The first edition of Spotlight was broadcast on the opening night of Channel Seven, Friday 16th October, 1959. The editions that followed were broadcast each Thursday from 10 to 10.30pm.

Phillip Edgley, Brian Card, Dianne Briggs, Judy Schonell, Dorothy & Bert Shaw and Reg Whiteman

It was a half hour variety show written and produced by Coralie Condon, directed by Beverly Gledhill and compered by Phillip Edgley. Phillip came from a well known theatrical family going back four generations. In 1968, the family business of Edgley and Dawe bought His Majesty’s Theatre, and were responsible for bringing many fine acts to Australia. Many of these were promoted by TVW Channel 7. When Phillip’s father Eric Edgley died in 1967, his brother Michael took over the Company at the age of 23. The years since have seen the “Michael Edgley Presents” logo on such renowned attractions as London’s Royal Ballet, the Bolshoi and Kirov Ballet companies, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Marcel Marceau, Torvill and Dean, the Moscow Circus and many, many more. Phillip, a son by Eric Edgley’s first marriage, died in 1999.

Compere Phillip Edgley with star Frankie Davidson and the cast

Acts on the show included four local dancers known as Guys and Dolls, which consisted of Dorothy and Bert Shaw and Judy Schonell and Reg Whiteman. Judy married actor Ron Graham and their son Marcus Graham became a well known actor too. Marcus even read the news on TVW for a short period. Reg Whiteman, who was a founding member of the WA Ballet, is well known to TV insiders for his long association with Fatcat. Dianne Briggs and Brian Card were another act, who along with compere Phillip Edgley, presented many song and dance numbers on the show. Other performers on Spotlight included Frankie Davidson, Colleen Clifford, Rolf Harris, Rhythm Spinners, Rhythmaires, The Four Notes, Bob & Shelda Wrightson and vocalist Maureen Corless. The Harry Bluck Band provided the musical backing.

TVW decided to discontinue Spotlight after sixteen episodes.