Andy Stewart had several hit singles, and the Corries albums continue to sell well today.
