Lionel Morton

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Lionel Morton
Birth nameLionel Walmsley
Born (1942-08-14) 14 August 1942 (age 83)
Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Occupation(s) Musician and television presenter
Instrument(s)Vocal, rhythm guitar
Formerly of The Four Pennies

Lionel Morton (born Lionel Walmsley, 14 August 1942) [1] is an English former musician and television presenter. He was the lead singer for The Four Pennies, who had a number one hit with "Juliet" in 1964, and was a presenter on Play School from 1968 to 1977.

Contents

Lionel Morton was born Lionel Walmsley in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. [1] He sang in the local cathedral choir. [2] [3]

In the early 1960s, he was the lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist of the group, The Four Pennies. They are best known for their biggest hit single, "Juliet" which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in May 1964. [4] Morton and his group appeared seven times on the BBC Television music charts programme, Top of the Pops .

From April 1968 to December 1977, he was a regular presenter on the pre-school children's programme Play School . His debut appearance on the show was wiped however his third appearance, dated 11th June 1968, is the earliest archived. [2] In the 1970s he went on to present on Play Away . Many recent report have come out revealing that Morton, as well as a few other presenters including Johnny Ball and Rick Jones, smoked marijuana and was high when he recorded some episodes of Play School in the 1970s, including an episode in which the shows hosts filmed a nativity scene. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

He was formerly married to actress, Julia Foster, for five years, with whom he had a daughter Emily. [11] He now lives in Cornwall. [2] [3]

Discography

Singles

YearLabelA-sideB-side
1967Phillips"What To Do With Laurie" [12] "I'll Just Wait Around"
"First Love Never Dies" [12] "Try Not To Cry"
1969 RCA Victor "Waterloo Road" [12] "Floral Street"
1972 Cube Records "What A Woman Does" [12] "Listen To The Music"
1974 BBC Records "Don't Let Life Get You Down" [12] [13] "Play Away"

Albums

YearLabelTitle
1972 BBC Records Play School [14]
1973Contour RecordsLionel [14]
BBC RecordsBang on a Drum [14]
Play Away [14]
1975Hey You! Songs from Play Away [14]
Sing a Song of Play School [13] [14]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1964 Top of the Pops HimselfPerforming with The Four Pennies / six episodes [15]
Ready Steady Go! Performing with The Four Pennies / four episodes [15]
1965 Pop Gear Performing with The Four Pennies / film [15]
Blackpool Night OutPerforming with The Four Pennies / one episode [15]
1968—1985 Play School Presenter / three hundred and fifty episodes [15]
1971—1977 Play Away Presenter / twenty nine episodes [15]
1976Star TurnTwo episodes [15]

References

  1. 1 2 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 902. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  2. 1 2 3 Team, The Showreel (1 January 2018). "Morton, Lionel". Showreel. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 Life, Northern (29 April 2015). "Bull in a Frenzy by Lionel Morton • Northern Life". Northern Life Magazine. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  4. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 210. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  5. ↑ Bletchly, Rachael (5 May 2014). "It's 50 years since Play School first hit our screens - but where are the presenters now?". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Sex in dressing rooms and Play School presenters 'stoned out of their". The Independent. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "BBC Play School presenters 'went on-air stoned'". Irish Independent. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "BBC Play School Presenters 'Smoked Huge Cannabis Joint' Before Nativity Scene". International Business Times UK. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  9. ↑ Martin, Daniel (3 May 2012). "'Play School' presenters were 'stoned out of their minds'". NME. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  10. ↑ Monkey (30 April 2014). "BBC Play School's reunion guests hoping Hamble's there for pie". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  11. ↑ Smith, Julia Llewellyn (10 August 2018). "Julia Foster: 'The children were called to the bedside because they thought I wasn't going to survive'". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lionel Morton". 45cat. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Lionel Morton Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Lionel Morton discography - RYM/Sonemic". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Lionel Morton | Soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved 11 September 2025.


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