Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey is a Welsh singer known for both her powerful operatic voice and for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films 'Goldfinger' (1964); 'Diamonds Are Forever' (1971) and 'Moonraker' (1979).
Born on Bute Street in Butetown (also known as 'Tiger Bay') in the docklands area of Cardiff, she was was the sixth and youngest child of Henry Bassey, from Nigeria, and Eliza Jane Start, from the north-east of England, but grew up in the adjacent community of Splott.
After leaving Splott Secondary Modern School at the age of 14, Bassey found work at the local Curran Steels factory, while singing in public houses and clubs in the evenings and on weekends. In 1953, she signed her first professional contract and went on to work for the impresario Jack Hylton. She recorded her first single in 1956.
| Known For | Acting |
|---|---|
| Most Rating | 1.238 |
| Birthday | 1937-01-08 |
| Place of Birth | Butetown, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, UK |
| Also Known As |
2002
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace
5.4/4
Well known performers accompanied by 12,000 selected members of the public on the lawn of Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
Watch Now
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace
1996
La Passione
10/1
For one young boy, a passion can be more than just a dream.
Watch Now
La Passione
2021
St David's Day at the BBC
0/0
To celebrate St David’s Day, this trip through the BBC’s music archives features a selection of tracks from some of the most important and innovative...
Watch Now
St David's Day at the BBC
2000
Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever
6/1
A full concert film featuring Shirley Bassey on stage in Antwerp, Belgium during the 'Diamond Awards Festival', including some of her greatest hits, i...
Watch Now
Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever
2021
The Art of Dissent
0/0
"The Art of Dissent" celebrates the resilience and power of artistic engagement in Czechoslovakia before and after the 1968 Soviet-led invasion. The d...
Watch Now
The Art of Dissent
1995
An Audience with Shirley Bassey
0/0
Showbiz legend Dame Shirley Bassey delights a celebrity audience by singing songs and answering light-hearted questions. Enjoy renditions including Bo...
Watch Now
An Audience with Shirley Bassey
2009
Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms
0/0
Dame Shirley Bassey graced the Roundhouse stage with a unique performance celebrating 50 years at the top of show business.
Watch Now
Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms
2022
The Sound of 007
7.2/39
Pull back the curtain on the remarkable history of six decades of James Bond music, from Sean Connery’s Dr No through to Daniel Craig’s final outing...
Watch Now
The Sound of 007
2022
The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall
5.8/4
Celebrates 60 years of the Bond film franchise. The concert is curated by the legendary Bond composer David Arnold and will feature special guest arti...
Watch Now
The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall
2012
Everything or Nothing
7.1/70
The story of three men with a shared dream: James Bond franchise producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and Bond creator and author Ian Flem...
Watch Now
Everything or Nothing
2011
Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes
0/0
A history of the British television comedy double act Morecambe & Wise to coincide with the BBC drama about their early lives.
Watch Now
Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes
2006
Another Audience with Shirley Bassey
0/0
The legendary Welsh songstress delights a select crowd for the second time in this television special.
Watch Now
Another Audience with Shirley Bassey
2012
…Sings Musicals
7/1
BBC archive performances from musicals, including Ella Fitzgerald singing Mack the Knife, Captain Sensible performing a classic from South Pacific and...
Watch Now
…Sings Musicals
2010
…Sings Neil Diamond
0/0
A compilation from the BBC archive of performances featuring songs written by, or associated with, Neil Diamond. Featuring Lulu, UB40, Vince Hill, Rob...
Watch Now
…Sings Neil Diamond
1985
Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet
7/1
In 1985 Dame Shirley Bassey gave a performance to help raise money for the 1986 Commonwealth games that were held in Edinburgh in Scotland. Dame Shirl...
Watch Now
Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet
2016
David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey
0/0
Ahead of her 80th birthday in Janurary 2017, comic actor David Walliams hosts this special night of entertainment paying tribute to Welsh diva Dame Sh...
Watch Now
David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey
1961
The Bing Crosby Show
0/0
Bing Crosby performs with special guests Bob Hope, Marion Ryan, Dave King, Terry-Thomas, and Shirley Bassey.
Watch Now
The Bing Crosby Show
1980
Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady
0/0
Recorded and broadcast by British TV (Thames Television) in 1980 with special guests Robert Goulet and Richard Clayderman
Watch Now
Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady
2014
More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On
0/0
More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On features previously banned songs by the BBC including "Lola" by the Kinks, "Jackie" by Scott Walker and...
Watch Now
More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On
2009
Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall
0/0
Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall is a charity music concert held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England on 12 November 2009. The conc...
Watch Now
Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall
2000
The Bond Sound: The Music of 007
6/3
Documentary discussing the many songs featured in the James Bond films
Watch Now
The Bond Sound: The Music of 007
1995
The World of James Bond
6/2
Elizabeth Hurley hosts a one hour documentary on the history of the James Bond film series to tie in with the seventeenth Bond film, GoldenEye.
Watch Now
The World of James Bond
2012
The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012
8.2/2
In the presence of HM the Queen and the royal family, an array of stars from the last sixty years of rock, pop and classical music perform on a specta...
Watch Now
The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012
2024
I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story
0/0
An aspiring singer is tasked with promoting the music catalogue of his great-grandfather, the famous songwriter Jimmy McHugh, recorded by everyone fro...
Watch Now
I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story
2001
An Audience with Des O'Connor
0/0
Des entertains a packed celebrity studio audience.
Watch Now
