Oh Boy!

1 9 5 8 - 1 9 5 9 (UK)
38 x 25 minute episodes

Everyone knows that Cliff Richard is hardly a bad boy, but back in 1958 he was the enfant terrible of the British music scene, considered to be a corrupting influence on teenagers and definitely too hot for television. The series that earned Cliff such an awful reputation was Oh Boy!, the ITV pop show which reflected the change in musical tastes and in youngsters generally.

In 1957 Cliff had been an unknown £4-a-week clerk called Harry Webb, but Oh Boy! rocketed him to fame and parental disapproval. But the kids worshipped him - so did some posh people. Lady Jellicoe said at the time: "I really think Cliff Richard is quite an alarmingly entertaining young man. And Oh Boy! is simply heavenly."

Besides Cliff, other regulars on Oh Boy! included Lord Rockingham's XI, The Dallas Boys, The Vernon Girls, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and Cherry Wainer on electric organ. Kerry Martin left Six-Five Special to join Oh Boy!. She was sacked from the BBC show because she wiggled too much in a dance routine and she went to the rival channel as a singer.