The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show 1978 

Who else is now looking on the net for Mike Yarwood? Anyone in their mid 60's grew up with him and still funny. How times were so much calmer as a child in those days.

When you have ABBA as your musical guest you know you’re a superstar which Mike was in the 70’s

R.I.P.Mike..you made so many of us laugh at your amazing impressions.

42 years ago - and a special appearance from ABBA. Incredible.

Absolutely brilliant even after all this time I actually laughed at this,not like today’s rubbish

I haven't seen or heard Mike Yarwood since the 70s. Now I remember why I liked him so much. What a great impressionist, comedian and entertainer he was!

Many happy memories of watching Mike Yarwood in the 1970 s. My condolences to your family and may you rest peacefully.

Abba were massive in 1978. This was when the BBC hired quality instead of Joe Public for nothing.

Among the eagerly anticipated Christmas events was always the Mike Yarwood show. Along with the Queen's speech, the obligatory Boxing Night blockbuster movie (which was already years old by the time it got TV syndication) and the Christmas No1. Anybody over a certain age who grew up in Britain will know what I mean. Great memories!

One of the BEST EVER!! We will not see his likes again 45 years old and still as funny as ever!! not like the mainstream rubbish thats on now!! Thanks for posting great fun and memories and Mike is still with us aged 82 Thanks Mike!! you were the BEST!!

Thanks Mike! You were brilliant!

When the TV channels back in the day were less diverse, they were our strength. Even the sheiks visiting town to go to Harrod’s, dine at the Dorchester, may have been left with no choice but to tune into the Mike Yarwood Show. Abba were a handsome band: Frida and Agnetha have never looked so beautiful and classy as right here, on that 1978 show, I believe. The Grayson sketch Yarwood does with the band is light entertainment heaven. It’s the band’s radiance and their lovely choice of stirring songs that strike a chord with the viewer. What a miserable troupe today’s popular singers are! The smiles are absent from today’s roll of singers and bands. Light entertainment dominated the few airwaves back in the day. But there is class to be had in light entertainment. Talent. And a skill it is to make it appealing to a broad range of people and ages.

His facial expressions as Larry Grayson were spot on and so funny 😂

Brings back such happy memories of watching Mike Yarwood, so many years ago. And what a show this was, with such brilliant sketches from Mike, and supported by ABBA no less. Given that Mike passed this week, it’s a bittersweet experience seeing him again, but it didn’t stop me smiling throughout the entire show. Rest peacefully, Mike Yarwood, you brought joy to millions of us. 😢

I’d happily go back to 1978/1979…great entertainment shows and much happier times , RIP Mike Yarwood ❤

What’s remarkable about this show, is how it still stands up today - it’s difficult to mock or find risible as is so often the case with 70s / 80s light entertainment. Pure talent

What an absolute gem! The show is priceless on its own but then to have ABBA on singing and taking part in the Generation Game, make this true television history. I have been very fortunate to have lived through those marvellous days. Thank you for sharing.

Mike Yarwood is king of the impressionists and is as funny now as he was then, absolute gem.

Mike is better than I remember. This is great. Sustained length sketches too, and janet brown is great. Sharp but gentle, fab

I was immensely impressed with his performances when I was growing up, and seeing this again for the first time since the seventies I can see why. I love the silly jokes that the entire family can groan at, the charm and innocence of the show makes for delightful entertainment.

Wonderful, Christmas Day in the 70's Mike Yarwood, Morecombe & Wise, The 2 Ronnies, Dick Emery, Stanley Baxter, family entertainment, no swearing, no preaching, just laughs. Dec 25 2022 I watched nothing says it all, thank you for uploading this as a memory of when Xmas on TV was worth watching.

Mike yarwood's facial expressions and body movements were brilliant - he became the person not just vocally. Look at the way he turns the corner of his mouth up and rolls his eyes when he's Bob Hope, or the crazy grin and mad eyes as Jimmy Carter - he takes on the entire persona and this applied to all his impressions. He may have been bettered vocally since but no-one else has ever come close to matching that

Proper entertainment unlike the 100 plus channels of garbage we get these days.

Yarwood was a massive star at that time. We all looked forward to this show. No VCRs then, so you had to watch it as it went out on the telly. Another world.

I always loved Mike Yarwood. He was the first impressionist that I remember and his repertoire as shown was brilliant. And remember, it was all live at the time. This is what I call entertainment and that 46 minutes passed so quickly. It was practically a laugh a minute!! They don't do programmes like this anymore because there isn't the talent about. What luck as well that ABBA were on the show. Of course at this time they were at the height of their musical career.

Since Mike Yarwood there has been no other impersonator nearly as good, yes there was Bremner and Culshaw and the like but Mike's depth and material, just making you laugh, that was very special!

Mike Yarwood was pure class. If you compare to the rubbish on tv now , you realise what a great entertainer he was. Miss Mike Yarwood.

Mike Yarwood, Morecambe and Wise, The Two Ronnies, when the BBC was worth the licence fee.

A wonderful talent and very influential to many later impressionists. He also influenced me in my brief time as an impressionist. I was lucky enough to meet him at Hull New Theatre in 1980 in a show he did along with the WWII style group Jeep. He will be much missed. RIP Mike ❤️

When the Christmas tv schedule was worth looking forward to and watching!!!

Reliving my days as a kid. I was 6 in 1978 but remember watching him during the 80’s. Such great memories of innocent times 👏👏

Haven't seen this since it was transmitted, Mike Yarwood was superb. Shows like this was what used to make Christmas special, shame there's nothing to watch at Christmas now.

I loved Mike Yarwood when I was a kid, he was a massive star, and a brilliant impersonator. Nothing to touch him nowadays.

Loved Mike Yarwood growing up very good at what he did and even looked like the people he impersonated.

Often wonder what happened to this fabulous comedian so to come across this site was truly something. His impersonation of Larry Grayson had me in stitches - again. And what a talented singer! An all rounder with a talent which wouldn't go down too well today but for us oldies - well we know how to have a laugh don't we? Mike's shows are never repeated. Such a shame for all his fans out here. Miss you Mike!

It's worth watching it for the impression of US President Jimmy Carter, but the highlight for me is ABBA, singing "If It Wasn't For the Nights", one of their best songs!!

Parky is absolutely brilliant - arguably Yarwoods best impression.

Great To see Abba at their Absolute Zenith of Talent. We Still had another 3 years of hits to come at this time. They come across as Very Genuine people.

What a great impressionist Mike was.

It's so refreshing watching stuff from the 70's, apparently most impressionist claim Bob Hope difficult to do, but Yarwood did a good one

His impressions were brilliant , Harold Wilson was so accurate RIP Mike you will never be bettered.

And so, just watched the whole program, absolutely brilliant.

The first time any of ABBA’s Voulez-Vous material was premiered on British TV. There was no VCR in our house, so we had to rely on the ABBA fan club newsletter and the Radio Times to make sure we didn’t miss it.

1978 definitely better Musicians and Comedians , really miss Abba❤

Brilliant memories of a brilliant impressionist. The original and still the best

No one has mentioned the brilliant Janet Brown as Maggie Thatch. Fantastic. Thanks for loading this.

Absolutely utterly.... Completely .....'BRILLIANT'....

A really super show. I always watched Mike way back in 60s 70s. HE was a very talented performer. Why do we not have such great entertainment in these days. Thank you Dunebasher 1971 for reliving the wonderful best in entertainment.

Merry Christmas to everyone watching in 2019 ❄🎁🎅🎄🎀⛄

RIP Mike you really did make us all laugh out loud 🙏

Excellent Show...Happy memories from the Impressive Yarwood.

Wow, the memories are REALLY flooding back here! I remember vividly getting all excited that this show was going to be screened on Christmas night - a feeling reinforced by the knowledge that my favourite group ABBA were going to be guesting!

Not always vocally as good as Rory Bremner, Joe Longthorne or Jon Culshaw, but his characterisations are brilliant and the best of his day. Great entertainment and it says a lot about his popularity that he had the biggest band on the planet come to join him. Many thanks for posting this 🙏🏻

Out of the Archive's of all light entertainment this has to be one of the best Christmas shows of all time Mike Yarwood's Larry Grayson is perfect,we could do with this back on this Christmas. Just BRILLIANT.

Yarwood Was Huge between 1970 and 1982.The fact He Managed to attract ABBA..Who Were at The Height of their Super Stardom at this time is Testimony to his Popularity.

R.I.P. TO MIKE YARWOOD . THOSE WERE THE DAYS OF FUN & LAUGHTER !!!!!🤣🤣🤣😂😂!! FROM,U.K. (2023).

Absolutely loved him. Saw him interviewed by Bob Monkhouse, who loved him, and Mike Yarwood was so humble and unassuming. Pure talent

RIP Mr Yarwood. You were a very funny and very talented man.

This was fantastic, especially seeing Abba. Thanks!!

This man is an icon!!! ✌🏼

First time I've seen this episode since the broadcast date! And I still love it and remember all of the people impersonated.

i would rather watch repeats like these than the garbage they put on tv these days

Rest In Peace Mike Yarwood. Your shows are and were priceless.

One of the greatest impressionists ever .

Oh BBC what went wrong?.The days when you could roll out ABBA as your special guests instead of todays wannabe celebs.Not seen this for decades and it just reiterates how good Mike Yarwood was.The mannerisms and voices are spot on.Some of todays comedians are about as funny as a burning orphanage.

Forgotten how good Mike was, remember him way back in my youth, great days.

Fantastic.. the impressions were great, Enoch Powell, michael foot, Wilson superb.. quality TV..

Mike yarwood was a genius bring em all back

I can't believe how uncannily accurate Mike's DAVE Alan is, at 39:16 Just amazing!

Mr Yarwood was one of greatest comedians in England!

Very good show from the days when TV was classy, fun and enjoyable.

This is Brilliant. I thought it wasnt going to be still funny. But im laughing like the 8 year old i once was .

Mike Yarwood was the greatest impressionist that ever lived, no one else will ever come close

When I watched these as a kid I had no idea just how good he was.

A comedy legend, rest in peace. ❤

I'm Canadian and only familiar with a few of his British impressions but have to admit that he is very good.

Huge thanks for this. Wonderful memories.

the original MASTER OF IMPRESSIONS the great mike yarwood who to this day is still hard to beat .

I have always been a fan of Mike Yarwood. He had that extraordinary ability to contort his facial muscles to actually look like the character he was portraying. He also really became the character regarding gestures and body movement. It was a gift. His Parkinson is brilliant and he does a wicked send up of Max Bygraves and Jimmy Carter and slips from one character to another. James Hurn is the brilliant impressionist of today. His Sid James is uncanny and so many others just spot on. My uncle, Ray Alan, started off his career as a magician impressionist. His Max Miller is spot on . I love to do impressions too.

This was wonderful and so funny. The larry Grayson impression was brilliant!

Abba ... remember the '78 Xmas Show. Brilliant ...

The magic begins at 1.15. I haven't seen this since 1978 - and it didn't disappoint. Marvellous entertainment from the golden age of television in my opinion... I had forgotten how talented Mike Yarwood was. There is nothing like it on the box today.

His Dave Allen voice is spot on 👌

Soo funny, I used to watch this as a child and it really made me laugh.

Great to see Abba before it all went so badly for both girls, never knew what tragedies they had in their personal lives especially Frida...

A great comedian indeed 👍

Thanks for this - I haven't seen it since I was a little girl.

My sister and I both loved Mike Yarwood especially his Prince Charles. Brilliant. Thank you.

Wow..his impressions at the end are amazing. You can see who he is..and then the voice is perfect. 10 out of 10.

RIP Mike, thank you for all the brilliant laughs 😊. Is that Janet Brown as Anna Ford, terrific stuff 👏 👍.

Takes me right back to my childhood when we had glamorous, big budget Christmas entertainment shows from Mike Yarwood, Morecambe and Wise, the Two Ronnies, Dick Emery etc. I have to say though watching this. impressions were always going to go out of fashion at some point. Loved his catchphrase "This is me" - just in case viewers were puzzling over which celebrity Mike Yarwood was supposed to be, lol! Imagine having superstars ABBA as your guest artist - amazing!

Marvellous and brilliant

Very talented guy. The million ways he can morph his facial expressions to become his muse is amazing.

41 years years ago, I would have been 11 yrs old, wouldn't have appreciated it at the time, but how entertaining was that.

20:42 - Mike got Reginald Bosanquet's weird pronunciation style so well here with one simple word "behalf".

Mike, you were the best ever. Rest in Peace,sir.

Such a brilliant impersonator, definitely one of the best.

He was such a funny and talented man, this brought back happy memories, His Harold Wilson was better than Harold s lol . This shows you how big this show was back then, ABBA as a guest! I wish the director had kept the camera still on Agnetha lol

I used to howl with laughter when he did his Eddie Waring [ the rugby commentator].

His Larry Grayson impression had me in stitches! Thanks for the upload.