The black and white minstrel show souvenir brochure

British BBC TV light entertainment show (1958–1978)

The Black and White Minstrel Show is a British light entertainment show on BBC prime-time television that ran from 1958 to 1978.

The weekly variety show presented traditional American minstrel and country songs, as well as show tunes and music hall numbers, lavishly costumed and often presented with cast members in blackface. A popular stage show, based on the TV show with the same title, ran from 1962 to 1972 at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London.

This was followed by tours of UK seaside resorts until 1989, and tours in Australia and New Zealand.

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From early in its history, and increasingly throughout its run, the show received criticism for its racist premise and content.

History

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See also: History of American minstrel shows

Minstrel shows had become a long-established feature of British music halls and seaside entertainment since the success of acts such as the Virginia Minstrels in Liverpool in the 1840s and Christy's Minstrels in London in the 1850s.

These led directly to

the black and white minstrel show 1978

the black and white minstrel show cast