TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 - 1999

Loosely named after the Free song, All Right Now, co-written by Middlesbrough's Paul Rodgers. Where ATV's Revolver was set in a nightclub, Alright Now was set in a coffee bar, bringing back memories of much earlier shows like TWW's Discs-A-Gogo.

The host for the first series was Darts' singer Den Hegarty, who overacted and mugged it up to the camera when he really couldn't think of anything to say. Thankfully he would be replaced by guest presenters for the second series including Billy Connolly, Suzi Quatro, Bill Oddie, Mickie Most and Phil Lynott. In addition to the host here was a resident group of customers, referred to as the Krazy Koffee Bar Kidz, including future Top Of The Pops producer Chris Cowey.

The pilot show was recorded in January 1979 starring The Steve Gibbons Band, and it was considered successful enough for Tyne Tees to commission an eight part series. However, when they were shown was down to chance as some were broadcast on Fridays, while some were on Saturdays. It was not networked by ITV, but it would be shown by ATV in the summer and in November after the ITV strike had come to an end, from 5.15 -5.45 pm. Unusually they played the pilot edition with The Steve Gibbons Band, probably because they were from the Midlands.

Alright Now was a kind of sequel to The Geordie Scene, giving exposure to new and established acts from the north east of England, alongside acts from the rest of the country. Among the 'before they were famous' faces given early exposure were The Police, Penetration, Chris Rea and Dire Straits, all featuring people from the north-east. The musicians would also be questioned by the audience about their beliefs and stances on politics, while facts about the band's line-up were put up onscreen while they played live. Filmed reports would also play a part, ranging from punk fashion to why bands sometimes have to move away to make it big, if at all.

The Clash requested to play on the show as it had a live music only policy "you can plug in and play" claimed Joe Strummer, while Elvis Costello, Rockpile, Phil Lynott among others also took the train up to Newcastle to appear. The music policy was pretty much like The Old Grey Whistle Test and Revolver, with anyone from Rory Gallagher to new wavers invited up. The Only Ones' Another Girl Another Planet was used for the opening credit sequence which also featured the jukebox used in the cafe set design.

The show featured many Tyne Tees production names which would become more familiar and prominent in the eighties, Andrea Wonfor, Malcolm Gerrie, and director Gavin Taylor, all of whom would work later work on The Tube, as well as Chris Cowey.

Further proof of why sometimes you have to look outside of the metropolis to find workable ideas and presentation, and another example of why Tyne Tees was probably the best ITV channel when it came to this kind of thing.

ALRIGHT NOW

Tyne Tees

6th April 1979 - 19th December 1980