Marc – (August 24, 1977) – ITV Television Series Show 1
Updated: Sep 28
Broadcast Date: August 24, 1977
The debut episode of Marc aired on 24 August 1977 and introduced viewers to Marc Bolan's new ITV music series.
The programme combined performances by established chart acts, emerging artists and appearances from Marc Bolan and T. Rex, reflecting the diversity of the British music scene during the late 1970s.
SHOW CONTENTS
"Sing Me a Song" – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
"All Around the World" – The Jam
"I Love to Boogie" – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
"Cool Wind From the North" – Stephanie de Sykes
"No Russians in Russia" – Radio Stars
Heart Throb's Dance Segment – "You Made Me Believe in Magic" – Bay City Rollers
"Celebrate Summer" – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
"You Got What It Takes" – Showaddywaddy
"Jeepster" – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
HIGHLIGHTS
The opening programme showcased Marc Bolan both as host and performer, with T. Rex appearing throughout the broadcast. Performances of "Sing Me a Song", "I Love to Boogie", "Celebrate Summer" and the classic "Jeepster" offered viewers a broad overview of Bolan's contemporary and earlier material.
The programme also featured a performance by The Jam, one of the most significant emerging bands of the new wave movement, alongside appearances by Stephanie de Sykes, Radio Stars and Showaddywaddy.
The inclusion of artists from different musical backgrounds helped establish the format that would define the series during its six-episode run.
SIGNIFICANCE
As the first episode of Marc, Show 1 set the tone for the entire series by bringing together glam rock, pop, rock and new wave artists on a single programme. The broadcast demonstrated Marc Bolan's enthusiasm for championing both established performers and newer acts, creating a platform that reflected the rapidly changing musical landscape of 1977.
Marc was a British pop‑music television series presented by Marc Bolan and produced in Manchester by Granada Television for the ITV network.
Running for six weekly episodes in the autumn of 1977, it was produced by Muriel Young and directed by Nicholas Ferguson.
The show offered Bolan a platform to showcase emerging punk and new‑wave acts including Generation X, The Jam, Radio Stars, Eddie and the Hot Rods, and others.
Each episode featured multiple T. Rex lip‑sync performances — typically three per show — mixing new versions of older hits with fresh tracks. The programme also featured a dance troupe called Heart Throb, identified in 1977 press images as Isobelle Skullnice, June Griffiths, Alison Basham, and Kirsty Hayes.
Bolan introduced their single “Ain’t It Strange” in Show 6, referring to them as “my dancers.” A second series was planned, but Bolan passed in a car crash on 16 September 1977, shortly after filming concluded. The final episode, recorded on 7 September 1977, was broadcast posthumously on 28 September 1977, eight days after the funeral.
The series was filmed at Granada Television using a multi‑camera setup and a limited production budget. Heart Throb dancers appeared in promotional stills dated 10 August 1977.
A highlights DVD featuring only T. Rex performances was released in the UK in 2005, reissued in 2017 with additional T. Rex TV appearances. A full six‑episode DVD set was released in Japan in 2007.
Surrounding Dates:
• 24 August 1977 – Episode 1 broadcast • 7 September 1977 – Final episode recorded
• 28 September 1977 – Final episode broadcast posthumously
Marc captured the final weeks of Marc Bolan’s life and showcased his enthusiasm for new musical movements. Despite low production values, the series remains historically significant for its blend of glam, punk, and pop, and for Bolan’s final televised collaboration with David Bowie, including Bowie’s performance of “Heroes” and the aborted duet on “Sleeping Next To You.” The show stands as Bolan’s last major project, reflecting his continued influence and curiosity about emerging artists in 1977.
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