ITV look at the Nation’s Favourite Elvis Song

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film: Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970)
ITV are to air a 90-minute special on the most popular Elvis Presley songs.

The special tells the story behind the 20 greatest songs ever recorded by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and reveals The Nation’s Favourite Elvis Song.

Elvis Presley changed the music world forever and was one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century.

He holds the record for Most Hit Singles on the US Chart and Most Hit Albums on the UK Chart, and his legacy continues to influence generations.

Mixing rich archive footage and home videos with new interviews, the documentary paints a picture of the man behind the music, telling the story of how these timeless songs came about and what impact they had on the world.

The show features different generations of international pop stars and musicians influenced by Elvis including Michael Bublé, Sir Cliff Richard, Suzi Quatro, Michael Ball, Englebert Humperdink and Cerys Matthews.

Priscilla Presley, Elvis’s ex-wife and mother to their daughter Lisa Marie Presley, is also featured exclusively in the documentary, giving a rare interview about the King and his music.

When Elvis sang a song that he loved, he’d get lost. He’d forget people were around. You’re witnessing a moment, you almost feel like you’re invading his privacy. – Priscilla

The programme also hears from those who worked with Elvis, from songwriters to backing singers and session musicians.
The documentary ventures into Elvis’ former home in Memphis, Graceland, following in the footsteps of nearly 20 million visitors, to see how popular the King remains to this day.

The 20 classic Elvis tracks featured in the show have been selected in consultation with the Elvis Presley estate, based on record sales, cultural impact and significance in Elvis’s career. The order was voted for by a large, representative panel of ITV viewers from across the country. A CD release will follow containing the music.

The countdown, narrated by Zoe Ball, airs on Friday November 8th at 9pm on ITV, STV and UTV