Gill Clark - Biography

Thanks for the bio, Gary.

It's amazing, accruing all these beauty titles even before leaving school!

She graced the pages of that 'paper as well but the quality of the scan is the worst I've seen. Luckily, Suefan came to the rescue with the original image at One for the Dads. Many Thanks.

The article reveals that Gill did a bit of acting at this time. Was it just the once? 

Swim suits and Co!

AT TIMES like these, with the weather matching the economic chill, just close your eyes and think of summer.

Now open your eyes - and take a look at what the best undressed woman will be wearing on the beach next year.

It's heartwarming stuff, although it's doubtful if many will shape up as well as Legs and Co. dancer Jill Clark.

She and the rest of the Top of the Pops eye catchers* stepped out at a West End nightclub yesterday to show off the 1981 swimwear range in Freemans mail order catalogue.

Next week, Jill we be displaying more of her talent when she switches roles, and channels, to play a secretary in the Thames TV series Minder.

Meanwhile, if you can switch your attention back to the swimsuit, it is a pale green halter neck that is delivered to your door for £8.50.

But it doesn't come filled ...

Words: Gordon Ogilvie

Ricture: Peter Shirley 

*Attractive females are more likely to be called "eye candy" these days. Another ghastly Americanism.

Many thanks again to Chris from the Remembering Seaside Beauty Contests website: he has just sent us these images of Gill from 1976.

1. Gill in the heats for Miss Great Britain, 1976:

2. Gill in the heats for Miss New Brighton, 1976:

I'm no expert on these contests, Ryan, but I think they were distinct, Miss GB and Miss UK.  "Miss" seems such a quaint term now!

Gary always wants to make sure his biographies are accurate and up to date, so we're always very grateful for and additional information Ryan!

When it comes to adding in simple things like first/final appearances, I can easily sort that out, but  I'll leave editing the main content to him, as it's his work.  He's usually on during the morning, so will see the discussion then.

I've just added in that final performance (and her first for that matter!) - have I got the date right, Ryan?

That's great, many thanks!

There's so many bits and pieces, dates here and there, graphics and thumbnails and stuff to add, but we'll slowly get them filled in!

Yes I've had a lot of help with the listings, and their accuracy depends on peer review from TOTP experts like your good self, so please do feel free to point out omissions and corrections, Ryan. I'm still making my way chronologically through the early years of PP (much of which is, as you know, like the Dark Ages, with all those wiped routines!) and just keeping up the Legs lists with the BBC4 repeats, but eventually I'll catch up!

If you go to the menu at the top, and click Routines, you'll get a list.  The Legs section is here.

Jez has been a great help indeed!  Don't know where I'd be without him and many others here!

Sometime things veer off topic occasionally, but I've learned not to get uptight about that sort of thing.  Better a good discussion than trying to force everything in the right thread - I learned through experience that doesn't work, and usually has the effect of killing discussion stone dead.

But feel free to comment on another post if (you can find one!) that fits the bill better, or start one yourself in the forum!

Feel free to create a chat thread if you'd like Ryan, that might be a good idea, as it can veer all over the place witohut anyone worrying about going OT.

Maybe here in the forum is a good place to start one.

I do know the navigation is still difficult, Ryan, and I do want to improve things, so please feel free to add your thoughts in this Suggestions thread.  If I can get the recent comments sorted out that would be one thing.  I am still learning how everytihng works, and it is possible to generate blocks which display lists of recent this, that or the other.  Trouble is, unlike a simple forum, it's got bits everywhere!  Remember to track and search meantime.

So Miss Great Britain's loss was our gain!.Wonderful photos of lovely,gorgeous Gill.Thanks.

I remember listening to this radio interview on radio 2 ,it was done the day after the girls had danced to startrax disco club the night before ,i remember amongst other things the presenter asking flick what song was she working on for the following weeks routine ,and she replied it was the randy crawford song ,and said keep your fingers crossed the song doesent go down the charts inbetween ,but i dont know why ,but i always thought it was mentioned it was rosies brother who played on the hooked on classics single ,my memory mustnt be as good as i once thought it  once was ,

Hi gary ,ive still got a feeling it might have been rosies brother who played on the hooked on classiscs single ,as ive said i could be wrong because its years ago now since i last listened to this radio interview ,but pheraps you may be able to do some detective work on this info for us ,cheers

I used to live across the road from Gill Clark in Raby Mere near Bromborough in the mid 1970's. At the time she was a pupil at The Hammond School in Chester, a private school mainly for dancers, but since expanded to include acting. More recently Hollyoaks' Jorgie Porter attended there in the 6th form as a dance student, and the award winning teen actor Jonny Clarke (Hollyoaks' Bart McQueen) had a drama scholarship there.

Coincidently back in the 1960's I used to live in Wallasey where my neighbour and great friend at that time was Phil Steggles/Haig who was with Ruby Flipper, and whom ironically was replaced by Gill Clark when Legs and Co were formed to replace RF. Phil's mother is the former stage performer Patsy Haig, whose maiden name he used for his professional name. His father owned a furniture store in Liscard (in Wallasey) and has an older brother called Tony, and younger brother named Carl. Phil was born on October 31st 1955. Phil was always a performer and even had his own Punch & Judy show when he was only about 11. He was also into Dr Who and I think may still have an original 1960's or 70's Dalek he got from the BBC.

I remember a reporter from the Daily Mail visiting Gill Clark at home in about 1976 to do an article on he remarkable success as a beauty queen. Gill's mother's efforts to get the two of us together were unsuccessful as we were always otherwise attached, and her efforts were finally ended when Gill moved with her parents to somewhere near Haywards Heath in Sussex, where she continued with her dancing training and progressed into a career with Legs and Co.

It would be very interesting to know how she is now, and if she reads this comment, I hope she remembers me from number 14.