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The earliest surviving performance by Tommy Cooper. The footage is silent, but gives a fascinating glimpse of how television programmes used to be made.

The Alexandra Palace and Lime Grove footage was shot by D.R.Campbell (now deceased). He was a BBC engineer at the time he shot the material (1930 - 1950) and it was found by his son last year.

The material was given to the BBC via Simon Vaughan who is the archivist of the Alexandra Palace Television Society which was the organisation D.R.Campbell's son gave the film to when he discovered it. It provides a unique record of the early days of television.

You can find out more information about D.R.Campbell's career and Alexandra Palace at the Alexandra Palace Television Society site (www.apts.org.uk).