Jess Yates
Encyclopedia
Jess Yates was a British
television presenter and producer. He was the creator and presenter of Yorkshire Television
’s religious programme Stars on Sunday
which earned him the nickname 'The Bishop'.
His family moved to Llandudno
when he was five and he lived in Wales
for much of his life, working as a cinema
organist
after leaving school. Yates was born into a showbusiness family; his mother booked his stage acts. After the war he directed documentary film
s, joined BBC Television
as a freelance
designer and joined the BBC
on the production side in 1949. He was involved with programmes, such as Come Dancing
, The Good Old Days
and the Miss World
competition.
Later he became head of children’s programmes for Yorkshire TV in 1968. The following year he began hosting Stars on Sunday. Yates would introduce the show seated at an electric organ - on which he occasionally performed in a tremulous manner - placed in front of a stained-glass window. One of his many charming observations was, "We can't see round the bend in the road, but God can." The programme attracted many special guests, including Harry Secombe
, Dame Anna Neagle, Gracie Fields
and Dorothy Squires
. He was quoted as wanting stars to appear on the programme as this is what he thought would persuade viewers to tune-in. At the end of the series viewing figures had risen from 600,000 to seven million.
He was married to actress and author Elaine Smith (whose stage name
was Hellen Toren) from 1958 to 1975. His TV career ended in 1974 when it was revealed that he had been having an affair
with young actress Anita Kay, although he was separated from his wife at the time. Despite this, amid the ensuing furore Yates had to be smuggled from Yorkshire Television's studio in Leeds
in the boot of a motor car: His contract with the company was terminated.
Yates, who lived in North Wales
, was also in demand as an after-dinner speaker. In 1976 he made an appearance on the panel of the new television show New Faces
. However, towards the end of his life it was reported in the media that Yates was in financial difficulties, with a small pension
from Yorkshire Television as his sole income. It was also stated that he was no longer on speaking terms with his daughter, the television presenter Paula Yates
(1960–2000).
After his death, a DNA test
revealed that Paula, claimed to be his daughter
by his wife, Elaine, was actually fathered by television presenter Hughie Green
.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
television presenter and producer. He was the creator and presenter of Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
’s religious programme Stars on Sunday
Stars on Sunday
Stars on Sunday was an unsuccessful Sunday tabloid newspaper in Ireland which famously went bankrupt in May 2003 just two months after its launch the previous March. A total of approximately €500,000 was invested in the title...
which earned him the nickname 'The Bishop'.
His family moved to Llandudno
Llandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
when he was five and he lived in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
for much of his life, working as a cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
after leaving school. Yates was born into a showbusiness family; his mother booked his stage acts. After the war he directed documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
s, joined BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
as a freelance
Freelancer
A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term. These workers are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and...
designer and joined the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
on the production side in 1949. He was involved with programmes, such as Come Dancing
Come Dancing
Come Dancing was a BBC TV ballroom dancing competition show that ran on and off from 1949 to 1998, becoming one of television's longest-running shows....
, The Good Old Days
The Good Old Days
The Good Old Days is a popular BBC television light entertainment programme which ran from 1953 to 1983.It was performed at the Leeds City Varieties and recreated an authentic atmosphere of the Victorian–Edwardian music hall with songs and sketches of the era performed by present-day...
and the Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
competition.
Later he became head of children’s programmes for Yorkshire TV in 1968. The following year he began hosting Stars on Sunday. Yates would introduce the show seated at an electric organ - on which he occasionally performed in a tremulous manner - placed in front of a stained-glass window. One of his many charming observations was, "We can't see round the bend in the road, but God can." The programme attracted many special guests, including Harry Secombe
Harry Secombe
Sir Harry Donald Secombe CBE was a Welsh entertainer with a talent for comedy and a noted fine tenor singing voice. He is best known for playing Neddie Seagoon, the central character in the BBC radio comedy series The Goon Show...
, Dame Anna Neagle, Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Dame Gracie Fields, DBE , was an English-born, later Italian-based actress, singer and comedienne and star of both cinema and music hall.-Early life:...
and Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires was a Welsh vocalist. Among her recordings were versions of "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening", "I'm in the Mood for Love", "Anytime", "If You Love Me " and "And So to Sleep Again".-Biography:...
. He was quoted as wanting stars to appear on the programme as this is what he thought would persuade viewers to tune-in. At the end of the series viewing figures had risen from 600,000 to seven million.
He was married to actress and author Elaine Smith (whose stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
was Hellen Toren) from 1958 to 1975. His TV career ended in 1974 when it was revealed that he had been having an affair
Affair
Affair may refer to professional, personal, or public business matters or to a particular business or private activity of a temporary duration, as in family affair, a private affair, or a romantic affair.-Political affair:...
with young actress Anita Kay, although he was separated from his wife at the time. Despite this, amid the ensuing furore Yates had to be smuggled from Yorkshire Television's studio in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
in the boot of a motor car: His contract with the company was terminated.
Yates, who lived in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, was also in demand as an after-dinner speaker. In 1976 he made an appearance on the panel of the new television show New Faces
New Faces
New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham...
. However, towards the end of his life it was reported in the media that Yates was in financial difficulties, with a small pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
from Yorkshire Television as his sole income. It was also stated that he was no longer on speaking terms with his daughter, the television presenter Paula Yates
Paula Yates
Paula Elizabeth Yates was a British television presenter and writer, best known for her work on two television programmes, The Tube and The Big Breakfast.-Early life:...
(1960–2000).
After his death, a DNA test
Genealogical DNA test
A genealogical DNA test examines the nucleotides at specific locations on a person's DNA for genetic genealogy purposes. The test results are not meant to have any informative medical value and do not determine specific genetic diseases or disorders ; they are intended only to give genealogical...
revealed that Paula, claimed to be his daughter
Daughter
A daughter is a female offspring; a girl, woman, or female animal in relation to her parents. The male equivalent is a son. Analogously the name is used on several areas to show relations between groups or elements.-Etymology:...
by his wife, Elaine, was actually fathered by television presenter Hughie Green
Hughie Green
Hughie Green was the host of numerous British television shows.-Early life:Hugh H. Green was born in London; his Scottish father was a former British Army Major who made his fortune supplying tinned fish to the Allied forces in World War I, while his mother Violet was the Surrey-born daughter of...
.
External links
- Stars on Sunday fan page