The Simon Dee Story - Channel 4 TV

The first part of the 'Dee-Construction'
programme broadcast by Channel Four UK in 2003. Note the 'Big L' theme tune in the background and some re-sung PAMS jingles.
www.steveengland.com/
More stuff on the Radio Luxembourg page at this site:
www.paulplu.demon.co.uk/whos_who/
And more definitive details at:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Dee

[@xtc340]

I can't believe that even in 2003 you could opening smoke cigars on TV. It's like a bygone era.

[@Broomehall]

God bless you my friend, a true gentlemen and never afraid to speak his mind. R.I.P.

[@4beatlefans]

His show on Radio Luxembourg was the best. His theme tune was used (nicked?) by Dave Lee Travis in the early 70's for his Radio 1 show. I was a kid who used to tune in on a Friday and Saturday nights, listening under the bed-clothes so Mum and Dad didn't hear!. They were great days.

[@Aquaseventytree]

We sent off for the crisps disc. If I remember, it was made out of thin floppy plastic. Fast forward Simon Dee 50 years and he would be a household name today. Mr. Charisma.

[@sicks6six]

as a 1960s kid, I remember him very well on TV shows, turn the radio on and Simon D was the DJ, in the newspapers all the time and then nothing, they killed him off overnight, literally went from prime time to no time in an instant, when you upset the establishment they switch the lights off and no one can see you, he was to blame as he didn't know his place and thought he was bigger than his employers, but he was the first and maybe the best at what he did, no one before him was anything like him and lots of people since have copied him, I didn't like him much, I found him to be full of himself but he did have some good guests and played some good music,

[@joe-vl3nd]

Great stuff He was Brilliant

[@BrennanYoung]

VLS - always stimulating. Thanks for posting.

[@mjc5509]

A 60s icon ..RIP

[@tectoramia-sz1lu]

Today's presenters can only dream of getting the audiences he used to get. I remember him on Radio Caroline. A station which changed radio for ever.

[@0208name]

Very interesting.. Now I have to watch part 2

[@mariaparatore7318]

I don't like what happened to him. He was a nice guy!

[@christoph404]

real shame that hardly any footage of the shows remain, don't think the BBC archived them or thought about saving them.

[@barpypardlo]

Just heard that he's died. Another part of the 60's gone.Sad

[@irontown]

Any chance of the full documentary? Thankyou

[@squirm13]

Hi do you have the full version of this, i only discovered simon dee, on the story of light entertainment, his rise and fall, etc, and would like to see the full documentary on him, thanks.

[@itkapatanka]

this is great wheres part 1 and the rest please? victor lewis smith production?

[@fingalful1]

I can remember Simon Dee very well. And he didn't have to use the F word to get attention like that couple of childish clowns did. Simon had charm and charisma. He was also down-to-earth. The fact that he was willing to waste his time among nonentities--except, of course, for John Mortimer--shows how patient he was. Full marks to John Mortimer likewise for giving these phoneybalonies the time of day. Simon is still remembered by millions and with affection. Who were those other two anyway?

[@robbiedalerobinson1764]

Dee time on Caroline, those were the days.

[@LukeofSmeg]

Hey Ollie I was typing in some friends names to see is they came up with anything then I typed in George Henty-Dodd and it came up with this lol

[@alanmccaffrey8950]

Ended up being a bus conducting

[@raggedsoldiers]

Scott Walker was a guest on his shows often, any footage of that anywhere,,,?

[@nicadair7700]

No it's all been wiped. However their is a clip on KZbin of the Walker Brothers performing MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF from 1965 introduced by Simon Dee although this was not from the DEETIME show, but a short lived show called Disco.

[@lewiscarr7952]

Is this documentary available in its entirety anywhere? I can only find these two video segements from it.

[@RollaArtis]

"He was bigger than Chris Evans" But who was Chris Evans?

[@Al-Gorithm]

So why didnt Simon try his hand abroad in America or Australia etc

[@Topper954]

Well It was said Simons ego got the better of him.Mabye so but is that not true of most celebrities they "Go Up Their Own Arse".It's human nature happens in all walks of life.We were all waiting for Simons comeback but it ever happened.Gradually he disappeared from the media lost in the "Mist Of Time".Mabye he enjoyed the obscurity but it didn't come with money.The BBC obviously preferred to promote someone like Saville who was no doubt cheaper.That says it all. RIP Simon we all miss you a true icon of the 60s.

[@davis7099]

The fickle nature of fame at a time when there were no set rules or professional guidance. Dee was a creative who could do live tv but had no business sense. A parallel story is 60s clothes designer Ossie Clarke. He like, Simon Dee fell off a career cliff when the parties ended and his manic behaviour alienated employers and colleagues. Perhaps it's better to be business-like as David Hockney and David Frost were.

[@xenu-dark-tony]

Such a major player in the exciting Britain of the 1960s. I believe he was a very nice man, and was probably scuppered by greedy management asking way too much for his magic before it had properly 'bedded in'. I will never forget watching him in his E-type speeding away from television centre with a beautiful blonde next to him. It is for certain that fame is a fickle swine, and anyone finding themselves in his situation needs to stick plenty of money away ready for when fame spits them out. I can't believe that he was just abandoned by tv and radio, when he would still have been a great DJ or presenter. It's almost like a cartel was excluding him.

[@jrgboy]

Why are there playing the sig tune of Radio London ???, Dee was on Radio Caroline !!

[@jrgboy]

Aa far as I know he caused his own downfall by playing the ' money card' with BBC & ITV so in the end his priced himself off the screen by demanding far to much for very little - this is what I have read from various different sources.

[@AndrewWilliams-zc1hf]

He did an interview with George lazenby who came out with some controversial topics he wasn't expecting & thought would be edited out but weren't. There was a rivalry with david frost who ran London weekend I heard.

[@rosiewhite8313]

I'd like to see your sources? Please!

[@RebelVoDKa]

Yes, she did. You're allowed to swear on the BBC after 9 o'clock.

[@flickingbollocks5542]

Was Simon Dee a programme on US TV?

[@Dios67]

A show reaching a huge audience so what better way to communicate that you are breaking up with a Beatle, if ever so politely and nice though.

[@LukeofSmeg]

Henty-Dodd

[@gazzer97]

r i p, he had great charisma, another victim of 'the media'

[@greentambourine2323]

Utter greed on Dee’s part….priced himself out at both BBC and ITV

[@LukeofSmeg]

he died the day before actually

[@johnniescarlett]

I believe the Mike Myers character of Austin Powers was based on Simon in the 60's. Yeah baby!!

[@Keefy2007]

sounds like victor lewis smith......cool..BRING BACK TV OFFAL.

[@fingalful1]

So it's claimed. Austin Powers was nothing like Simon Dee. He looked nothing like him, acted nothing like him and had an accent that was nothing like anyone's--least of all Simon dees. Whoever came up with the idea of Austin Powers was obviously not around in the 1960s. Or, if he was, he must have pretty bad amnesia.

[@thewandererchannel7985]

They are all smoking cigars even the women.

[@northernlad52]

RIP Simon... what a waste of a talent killed by the suits of the BBC

[@thewandererchannel7985]

neil banks Dee was a greedy fucker.

[@PEGGLORE]

My grandfather was the person who bankrupted him lol. He was chairman of the Natwest Bank for the west End of London back then. shut down Meccano and Hornby Railways too he did.. RIP grandpa, he died last year.

[@eddienewall5033]

@@PEGGLORE Hornby is still going strong in Margate.

[@toniwillcocks6457]

I'm surprised Dee could afford a cigar at that time..

[@edmondscott7444]

Bill Cotton and David Frost ruined him. He was very talented.

[@MrDavey2010]

Are we speaking about the same person? Dee was awful.