TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 - 1999

A weekly magazine programme for children, very much a copy of Blue Peter, complete with real-life adventure stories, advice on pets, and for some reason, art. "A weekly rendezvous with friends old and new" is how the TV Times described the new show, which adopted pretty much all the hosts and features from the show it replaced, Lucky Dip. Tuesday Rendezvous would also give away merit badges, just like Blue Peter.

Muriel Young was one of the regular hosts, while guitar legend Bert Weedon would provide music and musical instruction, sometimes with his group which featured Tony Meehan. His Star Record Guest of the Week feature would feature pop stars like Bobby Vee, Joe Brown and Kenny Lynch.

Along with art a source of puzzlement would be a weekly Story of Jazz feature, hosted by Bob Wallis, hardly relevant for young kids. More relevant however was the appearance on 4th December 1962 of The Beatles, playing both sides of their debut single which, by the time of the broadcast, had been out for almost two months. But despite the intrusion of Merseybeat the addiction to trad jazz continued into 1963. The Beatles re-appearance on the show in April 1963 reinforced the idea that things were changing. Even if the reaction by the jazz camp within the show was negative someone in the Beatles' camp must have appreciated what was going on as Muriel Young was mentioned in the liner notes of their first album, albeit in a reference to her Radio Luxembourg show.

Tea-time shows on Rediffusion had to progress and once the series had concluded on the 24th September 1963 The Five O'Clock Club began, which would on the face of it was a very similar show, but this one included much more pop music, and surprisingly hip guests.

The show was originally scheduled for a thirteen week run, but stuck around for two years.

TUESDAY RENDEZVOUS

Associated Rediffuison

12th September 1961 - 24th September 1963