Bootleg Betty
Video: Bette Midler One Night Only
By Mister D
August 12, 2026
Bette Midler One Night Only (ITV, 15 December 2014) was a one-hour UK television special celebrating 50 years of The Divine Miss M, marking her first-ever UK TV special.
Hosted by Joanna Lumley, it blended live musical performances, career retrospectives, and candid conversation. It was a lively tribute to Midler’s longevity, humor, and impact on show business.
Core takeaway: Bette Midler One Night Only aired as a celebratory ITV music special, with her performing classics. Additionally, it previewed It’s The Girls! and showed her chatting with Joanna Lumley about her five-decade career.
The special included musical performances showcased signature hits and new material from her upcoming album, It’s The Girls! It’s The Girls!, a tribute to iconic girl groups. Confirmed songs included. This aligns with Bette Midler One Night Only.
“Wind Beneath My Wings”
“From a Distance”
“The Rose”
These were interspersed with selections from It’s The Girls! (Supremes, Ronettes, TLC, etc.), marking her first studio album in eight years.
Conversation & Career Retrospective
Joanna Lumley guided Bette through:
reflections on 50 years in entertainment,
stories from her early days through her film, Broadway, and recording triumphs,
discussion of her 2015 UK tour and new album,
plenty of comedy, as expected from both women.
The Harlettes
The special featured appearances by members of The Harlettes — Bette’s legendary backing trio — adding classic Divine Miss M flavor.
Production Details
Network: ITV (UK)
Runtime: 60 minutes
Filming Location: The London Studios, South Bank
Air Date: 15 December 2014
Why It Mattered
This was a milestone: despite her massive UK fanbase, Bette had never headlined a UK TV special before 2014. She herself joked, “What have we been waiting for all these years?”
The special functioned as both a celebration and a re?introduction, timed perfectly with her album release and upcoming tour — a strategic, glamorous UK media moment.
