Synopsis
Ready Steady Go! is one of the UK's first rock/pop music television programmes and was a forerunner of MTV-type programming. It was conceived by Elkan Allan, head of Rediffusion TV. Allan was assisted by record producer/talent manager Vicki Wickham, who became the show's producer, and Michael Lindsay-Hogg who was appointed the show's director in 1965. It was broadcast from August 1963 until December 1966. It was produced by Associated-Rediffusion the weekday ITV contractor for London, called Rediffusion-London post 1964. The live show was eventually networked nationally. The show gained its highest ratings on 20 March 1964 when it featured the Beatles being interviewed and performing their songs "It Won't Be Long", "You Can't Do That" and "Can't Buy Me Love" - the last of which was a hit at the time. RSG! USA! was a Dick Clark production in 1964. A trademark infringement ended the show after six episodes. Its last episode was broadcast on 23 December 1966.
Episodes
1E1Pat Boone; Billy Fury; Brian Poole & The Tremeloes--Pat Boone --Chris Barber --Billy Fury - ""In Summer"" and ""Somebody Else's Girl"" --Brian Poole and The Tremeloes - ""Twist And South"" & ""Do You Love Me"" --Joyce Blair30m2E216 August 1963Guests unknown.
The presenters were Keith Fordyce and David Gell (both presenters had previously worked on ""Thank Your Lucky Stars"")30m3E3Rolling Stones; Peggy March; Jet Harris & Tony Meehan--Rolling Stones (1st appearance) - ""Come On""
Scheduled guests: --Jet Harris & Tony Meehan - ""Applejack"" --Little Peggy March - ""Hello Heartache Goodbye Love""30m4E4The Springfields; Johnny Kidd & the PiratesScheduled guests: --The Springfields - ""Come On Home"" --Johnny Kidd & the Pirates - ""I'll Never Get Over You""30m5E5The Searchers; Tommy Roe; Jimmy JusticeScheduled guests: --The Searchers - ""Sweets For My Sweet"" --Jimmy Justice --Tommy Roe - ""Everybody""30m6E6Freddy and the Dreamers; Kenny LynchScheduled guests: --Freddie and the Dreamers - ""I'm Telling You Now"" --Kenny Lynch30m7E7Acker Bilk; Hank Locklin; Duffy PowerScheduled guests: --Hank Locklin (country singer) --Acker Bilk --Duffy Power30m8E8Cilla Black; Adam Faith and the Roulettes--Cilla Black (her TV debut) - ""Love of the Loved"" (and possibly ""Shy of Love"")
Scheduled guests: --Adam Faith and the Roulettes - ""The First Time""30m9E9The Beatles / Helen Shapiro / Dusty Springfield--The Beatles (1st RSG! appearance) - ""Twist and Shout,"" ""I'll Get You"" & ""She Loves You"" --Dusty Springfield interviews the Beatles (individually) --Helen Shapiro - ""Look Who It Is"" (with cameos by John, Ringo and George). --Paul McCartney judges a mime contest (""Mime Time""): Four girls lip-synch to Brenda Lee's ""Let's Jump the Broomstick.""
Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers30m10E10Brian Poole & The Tremeloes / Polly PerkinsScheduled guests: --Brian Poole & The Tremeloes --Polly Perkins30m11E11Brook Benton; Dee Dee Sharp; Dion; Timi YuroScheduled guests: --Brook Benton --Dion --Dee Dee Sharp --Timi Yuro30m12E12Del Shannon; Joe Brown & the Bruvvers; Billy J. KramerScheduled guests: --Joe Brown and the Bruvvers - ""Sally Ann"" --Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas --Del Shannon - ""Sue's Gotta Be Mine"" --Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers --The Tornadoes30m13E13Mark Wynter; Tommy Quickly; The Big Three; Polly PerkinsScheduled guests: --Mary Wynter - ""It's Almost Tomorrow"" --The Caravelles --Polly Perkins --The Big Three --Tommy Quickly30m14E14The Dave Clark Five; John Leyton; Patsy Ann NobleScheduled guests: --John Leyton --The Dave Clark Five - ""Glad All Over"" (charted 21Nov63 UK) --Patsy Ann Noble ""It's Better To Cry Today"" --Michael Cox
Also: --The Beatles - ""She Loves You"" (repeat clip from the 4 October 1963 show)30m15E15Dusty Springfield; Brian Poole & TremeloesScheduled guests: --Brian Poole and the Tremeloes - ""I Can Dance"" (charted 28Nov63 UK) --Dusty Springfield - ""I Only Want To Be With You"" --Johnny Kidd & The Pirates --Heinz --Gene Pitney
Another souce listed these guests: --Brook Benton --Lesley Gore --Trini Lopez --Timi Yuro30m16E16Rolling Stones; Gerry & the Pacemakers; Freddie & the Dreamers--The Rolling Stones - ""I Wanna Be Your Man"" Scheduled guests: --Gerry and the Pacemakers - ""You'll Never Walk Alone"" --Freddie and the Dreamers - ""You Were Made For Me"" --Kathy Kirby - ""Secret Love"" --Kenny Lynch --Mitch Murray30m17E17The Hollies; Manfred Mann; Mike Same; Glenda CollinsScheduled guests: --The Hollies - ""Stay"" --Mike Same --Manfred Mann --Glenda Collins --The Orchids - ""Gonna Make Him Mine""30m18E18Adam Faith; Ted Heath; The Searchers; Marty WildeScheduled guests: --Adam Faith and the Roulettes - ""We Are In Love"" --The Searchers - ""Sugar and Spice"" --Marty Wilde --Daryl Quist --Chris Sandford --Ted Heath30m19E19The Dave Clark 5; Mike Hurst; Doug SheldonScheduled guests: --The Dave Clark Five - ""Glad All Over"" --Mike Hurst (formerly of the Springfields) --Doug Sheldon30m20E20Dusty Springfield; Billy Fury; The FourmostScheduled guests: --Billy Fury --Dusty Springfield --The Fourmost - ""I'm in Love""30m21E21The Rolling Stones; Stevie Wonder; Andrew Loog Oldham--The Rolling Stones - ""I Wanna Be Your Man"" --Stevie Wonder --Andrew Loog Oldham, guest DJ30m22E22RSG! The New Year Starts Here! (1964 New Years Show)The Beatles (from their 4 October 1963 appearace) --Cilla Black --The Dave Clark Five --Adam Faith --The Fourmost --Kirby Kirby --Kenny Lynch --Ray Martine --Tommy Quickly --The Roulettes --Mike Sarne --The Searchers --Mark Wynter30m23E23The Ronettes; Dave Berry; Georgie FameScheduled guests: --The Ronettes - ""Baby I Love You"" --Tony Meehan and his Combo - ""Song Of Mexico"" --Dave Berry - ""My Baby Left Me"" --Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames30m24E24The Classmates; Manfred Mann; Helen Shapiro--Georgie Fame - ""Do The Dog""
Scheduled guests: --Helen Shapiro - ""Fever"" --Manfred Mann - ""5-4-3-2-1"" --The Classmates30m25E25Joe Brown & his Bruvvers; Eden Kane; Marty WildeScheduled guests: --Joe Brown and his Bruvvers --Eden Kane - ""Boys Cry"" --Marty Wilde and the Velvettes30m26E26The Bachelors; The Searchers; Tony Sheridan; Phil SpectorScheduled guests: --The Searchers - ""Needles & Pins"" --Susan Maughan --The Bachelors --Cloe --Tony Sheridan --Phil Spector30m27E27Cilla Black; Gerry & the Pacemakers; MerseybeatsScheduled guests: --Gerry and the Pacemakers - ""I'm The One"" --Brian Poole and the Tremeloes - ""Candy Man"" --Cilla Black - ""Anyone Who Had A Heart"" --The Merseybeats - ""I Think Of You"" --The Barron Knights - ""Comin' Home Baby""30m28E28Kiki Dee; Ben E. King; The Kinks; Manfred Mann--The Kinks - ""Long Tall Sally""
Scheduled guests: --John Leyton --Eden Kane - ""Boys Cry"" --Ben E. King --Manfred Mann - ""5-4-3-2-1"" --Kiki Dee --Denny Seyton and the Sabres30m29E29The Crystals; Kenny Lynch; Dusty Springfield; Rolling Stones--Rolling Stones - ""Not Fade Away,"" ""I Wanna Be Your Man"" and ""You Better Move On""
Scheduled guests: --The Crystals - ""I Wonder"" --Dusty Springfield - ""Stay Awhile"" --Kenny Lynch --The Laurie Jay Combo --Heinz and the Woodpeckers30m30E30Dave Clark 5; Freddie & the Dreamers; Francoise HardyScheduled guests: --The Dave Clark Five - ""Bits & Pieces"" --Freddie and the Dreamers --Big Dee Irwin --Françoise Hardy --Jess Conrad --Tommy Quickly30m31E31The Hollies; Gene Pitney; Billy J. KramerScheduled guests: --The Hollies - ""Just One Look"" --Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas - ""Little Children"" --Gene Pitney - ""That Girl Belongs To Yesterday"" --Kathy Kirby - ""Let Me Go Lover"" --The Zephyrs30m32E32Adam Faith; The Merseybeats; Mike HurstScheduled guests: --Adam Faith and the Roulettes - ""If He Tells You"" --The Merseybeats - ""I Think Of You"" --Mike Hurst --JKP --Louise Cordet --The McKinleys --The Marauders30m33E33Petula Clark; Bern Elliott & Fenmen; Julie GrantScheduled guests: --Petula Clark (guest DJ) --Bern Elliott & Fenmen - ""New Orleans"" --Julie Grant --The Inferno --SBJ30m34E34The Beatles / The Animals / Dusty Springfield--The Beatles (2nd RSG! appearance) - ""It Won't Be Long,"" ""You Can't Do That"" & ""Can't Buy Me Love"" --Dusty Springfield - ""Everyday I Have to Cry"" --The Animals - ""Baby, Let Me Take You Home"" --Bobby Vee - ""Buddy's Song""
--John Lennon, amateur DJ of the Week, selects Alma Cogan's ""Tennessee Waltz."" ""
Additional guest (scheduled to appear): --Millicent Martin30m35E35The Rolling Stones; Manfred Mann; Billy J. Kramer--The Rolling Stones - ""Not Fade Away"" and ""I Just Wanna Make Love To You"" --Mic Jagger interview (by Cathy McGowan)
Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas --Manfred Mann - ""Hubble Bubble (Toil & Trouble)"" --Sounds Incorporated - ""The Spartans"" --Madeline Bell - ""Don't Cross to My Side""30m36E36Rave Mad Mod BallCharity show broadcast live from the Empire Pool, Wembley
--Rolling Stones - ""Walking The Dog,"" ""Not Fade Away,"" ""High Heeled Sneakers"" and ""I'm All Right""
Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas --The Fourmost --The Merseybeats --Sounds Incorporated --The Searchers --Cilla Black --Freddie & The Dreamers --Kenny Lynch --Manfred Mann30m37E37The Searchers / Peter, Paul & MaryScheduled guests: --The Searchers - ""Don't Throw Your Love Away"" --Peter Paul and Mary - ""Tell It To The Mountain"" --Richard Anthony - ""If I Loved You"" --The Applejacks - ""Tell Me When"" --Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames30m38E38Roy Orbison; Dave Berry; The FourmostScheduled guests: --Roy Orbison - ""It's Over"" --Helen Shapiro --Kathy Kirby - ""You're The One"" --The Fourmost - ""A Little Loving"" --Dave Berry - ""Baby It's You"" --The Escourts --Van Dyke and the Bambies --The Gamblers30m39E39Golden Rose TV-festival, Montreux, SwitzerlandFrom Montreux, Switzerland: --The Rolling Stones - ""Mona,"" ""Route 66"" and ""Not Fade Away"" --Petula Clark --Kenny Lynch - ""Stand By Me"" --Les Surfs
Plus, The Beatles - ""Can't Buy Me Love"" (repeat from 20-Mar-64)
Additional guests (scheduled to appear):
--Les Milliles --Adamo30m40E40Cilla Black; Billy Fury; The Four PenniesScheduled guests: --Cilla Black - ""You're My World"" --Billy Fury
--The Four Pennies - ""Juliet"" --Freddie and the Dreamers - ""I Love You Baby"" --Tommy Quickly --Bobby Shafto
Surviving footage (probably from 1 May 1964): --Lulu - ""Shout"" --Cilla Black - ""You're My World"" --Billy Fury - ""I Will"" and ""Nothin' Shakin' (but the Leaves On The Trees)"" --The Four Pennies - ""Juliet"" --""Mime Time"" contest - Four girls mime to Ella Fitzgerald's ""Can't Buy Me Love"" Judge: Lionel Morton (of the Four Pennies). --Keith Fordyce interviews P.J. Proby. Proby talks about his previous career...doing demo discs for Elvis Presley. The audience dances to Proby's record ""Hold Me.""30m41E41The Animals; Little Richard; Brian Poole & the Tremeloes; Carl PerkinsScheduled guests: --Little Richard - ""Bama Lama Bama Loo"" --Carl Perkins --The Animals --The Fourmost --Brian Poole and the Tremeloes - ""Someone Someone"" --Mike Berry --The Swinging Blue Jeans30m42E42Dave Clark 5; The Hollies; Eden Kane; The Pretty ThingsScheduled guests: --The Dave Clark Five - ""Can't You See That She's Mine"" --The Hollies - ""Here I Go Again"" --Eden Kane --Susan Maughan --The Pretty Things --The Andree Silver --The Monotones30m43E43Françoise Hardy; Little Richard; Dionne Warwick; The Yardbirds--The Yardbirds - ""I Wish You Would""
Other guests (scheduled to appear): --Dionne Warwick - ""Walk On By"" --Little Richard - ""Bama Lama Bama Loo"" --Francoise Hardy - ""Tous Les Garcons Et Les Filles"" --The Dennisons - ""Walkin' The Dog"" --Mark Wynter - ""Only You"" --The Laurie Jay Combo30m44E44Swinging Blue Jeans; Merseybeats; Kenny LynchScheduled guests: --The Swinging Blue Jeans - ""You're No Good"" --The Merseybeats - ""Why Not Tonight"" --Kenny Lynch - ""Stand By Me"" --The Remo Four --Polly Perkins --The Mojos30m45E45Adam Faith; The Applejacks; The FortunesScheduled guests: --Adam Faith and the Roulettes - ""I Love Being In Love With You"" --The Applejacks - ""Like Dreamers Do"" --The Fortunes - ""Come On Girl""30m46E46Peter & Gordon; Dave Clark 5; Jimmy PowellScheduled guests: --The Dave Clark Five - ""Can't You See That She's Mine"" --Peter and Gordon - ""Nobody I Know"" --Jimmy Powell and The 5 Dimensions --Dusty Springfield30m47E47The Animals; Crickets; Davie Jones & the King BeesScheduled guests: --The Animals - ""House Of The Rising Sun"" --The Crickets - ""(They Call Her) La Bamba"" --Troy Dante & The Infernos - ""Tell Me When"" --Davie Jones (David Bowie) and the King Bees30m48E48The Rolling Stones; Millie Small; Merseybeats--The Rolling Stones - ""It's All Over Now"" and ""Good Times Bad Times""
Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --The Jynx --Millie Small (a.k.a. Millie) - ""Sweet William"" --The Merseybeats - ""Wishin' & Hopin'"" --The McKinleys --Janice Nichols (TV personality) appearing on RSG! as the ""Mime Time"" judge.30m49E493 July 1964 (pre-empted)Note: The 3 July 1964 RSG show was cancelled.
Scheduled guests: --Long John Baldrey --Marianne Faithfull --Inez And Charlie Foxx --Francois Hardy --The Rattlers --The Roulettes --The Swinging Blue Jeans30m50E50Manfred Mann; Dusty Springfield; The SearchersScheduled guests: --Manfred Mann - ""Do Wah Diddy Diddy"" --The Searchers - ""Someday We're Gonna Love Again"" --Dusty Springfield - ""I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself"" --The Four Pennies - ""I Found Out The Hard Way"" --The Pete Best Four --The Leroys30m51E5117 July 1964--Guests unknown (The TV listings only mentioned presenters Keith Fordyce and Cathy McGowen.)30m52E52Rolling Stones; The Animals; The Mojos; Sandie Shaw--The Rolling Stones - ""It's All Over Now""
Scheduled guests: --The Animals - ""House of the Rising Sun"" --The Mojos - ""Why Not Tonight"" --Sandie Shaw - ""As Long As You're Happy Baby"" --The Fourmost --The Paramounts --Kingsize Taylor And The Dominoes - ""Somebody's Always Trying""30m53E53The Kinks; Manfred Mann; The Four PenniesScheduled guests: --The Kinks - ""You Really Got Me"" --Manfred Mann - ""Do Wah Diddy Diddy"" --The Four Pennies - "" Found Out The Hard Way"" --Kenny Lynch - ""What Am I To You"" (or ""My Own Two Feet"") --Simon Scott - ""Move It Baby"" --Peter Lee Stirling --The Shevelles --The Leroys30m54E54Rolling Stones; Cilla Black; Nashville Teens--The Rolling Stones - ""It's All Over Now""
Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --Cilla Black - ""It's For You"" --The Nashville Teens - ""Tobacco Road"" --Brian Poole and the Tremeloes - ""Twelve Steps To Love"" --Kenny Lynch - ""What Am I To You""30m55E55Swinging Blue Jeans; Georgie Fame; The NaturalsScheduled guests: --Georgie Fame --Swinging Blue Jeans --The Naturals - ""I Should Have Known Better"" --Alexis Korner and Blues Incorporated --Johnny Milton and the Condors --Julie Grant30m56E56Brenda Lee; Helen Shapiro; Wayne GibsonScheduled guests: --Helen Shapiro --Brenda Lee - ""Is It True"" --Wayne Gibson and the Dynamic Sounds --Duffy Power30m57E57Gerry & the Pacemakers / Lulu / Dusty Springfield / Mark WynterScheduled guests: --Gerry and the Pacemakers - ""It's Gonna Be Alright"" --Mark Wynter --The Mojos - ""Seven Daffodils""
Surviving footage (probably from 28 Aug 1964): --Gerry and the Pacemakers - ""It's Gonna Be Alright"" --Dusty Springfield - ""Can I Get A Witness?"" --Mark Wynter - ""Love Hurts"" --Lulu - ""Can't Hear You"" --audience dances to ""Rag Doll"" (Four Seasons record) --audience dances to ""You Never Can Tell"" (Chuck Berry record)
Additional footage (from 28 Aug 1964?) --The Moody Blues - ""Lose Your Money""30m
