Ready, Steady – Win!  – Nostalgia Central

1 9 6 4 (UK)
13 x 50 minute episodes

Debuting on 15 June 1964, this 13-week Monday-night talent competition – a spin-off from Ready, Steady, Go! – sought to discover the best new beat group in Britain.

Introduced by Keith Fordyce, Michael Aldred and 19-year-old newcomer Gay Shingleton, six amateur and semi-professional groups competed each week.

The bands played two numbers – a cover version of a standard on which they were judged for presence and personality, and an original composition on which they were judged for their musical talent.

Each weekly winner then progressed to semi-finals in August with a chance to win £1,000 of musical equipment and a single release with Decca in the September final. Second prize was a £750 Commer van, and third prize was £250 worth of clothes.

The panel of judges changed constantly but included Lulu, Mick Jagger, Helen Shapiro, Gerry Marsden, Susan Maughan, Manfred Mann, Brenda Lee, Eric Burdon, Alan Freeman, Brian Jones, Chris Curtis of The Searchers, former Shadows drummer Tony Meehan, Brian Poole, Muriel Young, Norrie Paramor, Lionel Bart, and Patsy Ann Noble.

Amongst the 72 hopefuls competing were groups named The Echolettes, The Falling Leaves, The Five Aces, Dave and the Strollers, The Dynamos, The Shifters, The Welsh Falcons, The Vibrons, The Shamrocks, The Planets, The Condors, Tony Knight and the Livewires, The Jelly Babies, The Rapiers, Scene V, Jaymes Fender and The Vulcans, and The Leasiders.

The six finalists – judged by a panel including Brian Epstein, Bill Haley and disc jockey Brian Matthew – were The Bo Street Runners (Middlesex); The Harbour Lights Trio and The Toggery Five (Cheshire); The Thyrds (Battersea); Jimmy Royal and the Hawks (London) and The Olympics (Warwickshire).

The ultimate winner was The Bo Street Runners.

Despite securing a Decca recording contract and enjoying the exposure the programme provided, they failed to register a chart hit.