Background
He was born in Falkirk, Scotland.
He was born in Falkirk, Scotland.
He was educated at Southgate County School in North London.
Mitchell was a pianist before his World World War II military service. During the war, he served with the Royal Army Pay Corps at Finsbury Circus. This posting enabled him to organise choirs within the armed forces and put on shows at the Cripplegate Theatre among others
After the war he formed the George Mitchell Choir for British Broadcasting Corporation radio.
After some success, the name was changed to the George Mitchell Glee Club, and it continued in that form until 1957, when the George Mitchell Minstrels were created. In 1958, the Minstrels, in red make-up which looked black on camera, transferred to television
The show was an enormous hit, with a peak viewing audience of 16.5 million viewers in 1964. The show appeared in a prime-time slot for twenty years, but during the 1970s its popularity declined, partly because of the style of music becoming dated and partly because of an increase in racial awareness.
lieutenant was axed by the British Broadcasting Corporation after several unsuccessful attempts to change the format.
Mitchell was awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1975. The minstrel show continued to be performed on stage until 1992.