Colour Me Pop

1 9 6 8 – 1 9 7 0 (UK)
48 x 30 minute episodes

The first BBC2 pop series, Colour Me Pop, was originally introduced as part of the Late Night Line-Up strand and aired between 1968 and 1970.

Presented by Late Night Line-Up reporter Michael Dean, the show followed a straightforward format. Each half-hour episode began with a psychedelic cartoon title sequence, leading into a studio or on-location performance.

Typically, a single band or artist was featured per episode, allowing for a more in-depth musical showcase – not just a quick run through the latest single, but a fuller selection of material.

Performances were either live or accompanied by pre-recorded backing tracks.

The very first act to appear was Manfred Mann. Over time, the programme featured a notable list of performers including the Small Faces, Fleetwood Mac, The Kinks, The Tremeloes, Spooky Tooth, The Hollies, The Moody Blues, Unit 4+2, The Honeybus, Jethro Tull, The Nice, The Brian Auger Trinity, Love Sculpture, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Move, The Equals, The Marmalade, Ten Years After, Harmony Grass, Free, Family, The Strawbs, Gene Pitney, and The Fortunes.

For producer/director Michael Appleton, who was working on Late Night Line-Up at the time, Colour Me Pop became his first major venture into album rock. This exploration would later shape his career in the 1970s, where he played a key role in bringing more serious and progressive music programming to British television.

The show was followed up by Disco 2, which ran from January 1970 to September 1971 – until it, in turn, was replaced by The Old Grey Whistle Test.