Get It Together (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Get It Together was a long-running British children's Television series, produced by Granada Television
for the UK ITV
network between 1977 and 1981. The series followed an almost identical format to the earlier Lift Off with Ayshea, also created by series producer Muriel Young
.
The series was presented by former 'straight man' to Basil Brush
, Roy North
, initially with Linda Fletcher and then later with Megg Nichol. Whereas 'Lift Off' had been originally designed to showcase viewer's pop music requests by guest artists, Get It Together relied more on the presenters and resident band and singers. Mike Moran was the show's musical director, leading the studio band on camera, with singers including Victy Silva and Kim Goody.
According to the BFI database, the first show was televised on April 6, 1977, and the last on December 22, 1981. It is possible that the first transmission was in fact earlier. One of the first guests on the series were that year's British representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest
Lynsey de Paul
& Mike Moran, but that episode is not listed in the BFI credits.
According to BFI, Series 1 ran from April 6 - July 6, 1977, consisting of 12 episodes. The show then returned later that year for a Christmas special on December 27, entitled Get It Together with The Bay City Rollers.
Series 2 ran from January 10 - March 21, 1978, featuring 11 shows.
Series 3 ran from September 19 - December 19, 1978, followed by a Christmas Special on December 26, for a total of 15 shows.
Series 4 ran from April 10 - May 15, 1979, for just 6 episodes.
Series 5 ran from November 27, 1979 - March 6, 1980, including the Get It Together Christmas Bonanza on December 26, 1979, for a run of 13 shows.
Series 6 ran from September 23 - December 23, 1980, featuring 14 shows.
The final series 7, ran from September 1 - December 22, 1981, featuring 14 shows, with Megg Nichol replacing Linda Fletcher as co-presenter to North.
Guests that featured throughout the series run included: The Bay City Rollers, Squeeze, Sally Oldfield
, Chas & Dave, Showaddywaddy
, Berni Flint
, The Glitter Band
, Billy Ocean
, Shakin' Stevens
, T.Rex
, Eddie & The Hot Rods
, The Strawbs
, The Real Thing
& Lynsey de Paul
.
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
for the UK ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network between 1977 and 1981. The series followed an almost identical format to the earlier Lift Off with Ayshea, also created by series producer Muriel Young
Muriel Young
Muriel Young was a British television continuity announcer, presenter and producer.-Early life:...
.
The series was presented by former 'straight man' to Basil Brush
Basil Brush
Basil Brush is a fictional anthropomorphic fox raconteur, best known for his appearances on daytime British children's television. He is primarily portrayed by a glove puppet, but has also been depicted in animated cartoon shorts and comic strips...
, Roy North
Roy North
Roy North is an English actor and television presenter, who played Mr Roy in Basil Brush.He attended Hull Grammar School and is a Hull City fan, and occasionally he would wear a Hull City shirt on the television...
, initially with Linda Fletcher and then later with Megg Nichol. Whereas 'Lift Off' had been originally designed to showcase viewer's pop music requests by guest artists, Get It Together relied more on the presenters and resident band and singers. Mike Moran was the show's musical director, leading the studio band on camera, with singers including Victy Silva and Kim Goody.
According to the BFI database, the first show was televised on April 6, 1977, and the last on December 22, 1981. It is possible that the first transmission was in fact earlier. One of the first guests on the series were that year's British representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1977
The Eurovision Song Contest 1977 was the 22nd edition series, and was held on 7 May 1977 in London. With Angela Rippon as the presenter, the contest was won by Marie Myriam who represented France, with her song "L'oiseau et l'enfant" . This was France's fifth victory, a record, which was equalled...
Lynsey de Paul
Lynsey De Paul
Lynsey de Paul is an English singer-songwriter. Allmusic journalist, Craig Harris stated, "one of the first successful female singer-songwriters in England, de Paul has had an illustrious career".-Early life:De Paul was born to Meta and Herbert Rubin, a property developer...
& Mike Moran, but that episode is not listed in the BFI credits.
According to BFI, Series 1 ran from April 6 - July 6, 1977, consisting of 12 episodes. The show then returned later that year for a Christmas special on December 27, entitled Get It Together with The Bay City Rollers.
Series 2 ran from January 10 - March 21, 1978, featuring 11 shows.
Series 3 ran from September 19 - December 19, 1978, followed by a Christmas Special on December 26, for a total of 15 shows.
Series 4 ran from April 10 - May 15, 1979, for just 6 episodes.
Series 5 ran from November 27, 1979 - March 6, 1980, including the Get It Together Christmas Bonanza on December 26, 1979, for a run of 13 shows.
Series 6 ran from September 23 - December 23, 1980, featuring 14 shows.
The final series 7, ran from September 1 - December 22, 1981, featuring 14 shows, with Megg Nichol replacing Linda Fletcher as co-presenter to North.
Guests that featured throughout the series run included: The Bay City Rollers, Squeeze, Sally Oldfield
Sally Oldfield
Sally Oldfield is a singer-songwriter, and the sister of the composers Mike Oldfield and Terry Oldfield.-Early life:...
, Chas & Dave, Showaddywaddy
Showaddywaddy
Showaddywaddy are a 1970s pop group from Leicester, England. They specialised in revivals of hit songs from the 1950s and early 1960s, and dressed as Teddy Boys.-History:...
, Berni Flint
Berni Flint
Berni Flint is a singer and songwriter who holds the record for the longest continuous run of wins on the ITV talent show, Opportunity Knocks.-Career:...
, The Glitter Band
The Glitter Band
The Glitter Band are a glam rock band from England, who initially worked as Gary Glitter's backing band under that name from 1973, when they then began releasing records of their own. They were unofficially known as the Glittermen on the first four hit singles by Gary Glitter from 1972 to 1973. The...
, Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born English Grammy Award winning popular music performer who had a string of rhythm and blues international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British-based R&B singer / songwriter of the early to mid-1980s...
, Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...
, T.Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
, Eddie & The Hot Rods
Eddie & the Hot Rods
Eddie and the Hot Rods are a pub rock band from Essex founded in 1975. They are best known for their 1977 UK top ten hit "Do Anything You Wanna Do", released under the name The Rods...
, The Strawbs
The Strawbs
Strawbs are an English rock band founded in 1964. Although the band started out as a bluegrass group they eventually moved on to other styles such as folk rock, glam rock and progressive rock...
, The Real Thing
The Real Thing (group)
-Albums:Studio albums* Real Thing - UK #34* 4 from 8 * Step Into Our World , retitled Can You Feel the Force - UK #73* ....Saints Or Sinners? Live albums* The Real Thing Live Compilation albums...
& Lynsey de Paul
Lynsey De Paul
Lynsey de Paul is an English singer-songwriter. Allmusic journalist, Craig Harris stated, "one of the first successful female singer-songwriters in England, de Paul has had an illustrious career".-Early life:De Paul was born to Meta and Herbert Rubin, a property developer...
.