Marc – ITV Television Series (August 24, 1977 – September 28, 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.
Songs performed
• Sing Me a Song
• I Love to Boogie
• Celebrate Summer
• Jeepster
• New York City
• Ride a White Swan
• Endless Sleep
• Groove a Little
• Let’s Dance
• Hot Love
• Dandy in the Underworld
• Get It On
• Debora
• Heroes (David Bowie)
• Sleeping Next To You (instrumental jam – Bowie & Bolan)
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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