Remember those Friday evenings in the Sixties when nobody could bear to be
away from their TV at 6.00pm and miss Ready, Steady Go? The ITV show started
in 1963, and soon evolved into an amazingly vibrant addition to the meagre
rations of pop we had at that time. RSG is always recalled as the hippest of
shows, fronted by the 'smashing, terrific' Cathy McGowan, but it didn't
start out that way. The first show, presented by Keith Fordyce and David
Gell, featured Pat Boone and Chris Barber. Trad jazz was still popular in
1963.

For most of us, RSG was a 'nose-pressed-against-the windowpane' experience;
an exclusive club where we knew the style police would never allow us
admission. We were too young to go in and couldn't even dance! But we could
dream of dancing amongst those amazingly-hip slightly older kids with their
Vidal haircuts, mod suits and Mary Quant dresses, displaying money and looks
beyond our reach. Best of all, members of the RSG audience stood a good
chance to being seen on TV, within touching distance of a famous pop star.
We never gave up dreaming.

On Tuesday, February 14th, 2030 - 2130, BBC Radio 2 remembers RSG in a
programme hosted by Sandie Shaw. Visit the Radio 2 website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/documentaries/#startcontent for exclusive
on-line interviews and to add your own memories of the show.

http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/kneesflashes/happenings/janfebmarch06/hapjanfebmarch1.html#updates