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CATHY'S FRIDAY
Friday's always begin on Thursday night for me. I'm not strong-minded enough to be an early-riser, so organising make-up, shoes, spare nylons, a substitute outfit―in case the one I've planned to wear develops a hitch!―and one hundred and one other things must all be done the night before. Sounds highly organised, doesn't it? But it never is. By the time i've found some missing eye-shadow, answered a dozen phone calls and collected my wits it's usually hitting midnight! Friday morning Mum wakes me with a cup of tea―I always drink gallons of the stuff on Fridays―and with a bit of luck, and a dozen more calls from Mum, I'm downstairs. After a quick breakfast of toast and more tea, and a quick chat with Mum, I make tracks for the hairdressers. This is the one time during the day I can put my feet up and relax while my hair is drying.
By 11 o' clock I'm winging my way across to Kensington and my dressmaker to pick up my gear for the show. An hour and two cups of tea later I head for the studios to meet the cast for a chat over sandwiches and coffee―tea for me. If Sandie's on the bill, no one gets a look in conversationally. We practically talk ourselves hoarse! One o' clock and I'm in my dressing room. I always lay everything out before rehearsals―so that at 5.30 when rehearsals finish, I can just hop into my clothes and put on my make-up. Rehearsals begins at 1.30. Everyone's always terribly friendly and the whole thing is very informal.
In between my interviews I chat to journalists, usually about fashion, have pictures taken and get hauled off to admire for instance, The Moody Blues' new stage suits. During one of the breaks the Director always tells me I'm blinking too much again on camera. I never realise I'm doing it, but it's only because I'm nervous. My boss usually has a chat with me and advises me on my interviews. All the time the Ready Steady Go! team is dashing about―''Keep talking, Cathy''. ''Can't find Sandie. Help!''
At 5.30 everyone is getting a bit keyed-up―30 minutes in which to change, make-up and be back in the studio! I always rush away saying ''I'll never do it―I won't!'' But I always do! 6.08 and we're away. I'm always worried if I'll fluff anything. Then honestly, it hardly seems the show has started before we're winding it up again for another week. Back in the dressing room, Phyllis, our wardrobe lady, is waiting with cups of tea and everyone relaxes. Sometimes I go to the Ad Lib club afterwards, or out to dinner with a couple of friends, but more often than not it's straight home to Mum for a chat―and another cup of tea.
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| Ready Steady Go! Cathy's Friday by Cathy McGowan (1965). |
By 11 o' clock I'm winging my way across to Kensington and my dressmaker to pick up my gear for the show. An hour and two cups of tea later I head for the studios to meet the cast for a chat over sandwiches and coffee―tea for me. If Sandie's on the bill, no one gets a look in conversationally. We practically talk ourselves hoarse! One o' clock and I'm in my dressing room. I always lay everything out before rehearsals―so that at 5.30 when rehearsals finish, I can just hop into my clothes and put on my make-up. Rehearsals begins at 1.30. Everyone's always terribly friendly and the whole thing is very informal.
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Cathy McGowan winging her way across Kensington to pick up her gear for the show from her dressmaker, 1965. |
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| At the hairdressers - Cathy McGowan (1965). |
In between my interviews I chat to journalists, usually about fashion, have pictures taken and get hauled off to admire for instance, The Moody Blues' new stage suits. During one of the breaks the Director always tells me I'm blinking too much again on camera. I never realise I'm doing it, but it's only because I'm nervous. My boss usually has a chat with me and advises me on my interviews. All the time the Ready Steady Go! team is dashing about―''Keep talking, Cathy''. ''Can't find Sandie. Help!''
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| Cathy McGowan gets ready to host the Friday night show, 1965. |
At 5.30 everyone is getting a bit keyed-up―30 minutes in which to change, make-up and be back in the studio! I always rush away saying ''I'll never do it―I won't!'' But I always do! 6.08 and we're away. I'm always worried if I'll fluff anything. Then honestly, it hardly seems the show has started before we're winding it up again for another week. Back in the dressing room, Phyllis, our wardrobe lady, is waiting with cups of tea and everyone relaxes. Sometimes I go to the Ad Lib club afterwards, or out to dinner with a couple of friends, but more often than not it's straight home to Mum for a chat―and another cup of tea.
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| Cathy McGowan with Ready Steady Go! Producer Francis Hitching, 1965. |
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| Cathy McGowan chatting with Ready Steady Go! Producer Vicki Wickham, 1965. |
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| Showtime! Cathy McGowan on the set of Ready Steady Go, 1965. |
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| Cathy McGowan on the cover of Ready Steady Go (TV Publications Limited) 1965. |
IMAGE CREDITS & LINKS
All images scanned by Sweet Jane from the Ready Steady Go! book (1965), original Cathy's Friday feature written by Cathy McGowan, Published by TV Publications Limited, Television House, W.C.2., Photographer uncredited. View one of my previous posts about Cathy McGowan: Ready Steady Go!Cathy McGowan Raves about Barbara Hulanicki | Rave Magazine (1964). Listen to Eyewitness to History | Vicki Wickham's 60s: A first hand account of the Swinging 60s from Vicki Wickham, who edited the cult television programme Ready Steady Go! and, later, managed Dusty Springfield. Ready Steady Goes Live! No more miming as Ready Steady Go moves from Television House to Wembley in 1965. Ready Steady Goes | The last ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ is transmitted on December 23rd 1966, Here Francis Hitching, who has worked on it throughout, sums up. And finally, Generation X are in love with Cathy McGowan.