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Elvis made a secret visit to London!

22/04/2008

Showbusiness impressario Bill Kenwright, made a startling revelation on national radio yesterday. He told BBC Radio 2 host Ken Bruce that Elvis Presley made a secret visit to England in 1958 and was shown the sights of the capital by UK rocker Tommy Steele.

This is a shocker.  We'll let you stop and digest this news one moment…


So, did the King rock with the Caveman?

According to Bill Kenwright, who also brought us Elvis The Musical, Tommy Steele swore him to secrecy several years ago and has never made a public statement about the visit, which took place 50 years ago.

According to the story in the Daily Mail, Tommy received a surprise phone call from Elvis as he returned home one evening:
'They tell me you're good.' The voice said.
Tommy says, 'Who's this?'
'Elvis,' says the voice.
'Get outta here,' says Tommy.
'Are you as good as me?' says Elvis...and they sort of started this mock rivalry.

As Elvis was stationed in Germany for the next two years, he paid a visit to see the sights with Tommy Steele, but it was a whirlwind tour of London from a car, and one which was never recorded by the press. 

The only documented visit by Elvis Presley on British soil was when he plane touched down at Prestwick airport in Scotland to refuel.

When the Daily Mail questioned Tommy Steele about his visit from Elvis, the 71 year old singer made the following statement:

‘I swore never to divulge publicly what took place and I regret that it has found some way of 'getting into the light'.’

‘I can only hope he can forgive me.’

Flash, Bang Wallop... and he never took a photo!

»See the full story in the Daily Mail

»Listen to the interview on BBC Radio 2
(follow the BBC Radio Player and listen to Ken Bruce's Tuesday show)

»Read our Elvis blog on this subject

Add your comments to this story below:

Strange. Why would Steele make it up but how could Elvis have gone missing without any of his entourage noticing? One would expect that since then someone would have spilled the beans. I just wonder if Tommy was the victim of an early Elvis look-alike!
John McLaren

Who stamped his passport? I am not convinced.
B. Miller

And he came to Wales too. What next!
Jason P

Yeah. He came up here to Newcastle, too, and my Dad told me he had a pint with him in our local. Sadly, Dad forgot to load up his Pentax, so I haven't got any photos either.
Fang Ferrier

Tommy Steele is talking crap. He says its a secret becuase he knows its not true. How are you going to get out of this one?
Sarah Harding

I think it's great. I like the thought of Elvis visiting London. I just wish he met a few of his fans while he was here.
Liz Vickery

This story is definately untrue. Elvis' bodyguards are now starting to deny the story also. However, apparently Lamar Fike did visit with Tommy Steele in 1958 but without Elvis.
Brian Quinn

If Elvis did come to london in secret more power to him, he had no real private life. just why would he pick Tommy Steele?
Paul shakespeare

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