Six-Five Special

The Six-Five Special is a British television programme launched in February 1957 when both television and rock and roll were in their infancy in Britain.

Description

It was the BBC's first attempt at a rock and roll programme, an innovation and much imitated, even today. It was called Six-Five Special because of the time it was broadcast – it went out live at five past six on Saturday evening. It began immediately after the abolition of the Toddlers' Truce, which had seen television close between 6 and 7 pm so children could be put to bed.

Jack Good was the original producer. Josephine Douglas and (initially) disc jockey Pete Murray were its presenters, with Murray using the catchphrase "Time to jive on the old six five". Its resident band was Don Lang and his Frantic Five. The show opened with film of a steam train accompanied by the programme's theme song, played and sung by the Frantic Five, which began with the words "The Six-Five Special's comin' down the line, The Six-Five Special's right on time ..."