Sandford played roles in several shows in the West End and on tour between 1950 and 1956, including "Carousel" at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (1950–51) (understudying and appearing as Billy Bigelow); on tour as Count Igor Staniev in "King's Rhapsody"; as Sandy Twist in "Paint Your Wagon" at His Majesty's Theatre (1953–54); in "Kismet" (understudying and going on for Alfred Drake) and 800 performances starring in a revue called "Jokers Wild" with The Crazy Gang at Victoria Palace Theatre (1954–56). In April 1955, he appeared in the Royal Variety Show supporting The Crazy Gang in a bill that featured Gracie Fields, George Formby and the young team of Morecambe and Wise. He also sang in concert as a tenor during this period, including a Wigmore Hall recital in April 1951 in songs by composers as diverse as Wolf-Ferrari, Rachmaninoff and Medtner.