| No, Honestly | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Lynsey de Paul |
| B-Side: | Central Park Arrest |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Length: | 3:31 |
| Label: | Jet Records |
| Producer: | Lynsey de Paul |
| Prev Title: | Ooh I Do |
| Prev Year: | 1974 |
| Next Title: | My Man and Me |
| Next Year: | 1975 |
"No, Honestly" is a song written, performed and produced by Lynsey de Paul, that was the theme for London Weekend Television's comedy series of the same name, although the single release was a slightly different version from that used for the TV theme.
The song was the first released on 18 October 1974 on the Jet Records label established by Don Arden.[1] It peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart,[2] [3] and No. 4 on the Northern Ireland chart at the beginning of December that year.[4] It also climbed to the No. 3 spot on Capitol Radio's Capital Countdown on 23 November 1974, as compiled by the Media Research Information Bureau (MRIB).[5]
The B-side of the single was de Paul's version of "Central Park Arrest";[6] a hit earlier in the year that she had originally written for the female group, Thunderthighs.[7] In 1975, de Paul received an Ivor Novello Award for Best Theme from a Radio or TV Production.[8] An instrumental version of the song was used as the theme for the second series, Yes, Honestly.[9]
The song still gets airplay on various radio stations around the world,[10] [11] and it was played on Weatherfield Hospital Radio by DJ Geoff on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street on 20 July 2020.[12]
It was covered by the Brazilian singer Jeannie, on the various artists album, Discoteca Hippopotamus, in 1975.[13] [14] A Danish version of "No Honestly" was released as a single by Vivian in 1976.[15] [16] The Bruce Baxter Orchestra, The Ray Hartley Orchestra and The Starshine Orchestra have performed versions for albums of famous TV theme songs.[17] [18] [19]