Variety Playhouse was a radio programme on the BBC Home Service during the 1950s and early 1960s.
Regular features included a comedian and an up-and-coming opera singer.
The final feature often was "Variety Playhouse Pocket Theatre", starring Jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge in a short, specially written play.
Besides providing a rousing ending, this helped to smooth out any deviations from the planned length in the timing of this live show.
He wrote of Oliver's "hard and often thankless work" in auditioning young and unknown musicians for the opportunity to broadcast for the first time in Variety Playhouse.