A blast from the past has sent fans of classic British television into a delightful frenzy. A long-forgotten clip from Cilla Black's 1983 Christmas Eve TV special has resurfaced, offering a wonderfully nostalgic and slightly surreal glimpse into festive entertainment from over four decades ago.
The Scene: Glitter, Pop and Baffled Young Guests
The footage, from the show titled Cilla Black's Christmas Eve, opens with the Liverpool-born star, then aged 40, at the peak of her fame. Dressed in a sparkly silver belted dress, she is seen throwing glitter over a towering Christmas tree before launching into a rendition of Lionel Richie's hit All Night Long. The song itself was brand new that year, having been released in 1983.
The festive living room set is soon filled with children and teenagers of various ages, who begin to dance around the singer. The charming awkwardness of the scene has captivated viewers, with many of the young guests appearing rather bemused by the whole experience. It's a quintessential slice of 1980s Christmas TV, proving to many that "they don't make them like they used to."
The Unforgettable Star: The Boy in the Green Trousers
While Cilla shimmies, the real show-stealer for modern audiences is one particular young boy. Wearing a pair of green trousers and a white beanie hat, the child, thought to be around seven years old, becomes completely lost in the music. His unique, enthusiastic body-popping style has become an internet sensation.
Social media users have been utterly charmed by his performance. One viewer advised on Instagram: 'Watch this video a couple of times and focus on a different dancer each watch. I promise you will not be disappointed.' Another fan humorously noted, 'Green trousers moving like a malfunctioning animatronic and I'm here for it,' while a third quipped, 'The one in the green trousers is surely Jamiroquai.' His identity remains a mystery 40 years later.
A Future Soap Star in the Making
The resurfaced clip also features a familiar face to millions of BBC One viewers. A young Jake Wood, who would later find fame as Max Branning in EastEnders from 2006, appears wearing a bright red and blue tracksuit. With a full head of red hair—a stark contrast to his later close-shaved look—the future actor is seen smiling cheekily at the camera while others dance around him.
Long before Albert Square beckoned, Wood was training at the Anna Scher Drama School in Islington. His first TV role came as a 12-year-old in the ITV series The Gentle Touch, making this festive appearance a fascinating piece of his early career.
The special itself was a star-studded affair for ITV, featuring appearances from major names of the era including the Bee Gees, Julio Iglesias, George Benson, and comedian Frankie Howerd. The clip concludes with Cilla kindly offering presents to her young guests before ushering them out of the studio house door.
Cilla Black, born Priscilla Maria Veronica White in Liverpool in 1943, rose to fame as a pop star in the 1960s with help from her friends The Beatles. She later became a beloved TV personality, hosting iconic shows like Blind Date (1985-2003) and Surprise Surprise (1984-2001). The star died from a stroke following a fall at her Spanish holiday home in Estepona on August 1, 2015, and was buried in her hometown of Liverpool.
