A Whole Scene Going was the first significant British teenage lifestyle TV show, featuring segments on Carnaby Street fashion, the London club scene, and package holidays in Italy.
The 30-minute weekly show was created by producer Elizabeth Cowley, who developed the format after extensive research, utilising reporters from various BBC regions.
While the show had a “pop” focus, it extended beyond music to cover youth culture, including fashion, art, sports, travel, clubs, and cinema.
Broadcast live from BBC Television Centre every Wednesday at 6:30 PM, a typical episode (aired on 8 June 1966) included a visit to Paris with the band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich; a look at bed-sits and flats in London; a discussion with Ravi Shankar about Indian pop music; performances by The Yardbirds and The Kinks; and an interview with movie star Charlton Heston.
The hosts – chosen for their youth to avoid talking down to viewers – were 25-year-old actress Wendy Varnals and Barry Fantoni, an artist and cartoonist for The Observer and Private Eye.
Twiggy made her first TV appearance on the show, and Fantoni’s “hot seat” interviews (pictured) were notable for taking rock culture seriously.
The show featured memorable moments, including Pete Townshend‘s lengthy discussion about drugs and a confrontation when producer Mickie Most refused to answer Fantoni’s questions.
Unfortunately, A Whole Scene Going was cancelled after just one series under mysterious circumstances. It was quickly replaced by Simon Dee‘s chat show, Dee Time, which became a popular platform for pop groups promoting their records.
The 30-minute weekly show was created by producer Elizabeth Cowley, who developed the format after extensive research, utilising reporters from various BBC regions.
The hosts – chosen for their youth to avoid talking down to viewers – were 25-year-old actress Wendy Varnals and Barry Fantoni, an artist and cartoonist for The Observer and Private Eye.
