BBC reporter who was the first to see Elvis dead in his coffin admits truths

‘We are sure that you, standing in the cemetery, were the first person to report that some people were refusing to believe that he was dead . . . and, well, there have been numerous alleged sightings of him over the years.’

I was interviewed and the programme re-ran my report from 1977. What he didn’t ask was how I could know for sure that it was Elvis in the coffin.

And of course, I couldn’t. I had never seen him in the flesh before that morning.

So, when you next read about Elvis Presley being spotted, aged 83, down at the chip shop or on the Moon, you now know who to blame: Me.

At the very moment Elvis’s coffin was being lowered into its grave at Forest Hill, his latest record went to No 1 in the U.S. and the UK.

Its title? Way Down. Its chorus? ‘Way down, down, way, way on down’. Strange.

Tomorrow, on the anniversary of his death, Elvis fans will be packing 250 cinemas across the UK and Ireland for a special screening of his famous ‘Comeback’ concert in 1968, broadcast by the American NBC network 50 years ago.

After seven years making films, the then 33-year-old had wanted to get back to live music and had never sounded or looked better — relaxed, svelte, dressed top to toe in black leather with the curling lip and piercing stare as provocative as ever.

Diehard fans fell in love with him all over again and it won him a legion of new, younger admirers.

That show was credited with putting him back on top, which is where he stayed until his death was revealed to a shocked world on a sunny afternoon just nine years later.

PREV | NEXTPOST

[shareaholic app="recommendations" id="28331636"]

9 thoughts on “BBC reporter who was the first to see Elvis dead in his coffin admits truths

  1. I knew that he did not die he signed his own death certificate and one of his life insurance is still not being claimed because if they did Elvis would go to jail because of fraud

  2. What a Bull Story……
    There Were Over 100 Elvis Fans At The Gate…

    The Lighting Bolt T.C.B. On The Tail Of The Lisa Marie Jet ….

    Not The First To See Elvis In The Casket…

    To Many Facts Are Wrong From This Reporter ……

    Fake News …..

  3. I did wardrobe for Elvis and his band was friends with JD Sumner . Elvis was always happy and sure a bit heavy but looked fine . I believe this story is embellished not completely true.

Leave a Reply