Keith Beckett was one of Britain's leading light entertainment
television producers and for over thirty years succeeded in attracting
a host of star name to both Thames TV and London Weekend Television
(LWT).
Born in 1929 he originally trained as a classical dancer and went on to
appear in lead roles with the Festival Ballet. Comedy, however, was his
first love and he gave up dancing to become a variety artiste. One of
Beckett's early mentors was the variety producer Alfred Black.
Beckett's first work in television was at Tyne Tees TV where he
produced The One O'Clock Show (hosted by Sheila Mathews) but it was as
the producer of the talent show Opportunity Knocks! that he made his
mark. The programme, which was the television successor to stage shows
such as both Bryan Michie's and Carrol Levis's Discoveries, proved
enormously popular with audiences and remained top of the TV ratings
for over twenty years. Hosted by Hughie Green and featuring a variety
of light entertainment acts (some good, some awful) it became one of
TV's most enduring programmes.
When Opportunity Knocks! was axed by Thames TV, Green was said to have
been devastated but Beckett went on to direct some of television's
biggest variety specials. He produced six one-hour specials with Bruce
Forsyth as well as one-off shows with Janet Brown, Mike Yarwood,
Shirley Bassey and Freddie Starr.
He also produced Hollywood or Bust, Name That Tune and he was a guest
producer for several of the Benny Hill shows, for which he had a
particular affection.
An inspiration to many younger performers working in television,
Beckett was an acknowledged master of the variety medium.
