Elvis in England!

The King's day out with Tommy Steele

22 Apr 2008 - Good news for Elvis fans, it seems The King did set foot in England after all.

Until now it's been believed that the nearest Elvis came to visiting England, was a short stopover at Scotland's Prestwick airport in 1960, on his way back from an army base in Germany.

Speaking to Ken Bruce on Radio 2 yesterday, 62 year old theatre producer and long time friend of Tommy Steele, Bill Kenwright, insisted that Presley had come to England in 1958 for a day's sightseeing with Steele - who had been billed as Britain's answer to Elvis at the time:

"Elvis came to England! Nobody thinks he did, and I hope Tommy doesn't go mad when he hears this..."

"Tommy showed him round London" -   Bill Kenwright

One night Tommy got a phone call, (impersonates Elvis): 'They told me you're good'... 'Who's this?'... 'It's Elvis.'

He said (Tommy): 'Get outta here! ... and he said (Elvis): 'Are you as good as me?'

They talked and they got a friendship... Elvis flew in for a day and Tommy showed him round London... they spent a day together, Tommy took him round and showed him round the Houses of Parliament."

Elvis's Graceland estate has yet to comment.


Ruth Barnes