TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 -
Gadzooks was produced by Barry Langford and intended as a replacement for The Beat Room which had run for seven months in the early days of BBC2.
Talking to Record Mirror in January 1965 Langford said "I've always had this feeling
that pop entertainers can do more than just make hit records and in this show, which
will run for thirty minutes, they will appear in sketches, comedy routines, and dances.
Two-
Show regulars were hosts Alan David and singer Christine Holmes, organist Peter Cook(e)
(from Wayne Gibson's Dynamic Sounds), a six-
According to Record Mirror "Each weekly programme, which will be televised from 7.00 until 7.30 p.m. will be presented live from the BBC's Television Theatre at Shepherds Bush, with a dancing audience of 40 and a seated audience of 450." However, BBC2 was still not a national station by this time, so viewing figures were low.
In March 1965 Radio Times promoted the show with an article about a new group Davie Jones and The Mannish Boys. Producer Langford claiming "I am waiting to hear the new releases before I engage the artists. The scene is changing so fast that some of the guests will come as a complete surprise."
The show's original six week run would be extended from March 22nd onwards, with
a team of regulars -
By May 1965 producer Langford changed the title as well as format, taking it along
the MOR path by employing Marianne Faithfull who would sing a folk song each week
backed by John Renborne and John Mark, while Rog(er) Whittaker also becomes a regular,
as well as The Cuddle Pups. A piece in The Stage claimed the show "starring Alan
David and Lulu, will feature The Beat Girls, Peter Cooke, The Three Bells and John
Renbourne. The resident band will be The Luvvers Plus Five. Marianne Faithfull will
have a folk spot each week". Promoting the show ahead of it's first re-
Dance troupe The Beat Girls -
In July the series’ name had been shortened to Gadzoooks! by its new producer Stewart Morris who decided to do away with any linking clips. Talking to The Stage in July 1965 he said "This will be a straight, hard pop show, as fast as we can make it, and there should normally be no need for any miming". Lulu will be the resident singer together with a twenty piece orchestra, conducted by Les Reed. The weekly folk song spot however will remain. The Beat Girls and The Three Bells will also remain, This also marks one of the first shows to be directed by Terry/Terrence Hughes, later to work on The Two Ronnies before leaving for America to direct The Golden Girls and Friends among others.
By September another new producer Nick Burrell-
A show which changed its format, as well as its name, several times within such a short life span suggests the producers didn't now what to do with it.
GADZOOOKS! IT’S ALL HAPPENING BBC2 1st February 1965 -
GADZOOOKS! IT’S THE IN CROWD BBC2 31st May 1965 -
GADZOOOKS!
BBC2 12th July 1965 -