Taylor, Shaw

Born Eric Stanley in Hackney, London, Taylor was known professionally by his stage name Shaw throughout his career.

Following service in the RAF, Taylor trained at RADA before pursuing stage acting in the West End. His theatrical credits included a two-year run in Agatha Christie’s The Hollow and Dangerous Curves.

Taylor secured a variety of acting roles in film and television throughout the 1950s, including BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: Caesar’s Wife (BBC TV, 1951), Captain Brassbound’s Conversion (BBC TV, 1953) and More Than Robbery (BBC TV, 1958).

His appearances in BBC TV Children’s Television programmes:

• Imposter’s Gold (1954);
• The Cabin in the Clearing (1954);
• The Gordon Honour (1956);
• Six Red Hairs (1957);
• The Royal Astrologers (1957);
• The Silver Sword (1957);
• The Dangerous Game (1958).

During March 1957, Taylor joined Associated TeleVision (ATV) as an announcer, substituting when the regular announcers were unavailable. This role continued until 1959.

Taylor’s game show presenting work for ATV included:

• Password;
• Tell the Truth (1959 and 1961)
• Dotto;
• This Is Your Chance;
• Pencil and Paper (1960 – 1962).

His acting roles in television programmes:

• Himself in The Larkins (1960);
• Hancock (ATV, 1963);
• Himself in Crossroads (ATV, 26th February 1965);
• Girls About Town (ATV, 1970);
• Newscaster in The Misfit (ATV, 1970);
• Newsreader in Alexander the Greatest (1972);
• TV announcer in Nobody Is Norman Widom (1973);
• TV commentator in ITV Playhouse: Last Summer (1977);
• TV space reporter in The Medusa Touch (1978);
• TV announcer in Turtle’s Progress (1979);
• Let’s Parlez Franglais (1984).

Taylor presented Glamour (1963), a light entertainment regional beauty contest produced by Anglia TV.

He served as compère in The Wednesday Play: Why Aren’t You Famous? (BBC One, 1966) and appeared in Decide for Yourself (BBC One, 1969).

During 1972, Taylor presented a pilot episode of Whodunnit? on ITV before Edward Woodward assumed hosting duties for the first series (1973) and Jon Pertwee took over from series two to six (1974 – 1978).

Taylor achieved greatest recognition for presenting Police 5, a long-running five-minute television programme that encouraged public assistance in solving crimes. The programme first aired in the London area during 1962.

Taylor both presented and produced several regional versions of Police 5, including editions for ATV and Central in the Midlands and TVS in the South and South East of England, where the series concluded its 30-year run in December 1992.

Subsequently, he presented a spin-off programme produced by LWT for younger viewers entitled Junior Police 5, also known as JP5 (c. 1972 – c. 1975).

His signature catchphrase was “Keep ’em peeled!” – encouraging viewers to remain vigilant.

According to Taylor’s own account, this originated at the end of every JP5 programme:

“At the suggestion of a friend I tried it out on the adult Police 5. I thought it sounded a bit naff at first, but then the studio crew seemed to get withdrawal symptoms if I didn’t say it at the end of the programme and it became a catchphrase that complete strangers still shout at me in the street.”

Taylor participated in televised appeals for Crimestoppers UK.

His guest appearances included:

• It’s a Celebrity Knockout (BBC One, 1976, 1978 – 1979);
• Noel’s House Party (BBC One, 1993);
• Birds of a Feather (BBC One, 1990).

Taylor presented Merry-Go-Round: The Detectives under the For Schools, Colleges banner (BBC One, 1978) and the Supersleuth competition within the Saturday morning children’s show, Get Set (BBC One, 1983).

He co-presented Whodunnit? with James Burke, featuring guests who unravelled a murder on the Orient Express (BBC Two, 1982).

At the age of 83 in 2008, Taylor featured as himself hosting Police 5 in the seventh episode of the BBC TV drama Ashes to Ashes. Set in October 1981, the episode showcased his aforementioned “Keep ’em peeled!” catchphrase.

During 2014, at the age of 89, Taylor returned to television with a weekly segment on the new Channel 5 version of Police 5, reviving his “keep ’em peeled!” catchphrase.

Throughout the early 1960s, Taylor and Muriel Young co-hosted a music programme on Radio Luxembourg called The Friday Spectacular.

On BBC Radio 2, Taylor presented Late Night Extra (1971 – 1973) and served as chairman on:

• The 78 Show (1974- 1976);
• Pros and Cons (1975 – 1976);
• The Law Game (1976 – 1983 and 1985 – 1992).

Taylor was an accomplished bridge player and presented a television series on the subject.

Taylor died at his Isle of Wight home, aged 90.

 

Personal information

Clips of Shaw on The TV Room

Shaw may be featured in video/audio clips on our other websites. Click the links below to display a listing (a 404 error will appear if no clips are found):

Rewind | Clean Feed

Online presence

Acknowledgements