Inside Britain’s strangest theatre where there are secret tunnels, Bruce Forsyth’s ashes and Beatlemania began

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By 1963, The Beatles were quickly rising to fame in Britain. They had released their first album, Please Please Me, toured the UK three times that year, and their single “She Loves You” sold 750,000 copies in less than a month.

Their growing popularity led to an appearance on Sunday Night at the London Palladium, the most popular variety show in Britain at the time, with around 15 to 18 million viewers each week. Hosted by Bruce Forsyth, then 35 years old, the band played three songs: “From Me To You,” “I’ll Get You,” and “She Loves You.” But when Paul McCartney began to introduce their last song, “Twist and Shout,” the crowd’s excitement became so intense that John Lennon told them to be quiet – a request that many older audience members actually cheered.

The following day, newspapers weren’t focused on the band’s talent, but instead on the wild reaction of their fans. A few even coined the term ‘Beatlemania,’ and from that moment on, history was made.

It’s remarkable that this event would be a defining, museum-worthy moment for many venues, but for the London Palladium, it’s simply another impressive addition to its already dazzling history.

London’s Palladium is a truly unique venue, famous for having hosted some of the biggest stars over the years. It recently gained attention again when Rachel Zegler, playing Evita, performed on the theatre’s balcony. Each night, she sang ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ to a huge crowd gathered outside – the show playfully referred to them as ‘descamisados’.

Director Jamie Lloyd revealed to TopMob that the now-famous balcony scene came about quite unexpectedly. He explained he only conceived of the idea shortly before rehearsals began, simply while walking past the Palladium and realizing the balcony presented an irresistible opportunity.

This beautiful, historically significant building is located on Argyll Street in London’s West End. The land originally belonged to the Dukes of Argyll, and in the 1800s, the Earl of Aberdeen lived there until his death. The building was then torn down to make way for wine cellars. Later, in 1968, the Argyll Arms pub was built nearby, and local stories suggest a hidden tunnel once connected the pub to the original building.

The theatre, designed by Frank Matcham, first opened its doors on Boxing Day in 1910 with a diverse show featuring magicians, actors, and musicians. It became a popular destination throughout the 1920s and ’30s, hosting famous performers like the comedy group known as the Crazy Gang, and jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and Fats Waller.

The Palladium played a role in Hitchcock’s 1935 film, The 39 Steps, providing the setting for its dramatic finale. Remarkably, even after a German parachute mine damaged its roof in 1941, the theater reopened the same year, hosting performances by stars like Max Miller, Vera Lynn, and Laurel and Hardy.

The London Palladium became known as ‘the home of variety’ in the 1950s with the debut of ‘Sunday Night at the London Palladium.’ Launched by Val Parnell alongside the start of ITV, the UK’s second television channel, the show quickly became famous for featuring top performers from all over the world.

The show was once famous for its energetic opening with the Tiller Girls dance troupe, the fast-paced game show ‘Beat the Clock,’ and the entire cast waving and smiling from a rotating stage. Even the Rolling Stones, known for their rebellious style, refused to participate in the wave in 1967. The program also hosted many well-known stars, including Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, and Cliff Richard.

Bruce Forsyth began hosting the show in 1958, launching a hugely popular period. He became known for his phrase, “I’m in charge,” which he used to manage the performers. An episode in January 1960, featuring Cliff Richard and the Shadows, attracted over 20 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched programs in ITV history.

I’ll always remember seeing Roy Forsyth perform – he and the Palladium were just meant to be together! He performed there for his entire career, and it was so sad when he gave his final one-man show in 2015. When he passed away in 2017, his family honored his wishes and buried his ashes right under the stage. They even put up a beautiful blue plaque calling him ‘without question the UK’s greatest entertainer,’ and honestly, I couldn’t agree more. It’s a perfect final resting place for a true legend.

He found peace surrounded by the things he loved most: music, laughter, and dancing – truly, exactly where he belonged.

Beyond offering a diverse range of performances, the Palladium was famous for its pantomimes. From the 1930s through the 1950s, it consistently hosted some of the largest and most popular pantomime productions in the country. Many famous stars, including Julie Andrews, Max Bygraves, Norman Wisdom, Cliff Richard, and Cilla Black, performed in lavish, over-the-top costumes. A particularly memorable production was the 1954 version of Mother Goose, which featured Peter Sellers and was written by the comedy duo Eric Sykes and Spike Milligan.

This tradition faded away towards the end of the 20th century, but it made a strong comeback in the 2010s. Michael Harrison, widely considered the world’s leading pantomime producer, revived the tradition at the Palladium in 2016, and every performance since then has sold out.

I absolutely love watching Julian Clary and Nigel Havers every year – they’re always hilarious! And the guest stars are always amazing too – past shows have had Catherine Tate, Jane McDonald, and this year it’s French and Saunders, which I’m so excited about! I read an interview with the show’s creator, Harrison, in TopMob last year, and he had some really interesting things to say about it…

Our show runs year-round, and we begin planning a year ahead of time – everything from costume designs to set pieces. It’s a long-standing Victorian tradition to have a spectacular, magical moment at the end of the first act, similar to iconic scenes like Cinderella going to the ball or Aladdin discovering the cave. We’re always looking for fresh and innovative ways to make that initial moment really stand out.

He explained that creating Julian Clary’s costumes is surprisingly expensive – the budget for design and production is often higher than for costumes in many West End plays, sometimes reaching between £30,000 and £40,000 per costume.

Sometimes the balloons are so large that when the pilot lands, they need to be lifted back up to the launch area with ropes because they block the path for everyone else on the ground.

Even though the Palladium now hosts incredibly complex stage productions, things don’t always go smoothly. One time, a piece of scenery fell on Julian’s head during the first performance of Aladdin. He was supposed to walk forward, but was a little slow, and the curtain came down behind him, hitting him on the head. It really hurt, but the audience thought it was hilarious!

The Palladium remains a major venue, with a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar coming later this year. Though it no longer hosts the variety shows it once did, it still welcomes comedians, musicians, and other performers. Just remember, it’s the theatre that sets the tone when you’re there.

Authors

Olivia Garrett

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2026-04-16 10:07