Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong, the well-known real life American jazz trumpeter and vocalist, makes an appearance in the ITV's 2007 adaptation of the novel At Bertram's Hotel. He is a guest at the hotel and is probably there for the "Festival of Britain". He is seen in an early scene where he comes down from his room with his band and set up in one of the hotel public rooms for a rehearsal. Armstrong tells the hotel manager Mr Humfries that his room was too small for rehearsal so he moved downstairs. Humfries is a little horrified but needs to balance that with not wanting to offend his famous guest so he merely asks him to play music which is not "too jazzy". The hotel guests don't seem to mind, however, and many soon start dancing to his music.

Armstrong's presence also serves to introduce Amelia Walker, a jazz singer, apparently an acquaintance of his. She steps into the room halfway, joins the band and starts singing but she stops abruptly when Bess Sedgwick makes an entrace. Armstrong's music also serves as a vehicle to introduce Elvira Blake and Ladislaus Malinowski. Elvira discovers that he is in the room and insists on dancing with him, despite Bess's disapproval.

Louis Armstrong is portrayed by Shenton Dixon.