Ready, Steady, Go!

The ultimate 60s pop show presented by Keith Fordyce and Cathy MacGowan was a staple part of TV in the early part of the decade. It had a simple formula – to showcase artists from both the UK and USA (usually miming), alongside an audience who danced or stood around during the performances.

MacGowan was an irritating, mini-skirted, giggler, while Fordyce would have looked more at home as an assistant in a furniture shop – still, it was a start and pre-dated Radio 1's Top of the Pops by a few years. Big names who appeared on Ready, Steady, Go, included Dusty Springfield, Del Shannon, the Animals, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and Dave Berry. The theme tune was provided by Manfred Mann (the catchy 54321).

Perhaps it was not the most inventive of music shows – and suffered from the miming aspect which made most artists look ridiculous as they lip synched to a track which resounded around the huge space miles away from where they were standing. It was hardly definitive but was the first attempt on British TV (after 6-5 Special) to provide a weekly showcase for the movers and shakers of popular music. As Cathy MacGowan would say, 'The weekend starts here …'.