Jess Yates

Jess Yates (born Jesse Frederick Joseph Yates, 20 December 1918, in Tyldesley, Lancashire, died 9 April 1993) was a British television presenter and producer. He was the creator and presenter of Yorkshire Television’s religious programme Stars on Sunday which earned him the nickname 'The Bishop'.

His family moved to Llandudno when he was five and he lived in Wales for much of his life, working as a cinema organist after leaving school. Yates was born into a showbusiness family; his mother booked his stage acts. After the war he directed documentary films, joined BBC Television as a freelance designer and joined the BBC on the production side in 1949. He was involved with programmes, such as Come Dancing, The Good Old Days and the Miss World competition.

Later he became head of children’s programmes for Yorkshire TV in 1968. The following year he began hosting Stars on Sunday. Yates would introduce the show seated at an electric organ - on which he occasionally performed in a tremulous manner - placed in front of a stained-glass window. One of his many charming observations was, "We can't see round the bend in the road, but God can." The programme attracted many special guests, including Harry Secombe, Dame Anna Neagle, Gracie Fields and Dorothy Squires. He was quoted as wanting stars to appear on the programme as this is what he thought would persuade viewers to tune-in. At the end of the series viewing figures had risen from 600,000 to seven million.

He was married to actress and author Elaine Smith (whose stage name was Hellen Toren) from 1958 to 1975. His TV career ended in 1974 when it was revealed that he had been having an affair with young actress Anita Kay, although he was separated from his wife at the time. Despite this, amid the ensuing furore Yates had to be smuggled from Yorkshire Television's studio in Leeds in the boot of a motor car: His contract with the company was terminated.

Yates, who lived in North Wales, was also in demand as an after-dinner speaker. In 1976 he made an appearance on the panel of the new television show New Faces. However, towards the end of his life it was reported in the media that Yates was in financial difficulties, with a small pension from Yorkshire Television as his sole income. It was also stated that he was no longer on speaking terms with his daughter, the television presenter Paula Yates (1960–2000).

After his death, a DNA test revealed that Paula, claimed to be his daughter by his wife, Elaine, was actually fathered by television presenter Hughie Green.

References

• The Daily Telegraph Third Book of Obituaries (Entertainers), edited by Hugh Massingberd

External links

• Jess Yates at the Internet Movie Database
• Stars on Sunday fan page

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Name	Yates, Jess
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Short description
Date of birth	20 December 1918
Place of birth
Date of death	9 April 1993
Place of death