‘Elvis kissed me, Petula Clark hated me & I danced NAKED at 15’ 1960s legend reveals all

New autobiography Being Me reveals the glittering career of the British singer-songwriter. 

Jackie’s journey from Staffordshire-born coal miner’s daughter to the toast of the entertainment industry is told in her own words, with the candour and humour for which she was renowned. 

As one of the most celebrated singers and lyricists of her time, Jackie was best known for her creative partnership with her second husband Tony Hatch, with whom she wrote countless major hits for international stars. 

Although she counted Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Bea Arthur of the Golden Girls among her many celebrity friends, Jackie remained a shy and unassuming woman, even in the face of success and her glamorous life. 

Jackie passed away in 2015 but Colin Gregory, her third husband, has fulfilled his wife’s dream of sharing her life story with the world and given Express Online exclusive access to some of her most outrageous and extraordinary memories. 

1. Petula Clark and Claude Wolff – didn’t like me!

‘Claude is quoted: “I find Jackie Trent rather vulgar and uninteresting. 

“I felt that a person like that couldn’t write good songs. Pet had nothing in common with Jackie (how true, Sir!) I was afraid that if she was going to write all the lyrics, they weren’t going to be terribly good…”

In all, Tony and I would co-write 22 hit songs for Petula Clark and some 400 songs together in total.

So I didn’t do such a bad job, did I, Claude?’ 

2. 1991 TV series – This Is Your Life Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent.

Petula Clark appeared on stage, saying: “[Jackie and Tony]…they changed my life. They changed the whole course of my career.”’ 

And yet Pet Clark constantly omits Jackie from the joint credit of her hit songs.

3. Beatles Big Night Out – 29 February, 1963

‘I was the female star of the show, some of it filmed on the Thames. It was bloody cold! 

Ringo caught me holding a packet of cigarettes: “Got any ciggies to spare, Jackie?” I gave him the whole packet. Brian Epstein kept the lads on a tight budget, £25 a week, so they were often short of cash. 

After the recording sessions we all went to a party together. Alma Cogan was our host, Cary Grant was in town and Alma loved Cary, so she threw a party for him and the Beatles. 

Everyone was there…

4. My Date with Elvis Presley

‘We had a three night tour of an Army base in Freidberg, Germany. I was told: “Jackie, there’s someone I’d like you to meet…” 

I walked in through the front door of a house in Bad Neuheim, off-base, to find the King of Rock and Roll himself smiling shyly at me: “Welcome, priddy lady. Come sit down over he-ah. Ah’m Elvis.” 

As if I needed to be told. I nearly fainted! We sang together. 

We talked plenty, and I kinda fell in love with Elvis… After a while we slipped off into the back room and canoodled a little…

5. The Windmill Theatre, Soho – Nude! Soho, London 1956 – age 15. 

‘I just caught the train from Stoke-on-Trent to London, heading for the bright lights and fame: no contacts, no agent, no work – nothing I was that determined to make it to the top! 

And I knew I was good… A billboard outside the Windmill theatre in Soho read: ‘Auditions held daily. Enquire at stage door. 

I auditioned and they told me: “Now you understand, you have to do a cameo nude appearance onstage…so we’ll have to see you nude…”’

Jackie took the job, in fact she started the very next day and proved a hit with the clients. But she quit after only 3 weeks, before her father came down to London to check on her. 

6. Aristotle Onassis tries to seduce me – Famagusta, Cyprus 1959

‘One sparkly night the club manager was unusually attentive. After the show, we were invited to a large table of obviously rich men, with six silver buckets of Dom Perignon set around. 

I kept emptying my glass into the plant pots…

Onassis said: “Jackie, that is your name? You are so beautiful…I would like to know you better…” 

“Not likely,” I thought, “You make my skin crawl.” 

The manager added: “Aristotle Onassis has invited you to his yacht for the rest of the evening…”

Onassis’ yacht was moored in the harbour, but in open water, not at the quay. Jackie feared that, once on board, she might be wresting someone’s advances; either that or swimming for shore. 

In her words, she ‘threw a wobbly and went home.’

Being Me by Jackie Trent (published by Clink Street Publishing 24th October 2017 RRP £9.99 paperback) is available to purchase from online retailers including amazon.co/uk and to order from all good bookstores. 

For more information please visit jackietrent.com.