Babs and Robert Powell

Submitted by cornershop15 on Fri, 2011-08-12 23:27

Forums:

Babs Lord

A place to post pictures and perhaps say a few words about the showbiz couple.

There's no mention of it in the caption but this must surely be a photo call following the

announcement of their engagement. Was this before or after Babs left Pan's People?:

Unhelpful caption: Actor Robert Powell with his wife, actress Babs Lord, London 1975

Submitted by panfan on Sat, 2011-08-13 00:19

Babs & Robert Powell Engagement photo

Great photo, Cornershop!

As I recall she got engaged before she left -I read it in something recently posted. But I should double check before assuming I'm right!

Anyone else confirm?

Submitted by cornershop15 on Thu, 2012-05-31 12:12

On location for 'Jesus of Nazareth'

A lovely picture indeed, panfan.

Is this the post you remembered (from 24th April and written by AlexM)?:

Another show of that period that I had from that period was when it was announced by host Tony Blackburn on the 25th September '75 edition that Babs had left the group to marry actor Robert Powell and 2 new members, Mary and Lee, had joined and were about to perform to Art Garfunkel's 'I Only Have Eyes For You'.

In an earlier post, he believes that Bad Company's Feel Like Making Love, from the previous week's Top of the Pops, was the last record that Babs danced to on the show. I don't know if that's definitive but it is worth 'penciling in' on her Biography page.

Three months later, life was very different as she joined Robert on location:

Robert Powell, playing the part of Jesus, talks with his wife Babs, former dancer with Pan's People between filming 'The Life of Christ' [presumably the working title for Jesus of Nazareth]. Dated 26th January 1976 (Daily Mirror)

He's not credited in the caption but I'm sure that's director Franco Zeffirelli with them. Apparently, the mini series was filmed in Tunisia and Morocco. Top of the Pops must have already seemed like a distant memory.

I've always liked Robert Powell, and am happy for him and Babs, but it feels strange that she's been around to share his successes with Jesus of Nazareth, the remake of The 39 Steps and sitcom The Detectives. I don't know long I've known that they're married but until recently Robert was always more prominent in my thoughts (his performances in Thriller, for instance). All of a sudden, thanks to regular viewings of his wife on YouTube, he's now 'The Husband'!

Originally posted 16th August 2011. Edited to replace photo with better version (less noticeable waterark).

Submitted by panfan on Sun, 2011-08-21 06:51

Baba' last TOTP performance

Thanks for that Cornershop: got that on my list to add in later.

Submitted by cornershop15 on Thu, 2012-05-31 13:05

More photos of Babs & Robert

Another picture of the happy couple announcing their engagement:

And at Heathrow Airport in 1977. Returning from a holiday, or filming?:

Originally posted 5th September 2011. Edited to replace first photo with better version.

Submitted by Lee and Mary Fan on Tue, 2011-09-06 05:54

Can You Find Some More Of Mary?

Hi Cornershop,

You sure can track down some great pictures, maybe you can find some more of Mary? and also Lee?.

Thanks and Good Luck : )

Submitted by Lee and Mary Fan on Tue, 2011-09-06 17:42

Some Guys Have All The Luck

What a lucky guy Robert Powell is, a gifted actor and Lovely Babs for his Wife....fair play, nice to see a marrage that has lasted a and a couple that still look very much in love today.

Submitted by cornershop15 on Thu, 2012-05-31 11:30

All is revealed ...

Babs & Robert had just returned from America with the good news.

From The Daily Mirror, 5th May 1977:

Submitted by JEZ on Tue, 2011-09-06 12:55

According to info on babs

According to info on babs ,robert and babs got married at gooestry church ,cheshire on the 29 aug 1975 ,which is just a few miles up the road to where i live in cheshire ,ive gotta admit though ,i really dont remember any cover of it in the towns local paper at the time ,pheraps there was and ive just forgot ,

Submitted by JEZ on Tue, 2011-09-06 13:54

If the date of babs and

If the date of babs and roberts wedding is correct ,the poor girl must have not had a honeymoon ,she must have gone straight back to work the following monday ,to rehearse for summertime city routine ,but after that she only did 2 more totp performances ,before her departure

Submitted by cornershop15 on Thu, 2012-05-31 11:37

Babs & Robert in The Daily Express, 2nd September 1975

Belated Thanks for your replies. I either didn't notice them or wasn't active at the Forum that time. I did find a nice article on Lee and Mary a few days ago, and was glad to upload it for their No. 1 Fan, but that's all I've encountered in the Mirror and Express archives.

Thanks to Jez for the info. You were right about the date of their marriage (29th August). The photocall was to announce that this had already taken place. So when did they get engaged? According to Judith Simons, they'd been "living together for some time":

Just realised that the (fairly low-key) Showbiz Wedding of the Year took place the day after Lee and Mary were revealed as the new Pan's People dancers, and the Top of the Pops show featuring one of my favourite routines - One of These Nights. Amazing ...

Submitted by panfan on Thu, 2012-05-31 11:54

The perspectives are

The perspectives are interesting: I dare say if one of us had been the journalist, the title would have been 'Robert weds superstar'. :)

Thank you for continuing to fill out the press archive on Babs and Robert, it makes interesting reading.

Submitted by gibb1962 on Wed, 2012-04-11 18:18