Ready Steady Go

Ready Steady Go or simply RSG was one of the UKs first rock / pop music TV programmes. It was first broadcast in August 1963 and ran until December 1966. It was produced by Associated-Rediffusion (later re-named Rediffusion) which had the ITV franchise for the London region. The show was so successful it eventually went out live nationally. It was contemporary with the surge in British pop music of the 1960s and the rise of the Beatles.

Related Topics:
UK - 1963 - 1966 - Associated-Rediffusion - Rediffusion - ITV - London - 1960s - Beatles

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The show went out on Friday evenings with the by-line The weekend starts here!, and was introduced each week by Manfred Mann's "5-4-3-2-1" (later replaced by Manfred Mann's "Hubble Bubble, Toil and Trouble"). It was much more youth orientated and informal than its BBC rival Top of the Pops.

Related Topics:
Manfred Mann - BBC - Top of the Pops

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Initially, the RSG artists mimed to their records but by late 1964, some of the guests were performing live and the show switched to all live performances in April 1965. It was noted for allowing artists to perfom the full version of their songs rather than the short versions demanded by its contemporary TV shows.

Related Topics:
1964 - 1965

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In 1966, around the time that the 'beat movement' was fading, the show was cut. Its disappearance at the height of its popularity only enhanced its status as a TV classic.

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