Legs & Co.

{{Short description|Dance troupe}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} '''Legs & Co.''' was a dance troupe created in 1976 for the BBC's weekly ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' programme. They had made over three hundred appearances on this show by the time of their last performance in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/trivia/legs_and_co/lulu_cartwright/page6.shtml|website=TOTP2|access-date=5 May 2017|quote=Legs and Co were on between 1976 and 1981.|title=BBC - Top of the Pops 2 - Trivia - Presenters}}</ref> The group then continued for four further years on tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/trivia/pans_people/ruth_pearson/page3.shtml|website=TOTP2|access-date=5 May 2017|title=BBC - Top of the Pops 2 - Trivia - Presenters}}</ref> The six-girl dance troupe replaced [[Ruby Flipper]] on ''Top of the Pops'', representing a reversion to the earlier all-female format for troupes on this show, and covering the time period when the [[disco]], [[Punk rock|punk]] and [[New wave music|new wave]] music fashions were at their chart peak.

==''Top of the Pops'' dance troupe history== Legs & Co. were [[list of Top of the Pops dance troupes|the fourth dance troupe]] to perform on the BBC's ''Top of The Pops''. The tenure of the first group, the [[Go-Jos]], ran from 1964 to 1968, with [[Pan's People]] then taking over until April 1976. This group was choreographed for their entire existence by [[Flick Colby]], who was also initially a dancer in the troupe. [[Pan's People#People|Ruth Pearson]] performed as one of the dancers in this group throughout its run on the programme, retiring when the group was replaced.

Pan's People were succeeded by Ruby Flipper, a mixed-gender and mixed-race group, choreographed by Colby and managed by Pearson. This group's short run was terminated in October 1976. Audience research by the producers indicated Ruby Flipper were not popular amongst its TV audience.<ref>{{cite web|title=It's a tough life being a dancer -TOTP annual 1980|url=http://one-for-the-dads.979225.n3.nabble.com/Legs-Co-1976-79-tp4062428p3996248.html|publisher=BBC|accessdate=30 May 2017|page=42|quote=The BBC told me they had interviewed the audiences for Top of the Pops, and it was the audiences who said they disliked mixed groups}}</ref> Colby formed a new group, again managed by herself and Pearson, retaining the remaining three female dancers from Ruby Flipper and adding three new dancers following auditions. This replacement was the group that came to be known as Legs & Co.

Due to improvements in the BBC archival process and the increase in off-air recordings from the mid-1970s, unlike the previous three groups, all performances at least partially survive with the vast bulk complete.

==Legs & Co. on ''Top of the Pops''== ===Initial line-up and name=== The three remaining female Ruby Flipper members were retained for the new group. These were: *'''Lulu Cartwright''', in her second troupe following her stint in Ruby Flipper *'''Patti Hammond''', who started her career in [[the Royal Ballet]], before moving into modern and TV dancing, including appearing with the Second Generation *'''Sue Menhenick''', who was in her third Top of the Pops dance troupe, having also been a member of Pan's People and Ruby Flipper. Following a set of auditions, the following dancers were added: *'''Rosemary Hetherington''', a student at the Italia Conti stage school *'''Pauline Peters''', who had appeared on stage in various West End productions and in the dance troupe Young Generation *'''Gill Clark''', the runner-up in the [[Miss Great Britain]] 1976 contest - added as the sixth and last member after the final audition.

By the time of the new troupe's first appearance on Top of the Pops on 21 October 1976, dancing to the [[Average White Band]]'s "Queen of My Soul",<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C Queen of My Soul|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YwykZ7KFoA|url-status=dead|website=Youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017|archive-date=25 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425191001/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YwykZ7KFoA&gl=US&hl=en}}</ref> the group was still unnamed. For their first appearances, they were introduced as the "Top of the Pops" dancers, while their name was listed as "??????" on the end credits of three editions. The BBC decided to allow viewers to select a name for the new dance troupe via a competition promoted on Top of the Pops by [[Ed Stewart]]<ref>{{Citation|last=Andee Bee|title=The Top of The Pops Dancers [??????] - Introduction - TOTP TX: 21/10/76|date=6 October 2012|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2mIVKy0Qdk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/Q2mIVKy0Qdk |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> before the girls made their dancing debut, and on the BBC children's programme [[Blue Peter]]. The name "Legs & Co." was chosen as the successful name. This was announced on the Top of the Pops of 4 November 1976,<ref name=TOTP2>{{cite web|title=Legs and Co|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/trivia/legs_and_co/|work=Top of the Pops 2|publisher=BBC|date=Nov 2002|access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref> with the competition winner in attendance, Elaine Coombes.

===Performances on the show=== ====Style==== As with all dance troupes on Top of the Pops, Legs & Co. performed routines to songs of various musical styles, reflecting what was in the charts at the time. While these performances would often include dance records, for example [[disco]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Sylvester - You Make me feel (Mighty Reel)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gctc66tLWqg|website=Youtube|accessdate=11 May 2017}}</ref> and [[soul music]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Maxine Nightingale|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SonplQh2LFI|website=Youtube|accessdate=11 May 2017}}</ref> less dance-orientated musical styles were also included including tracks from [[Punk rock|Punk]] bands such as the [[Sex Pistols]]<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C Sex Pistols|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5JInCfizGY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/O5JInCfizGY |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=L&C Sex Pistols|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_v1Rvqjhcw|website=youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017}}</ref> and [[The Clash]],<ref>{{cite web|title=L& C Clash|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYv-vjwoNm0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/uYv-vjwoNm0 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[novelty songs]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Birdie Song|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2v7FQ87SBI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201010118/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2v7FQ87SBI&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2013-02-01 |url-status=dead|website=Youtube|accessdate=11 May 2017}}</ref> and in the final year, [[List of musical medleys|medley]] songs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stars on 45 vol 2 and Legs and Co|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-1gRvF0qis |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/y-1gRvF0qis |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|accessdate=21 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The costumes were made specially for each performance, with the designs created by Flick Colby and the dress designer each Thursday for the next show.<ref>{{cite web|title=Legs & Co - Jackie Magazine|url=http://one-for-the-dads.979225.n3.nabble.com/Legs-Co-1976-79-tp4062428p4072120.html|publisher=Jackie Magazine|quote=We spend most of our time getting the fabric, if you don't get the fabric to the dressmaker on Thursday after the show, then you're not going to get you're clothes in time for next week}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Whilst in the vast bulk of performances contemporary costumes were used, humour was occasionally used resulting in unconventional costumes including dressing as boxers,<ref>{{cite web|title=Legs & Co Love Hit Me|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDBIx-e8AQA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/SDBIx-e8AQA |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|accessdate=21 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> babies<ref>{{Citation|last=Glenn Marshall|title=Legs & Co - 'Born To Be Alive' Top Of The Pops Patrick Hernandez|date=11 June 2013|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xRUh4Rb2hmE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/xRUh4Rb2hmE |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|accessdate=12 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and a camel.<ref>{{Citation|last=Andee Bee|title=Legs & Co - Egyptian Reggae - TOTP TX: 24/11/1977 & 15/12/1977|date=16 December 2012|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fTFgmzXARKM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/fTFgmzXARKM |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|accessdate=12 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

====Production schedule==== There was a rigid production schedule for the group necessitated by ''Top of the Pops'' being a weekly chart show.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lulu on TOTP2|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/trivia/legs_and_co/lulu_cartwright/page3.shtml|website=BBC|access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=How I realised a dream and joined Legs&Co (sort of!)|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/11408282/How-I-realised-a-dream-and-joined-LegsandCo-sort-of.html|website=Telegraph|accessdate=26 May 2017|date=16 February 2015|last1=Hill|first1=Nicola}}</ref>

The typical schedule for a recorded ''Top of the Pops'' was as follows:

*'''Wednesday:''' The show was recorded at [[Television Centre, London|Television Centre]] including the Legs & Co. segment. A track was selected the same evening for the following week's show by the producer, occasionally giving Flick Colby a limited choice. *'''Thursday:''' The performance for the new track had staging and costumes planned by Flick Colby with the staging and costume managers. The show based on the previous day's recording was broadcast. *'''Monday:''' Usually, the first day of rehearsing at the [[BBC North]] Acton rehearsal studios, with choreography created through the rehearsals, and costume fitting in the afternoon. Occasionally, the rehearsing could begin the previous Friday. *'''Tuesday:''' Charts released. Either second day of rehearsal of the planned track, or a new track was selected if the prechosen one was no longer required for the show, and the new track was choreographed, staged, costumed and rehearsed. A new track was a common occurrence, once with 5 editions in a row requiring new tracks.{{cn|date=July 2021}} *'''Wednesday:''' There was a non-costumed studio run through in the late morning with cameras (and band, if a band was involved). The full show dress rehearsal was done in the late afternoon in Television Centre. The performance itself was recorded with the studio audience in the evening. Normally it was done in two takes with close-ups in the second take. Due to the studio schedule, there was often no opportunity for further takes and so minor errors were often kept in the edited version.

The troupe could also rehearse for and perform up to three cabaret performances prior to the following Monday.

By 1981, Top of the Pops began going out live on occasion, with three live editions, 7 May 1981, 9 July 1981<ref>{{cite journal|title=Genome|issue=3008|pages=54|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d8ee73ec08b149dca470715dad387952|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029210128/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d8ee73ec08b149dca470715dad387952|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 October 2014|journal=The Radio Times|accessdate=26 May 2017|date=2 July 1981}}</ref> and 3 September 1981<ref>{{cite web|title=Genome|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1981-09-03#at-19.15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017074835/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1981-09-03#at-19.15|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 October 2014|website=BBC Genome|accessdate=26 May 2017}}</ref> including three performances on each date by Legs & Co.

====Archive status==== The BBC only [[Top of the Pops#Lost episodes|holds in their library]] master tapes for all Top of the Pops episodes broadcast after 8 September 1977, with only partial coverage up to this date. Nine editions in the Legs & Co era do not have master tapes in the BBC library, though all missing performances survive either in off-air recordings or master copies, though not all are complete.<ref>{{Citation|last=Andee Bee|title=Legs & Co - Spinning Rock Boogie [Incomplete] - TOTP TX: 11/11/1976 [Wiped]|date=5 March 2013|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QoBJ5F5qZVI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/QoBJ5F5qZVI |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|accessdate=12 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The following table shows for each year the number of performances on the show, the number of repeats of these performances, and the number of wiped performances, with totals on the bottom row.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! Year !! Performances !! Repeat !! bbc-wiped |- | 1976 || 15 || 0 || 4 |- | 1977 || 66 || 8 || 5 |- | 1978 || 64 || 9 || 0 |- | 1979 || 58 || 7 || 0 |- | 1980 || 48 || 5 || 0 |- | 1981 || 71 || 8 || 0 |- ! Total !! 322 !! 37 !! 9

|}

The episodes not in the BBC archive are: {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! Date !! Performances !! Availability |- | 11 November 1976 || Hank C Burnette – Spinning Rock Boogie || 90 seconds only survives from a copy of a master tape, the official naming of the group was on this episode and is lost. |- | 18 November 1976 || Peter Frampton – Do You Feel Like We Do || 69 seconds only survives from a copy of a master tape. |- | 2 December 1976 || Queen – Somebody to Love || Off-air exists |- | 16 December 1976 || The Stylistics – You'll Never Get To Heaven || Off-air exists |- | 10 February 1977 || Heatwave – Boogie Nights || Off-air exists |- | 3 March 1977 || David Bowie – Sound And Vision || Off-air exists |- | 31 March 1977 || David Soul – Going in with My Eyes Open || Off-air exists - played as part of BBC4 rerun |- | 4 August 1977 || Candi Staton – Nights on Broadway || Off-air exists |- | 8 September 1977 || Jean Michel Jarre – Oxygene || Off-air exists |}

===Performances outside the show in this era=== As well as their regular appearances on ''Top of the Pops'', Legs & Co. as a full group appeared on other productions of the time including: * BBC TV's ''[[Jim'll Fix It]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C on Jim'll Fix IT|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aet4TJoULwM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/Aet4TJoULwM |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> in 1978 as part of a viewer's 'Fix It'. * The film [[The Stud (film)|''The Stud'']] in 1978, dancing to a performance by [[The Real Thing (UK band)|The Real Thing]] * BBC TV's ''[[Blue Peter]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C on Blue Peter|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYaS7XN17qs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/vYaS7XN17qs |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=YouTube|accessdate=8 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> in 1979 – the troupe danced to [[Mike Oldfield]]'s arrangement of the programme's theme tune. * The 1979 British Rock and Pop Awards<ref>{{cite web|title=British rock and Pop awards|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_v1Rvqjhcw|website=YouTube|accessdate=9 May 2017}}</ref> dancing to a medley of 1978 hits * [[Associated Television|ATV]]'s ''[[Tiswas]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C on Tiswas|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojbADU0brqM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015002228/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojbADU0brqM |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 October 2023 |website=Youtube|accessdate=8 May 2017}}</ref> in 1980 as both guests and performers. * BBC internal Christmas tapes, produced by production staff<ref>{{cite web|title=White Powder Christmas|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TMhXk-CTDM |website=Youtube|accessdate=10 May 2017}}{{dead link|date=September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Instant Replay|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzv5IWyq8No |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/Kzv5IWyq8No |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=YouTube|accessdate=10 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

They also did cabaret at the weekends as this fitted into their production schedule; however, they had to remain predominantly UK-based during their Top of the Pops era due to the need to be rehearsing for the show each Monday. Sue Menhenick recalled "As legs & co progressed more with cabaret, [our] shows became more of a 'show' rather than just 'a routine and then someone else would come on', which was the case with Pan's People sometimes, so we did more of a running show."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x13mdm7_legs-co-totp-28-10-1976-sue-lulu-interview-totp-playback-tx-18-08-2013_creation|title=Legs & Co - TOTP 28/10/1976 [Sue & Lulu interview] - TOTP Playback TX: 18/08/2013|website=Dailymotion.com|accessdate=25 May 2017}}</ref> By 1980, they had a 45-minute set.

===Additional dancers=== ====Change in line-up==== The original Legs & Co. line-up ran from October 1976 to 19 March 1981, when Pauline Peters left the group. She was replaced on 28 May 1981 by singer and dancer '''Anita Chellamah''' following auditions. [[Frances Ruffelle]] was an unsuccessful applicant.<ref>{{cite news|title=Frances Ruffelle|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/weekend/frances-ruffelle-life-doesnt-always-go-the-way-you-want-it-to-go-but-you-have-to-embrace-and-enjoy-what-you-have-35418164.html|accessdate=8 May 2017|work=Belfast Telegraph}}</ref>

The first performance of this new line-up was to Ain't No Stopping by [[Enigma (UK band)|Enigma]].<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C Ain't no stopping|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJM2x6xJ9hQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/XJM2x6xJ9hQ |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=[[YouTube]]|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The second line-up lasted until the end of the group's tenure on Top of the Pops.

====Other dancers==== Though the seven Legs & Co. dancers never had stand-ins, on several occasions other dancers appeared together with Legs & Co. on Top of the Pops, shown in the following table. The additional dancer(s) accompanied the full troupe in each case unless otherwise stated.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! Date !! Dancer !! Track !! Artist !! Credited (Y/N) |- | 23 December 1976 || Floid Pearce || "[[I Wish (Stevie Wonder song)|I Wish]]" || [[Stevie Wonder]] || N |- | 25 December 1976 || 6 unknown (in animal costumes) || "[[Jungle Rock]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=Jungle Rock with Legs & Co.|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFtw7k-Jwuk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/bFtw7k-Jwuk |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|access-date=14 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> || [[Hank Mizell]] || N |- | 14 April 1977 || Floid Pearce || "[[Lonely Boy (Andrew Gold song)|Lonely Boy]]" || [[Andrew Gold]] || N |- | 16 June 1977 || Floid Pearce || "[[You're Gonna Get Next To Me]]" || [[Bo Kirkland and Ruth Davis]] || N |- | 11 August 1977 || Floid Pearce || "[[I Feel Love]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C i feel love|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7m9jYtK-6c |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/h7m9jYtK-6c |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|access-date=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> || [[Donna Summer]] || N |- | 25 December 1977 || Floid Pearce || "[[Sir Duke]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C Sir Duke|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPZM9aziF00 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/ZPZM9aziF00 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|access-date=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> || [[Stevie Wonder]] || N |- | 25 May 1978 || Floid Pearce || "Let's Go Disco"<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C Let's go disco|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWwymNeGoYc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/AWwymNeGoYc |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|access-date=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> || [[The Real Thing (group)|The Real Thing]] || N |- | 25 May 1978 || Floid Pearce || "[[You're the One That I Want]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C You're the one that I want|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AHEi7ypjO4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/-AHEi7ypjO4 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|access-date=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> || [[John Travolta]] and [[Olivia Newton-John]] || N |- | 21 September 1978 || Floid Pearce || "[[You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C You Make Me Feel Mighty Real|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gctc66tLWqg|website=Youtube|access-date=9 May 2017}}</ref> || [[Sylvester (singer)|Sylvester]] || N |- | 19 October 1978 || Martin (with Patti Hammond) || "[[Grease (film)#Soundtrack|Sandy]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C Sandy|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvQdFQ2YJ-w |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/BvQdFQ2YJ-w |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|access-date=30 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> || [[John Travolta]] || N |- | 25 December 1978 || Floid Pearce + 5 other males || "[[Summer Nights (Grease song)|Summer Nights]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C Summer nights|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT8I5UkWALw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/cT8I5UkWALw |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|access-date=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> || [[John Travolta]] and [[Olivia Newton-John]] || N |- | 13 August 1981 || Alex (with Gill Clark) || "[[How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees song)|How Deep Is Your Love]]" section of Startrax Club Disco<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C and starTrax|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO4Dm9U9Olk|url-status=dead|website=Youtube|access-date=9 May 2017|archive-date=9 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309002336/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO4Dm9U9Olk}}</ref> || StarTrax || Y |- | 24 September 1981 || Jeremy (with Lulu Cartwright) || "[[Endless Love (song)|Endless Love]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=L&C and Endless Love|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfR_eH4p2zE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/YfR_eH4p2zE |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|access-date=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> || [[Lionel Richie]]|| Y |}

In latter-day radio<ref>{{cite news|title=Patience Bradley on Vinny Hurrell show|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08nrgs3|access-date=9 May 2017|publisher=BBC Radio Ulster}}</ref> and newspaper interviews and two books<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Patience+Bradley&search-alias=books-uk&field-author=Patience+Bradley&sort=relevancerank|title=Amazon.co.uk|website=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref>{{nonspecific|reason=This lists three books and doesn't specify which ones make the claims|date=April 2021}} claims have been made that an additional dancer appeared in Legs & Co. during their Top of the Pops tenure variously as a full member,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.portadowntimes.co.uk/news/ex-vogue-model-and-legs-and-co-dancer-is-special-guest-at-college-ladies-night-1-1652004|date=1 September 2008|title=Ex-Vogue model and Legs and Co dancer is special guest at College Ladies Night|access-date=3 November 2019|newspaper=Portodown Times|quote=From then on, the only way was up and Patience - formerly Patti Lawrence - won a place with the Top of the Pops dance troupe, Legs and Co., which earned her national recognition and a huge male fan-base.}}</ref> a two-time contributor,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/former-model-patience-bradleys-anger-at-being-rubbished-for-legs-co-story-in-her-memoirs-35661281.html|access-date=7 May 2017|work=Belfast Telegraph|title=She says: 'I don't say that I was a member of Legs & Co, but I did dance with them a couple of times.'}}</ref> or in an unspecified precursor of the group.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former dancer and Vogue model Patience Bradley talks about her time working with Legs and Co dance troupe.|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-former-vogue-model-and-legs-and-co-dancer-patience-bradley-shares-tales-from-her-career-35649348.html|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk|access-date=25 May 2017|quote=I wasn't [in] one of the main groups, There were quite a few legs & co even before the legs and co were started&nbsp;...}}</ref> However, there is no independent evidence for any further female dancers from either primary BBC sources<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/trivia/legs_and_co/|title=BBC - Top of the Pops 2 - Trivia|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> or the [[#archive status|shows themselves]]. In addition, an original member stated "[she] was never ... in Legs and Co, either in cabaret with us or appearing on TOTPs".<ref>{{cite news|title=Former model Patience Bradley's anger at being rubbished for Legs & Co story in her memoirs|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/former-model-patience-bradleys-anger-at-being-rubbished-for-legs-co-story-in-her-memoirs-35661281.html|access-date=5 May 2017|newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref>

====Timeline==== The following displays the [[List of Top of the Pops dance troupes#Dance Troupe chronology|timeline]] for Top of the Pops dancers between 1974 and 1983, showing the transition of dancers between the troupes. This is a complete list, with the following exceptions and notes:

* Other than those who appeared in previous troupes, Zoo dancers are not shown – the performances by previous troupe members are shown individually rather than as a time period. * Non-troupe dancers brought in by individual acts for other performances on Top of the Pops are not listed * Audience participants are not listed * The Pan's People Jungle Rock animal performers are assumed to be the dancers themselves therefore not indicated with 'Others'. * The Legs & Co Jungle Rock animal performers are listed though their professional status is unknown, they are listed as 'Others' * DJs are not listed where they appeared in a dance * Ruth Pearson's appearance on 'Harvest for the World' on 22 July 1976 is shown * The 'Others' are composed of the Ruth Pearson appearance, Legs & Co Jungle Rock performers, Floid Pearce in his Legs & Co performances and the uncredited males on 'Summer Nights'. * The uncredited Legs & Co. repeats of 31 December 1981 are shown

The full-height vertical lines indicate the last performance of each troupe.

<timeline> ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:120 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1974 till:12/31/1983 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:1974 ScaleMinor = unit:month increment:3 start:1974

Colors = id:Pans_People value:red legend:Pan's_People id:Ruby_Flipper value:blue legend:Ruby_Flipper id:Legs value:green legend:Legs_&_Co. id:Zoo value:orange legend:Zoo id:Perf value:purple legend:Performer id:Accom value:gray(0.5) legend:Accompanying_dancer

id:bars value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData=

at:04/29/1976 color:red layer:back at:10/14/1976 color:blue layer:back at:10/29/1981 color:green layer:back at:09/29/1983 color:orange layer:back

BarData = bar:Babs text:Babs Lord bar:Dee text:Dee Dee Wilde bar:Louise text:Louise Clarke bar:Ruth text:Ruth Pearson bar:Cherry text:Cherry Gillespie bar:Sue text:Sue Menhenick bar:Mary text:Mary Corpe bar:Lee text:Lee Ward bar:Lesley text:Lesley Judd bar:Patti text:Patti Hammond bar:Lulu text:Lulu Cartwright bar:Phil text:Phil Haigh bar:Floid text:Floid Pearce bar:Gavin text:Gavin Trace bar:Gill text:Gill Clark bar:Rosie text:Rosie Hetherington bar:Pauline text:Pauline Peters bar:Martin text:Martin bar:Anita text:Anita Chellamah bar:Alex text:Alex bar:Jeremy text:Jeremy bar:Others text:Others

PlotData=

width:15 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(15.-4)

bar: Babs from:start till:09/09/1975 color:Pans_People bar: Dee from:start till:10/30/1975 color:Pans_People bar: Louise from:start till:05/16/1974 color:Pans_People bar: Ruth from:start till:04/29/1976 color:Pans_People bar: Ruth from:07/22/1976 till:07/22/1976 color:Accom bar:Sue from:06/06/1974 till:04/29/1976 color:Pans_People bar:Sue from:05/06/1976 till:10/14/1976 color:Ruby_Flipper bar:Sue from:12/17/1981 till:12/17/1981 color:Zoo bar:Sue from:12/31/1981 till:12/31/1981 color:Legs bar:Lesley from:02/12/1976 till:02/12/1976 color:Pans_People bar:Sue from:10/21/1976 till:10/29/1981 color:Legs bar:Cherry from:start till:04/29/1976 color:Pans_People bar:Cherry from:05/06/1976 till:09/30/1976 color:Ruby_Flipper bar:Patti from:05/06/1976 till:10/14/1976 color:Ruby_Flipper bar:Patti from:10/21/1976 till:10/29/1981 color:Legs bar:Patti from:12/31/1981 till:12/31/1981 color:Legs bar:Lulu from:05/06/1976 till:10/14/1976 color:Ruby_Flipper bar:Lulu from:10/21/1976 till:10/29/1981 color:Legs bar:Lulu from:12/31/1981 till:12/31/1981 color:Legs bar:Lee from:09/25/1975 till:04/01/1976 color:Pans_People bar:Mary from:09/25/1975 till:04/28/1976 color:Pans_People bar:Mary from:01/14/1982 till:01/14/1982 color:Zoo bar:Mary from:01/21/1982 till:01/21/1982 color:Zoo bar:Gavin from:05/06/1976 till:07/15/1976 color:Ruby_Flipper bar:Phil from:05/06/1976 till:10/14/1976 color:Ruby_Flipper bar:Floid from:05/06/1976 till:10/14/1976 color:Ruby_Flipper bar:Floid from:12/23/1976 till:12/23/1976 color:Accom bar:Floid from:04/14/1977 till:04/14/1977 color:Accom bar:Floid from:06/16/1977 till:06/16/1977 color:Accom bar:Floid from:08/11/1977 till:08/11/1977 color:Accom bar:Floid from:12/25/1977 till:12/25/1977 color:Accom bar:Floid from:05/25/1978 till:05/25/1978 color:Accom bar:Floid from:05/25/1978 till:05/25/1978 color:Accom bar:Floid from:09/21/1978 till:09/21/1978 color:Accom bar:Floid from:12/25/1978 till:12/25/1978 color:Accom bar:Others from:12/25/1978 till:12/25/1978 color:Accom bar:Others from:12/25/1976 till:12/25/1976 color:Accom bar:Martin from:10/19/1978 till:10/19/1978 color:Accom bar:Rosie from:10/21/1976 till:10/15/1981 color:Legs bar:Rosie from:12/31/1981 till:12/31/1981 color:Legs bar:Gill from:10/21/1976 till:10/29/1981 color:Legs bar:Gill from:12/31/1981 till:12/31/1981 color:Legs bar:Pauline from:10/21/1976 till:03/19/1981 color:Legs bar:Anita from:05/28/1981 till:10/29/1981 color:Legs bar:Anita from:11/05/1981 till:11/05/1981 color:Zoo bar:Anita from:12/24/1981 till:12/24/1981 color:Zoo bar:Anita from:12/25/1981 till:12/25/1981 color:Zoo bar:Anita from:12/31/1981 till:12/31/1981 color:Legs bar:Anita from:02/25/1982 till:02/25/1982 color:Zoo bar:Anita from:08/12/1982 till:08/12/1982 color:Perf bar:Alex from:08/13/1981 till:08/13/1981 color:legs bar:Jeremy from:09/24/1981 till:09/24/1981 color:legs

</timeline>

===Reception=== Legs & Co. gained a pin up status much like Pan's People. According to Lulu Cartwright, "We didn't really think about it all that much. It was very flattering. People would come up to you in the street. It wasn't overbearing and certainly not a problem. You could go out of your front door without someone recognising you."<ref>{{cite web|title=TOTP2 Lulu Cartwright|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/trivia/legs_and_co/lulu_cartwright/page3.shtml|website=BBC TOTP2|access-date=12 May 2017}}</ref>

===The final year of Legs & Co. on ''Top of the Pops''=== By 1981, a new producer, [[Michael Hurll]], frequently relegated Legs and Co to backing dancers. Also by this time, they were often not used as producers found it easier to use a video than include a routine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Legs & Co - TOTP 19/02/1981 [Sue & Pauline Interview] - TOTP Playback TX: 24/11/2013|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17lx43_legs-co-totp-19-02-1981-sue-pauline-interview-totp-playback-tx-24-11-2013_creation|website=Dailymotion|date=25 November 2013 |accessdate=25 May 2017|quote=We were given the week off as there was nothing for us to do.}}</ref> By July, the dancers knew their tenure was soon ending.<ref>{{citation|title=TOTP - the story of 1981|quote=We were aware certainly by July that the writing was on the wall.}}</ref> Their last lead performance was on 15 October 1981 to [[The Tweets]]' "[[The Birdie Song]]";<ref>{{cite web|title=The birdie song on TOTP|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUTwy9_EDFk|website=Youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017}}</ref> and on 29 October they danced behind [[Haircut 100]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Legs & Co and Haircut 100|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM4wufngeLw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/fM4wufngeLw |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> during their performance of "[[Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=Top 10 pop picks as TOTP turns 50|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25462875|publisher=BBC|accessdate=8 May 2017|work=BBC News|date=January 2014|last1=McKie|first1=John}}</ref>

On 5 November 1981, a week after Legs & Co.'s final on-screen appearance, [[Zoo (dance troupe)|Zoo]], the final featured dance troupe to appear on ''Top of the Pops'', made their debut. They were choreographed by Colby, and consisted of a rotating pool of 12 male and 12 female performers. Their first performance was dancing to [[Twilight (Electric Light Orchestra song)|Twilight]] by [[ELO]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Zoo and twilight|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K63Q8eBge-Q |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702134557/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K63Q8eBge-Q |archive-date=2018-07-02 |url-status=dead|website=Youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017}}</ref>

==Legs & Co. members after ''Top of the Pops''== ===Later ''Top of the Pops'' appearances === On 17 December 1981, Sue Menhenick made a final appearance on ''TOTP'', with a solo routine to "I'll Find My Way Home" by [[Jon & Vangelis]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sue I'll find my way home|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUsH_Hb2vtI|url-status=dead|website=Youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017|archive-date=19 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219005708/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUsH_Hb2vtI}}</ref> This marked Menhenick's final appearance as a dancer on ''Top of the Pops'' after over seven years, and probably the most appearances by any dancer, and making her the second longest serving dancer on the programme, Sue was credited as a member of Zoo in the end credits for the programme, making her unique in being credited for appearing as a member of four different dance troupes in her time on ''TOTP''.

The whole troupe appeared uncredited on 31 December 1981 'Hits of 1981' ''Top of the Pops'', dancing behind [[Shakin' Stevens]] whilst he sang [[Green Door]] (originally aired 13 August 1981), and with [[Aneka]] and [[Japanese Boy]] (originally aired 27 August 1981).

On the 12 August 1982 edition of 'TOTP', for the opening number, Anita Chellamah (under the surname Mahadervan) appears with the group [[Toto Coelo]] performing their hit '[[I Eat Cannibals|I Eat Cannibals Part 1]]'. Presenter [[John Peel]] makes no mention of Anita's past association with either Legs & Co or 'TOTP'.<ref>{{cite web|title=Toto Coelo|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvN3hOSZV4w |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413042412/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvN3hOSZV4w |archive-date=2019-04-13 |url-status=dead|website=Youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017}}</ref> Anita and Toto Coelo appeared two weeks later on 28 August 1982 edition of 'TOTP' to perform 'I Eat Cannibals Part 1' again.

In a retrospective segment on the 1000th and 20th anniversary editions of Top of the Pops, broadcast on 5 May 1983 and 5 January 1984, a photo of Legs & Co briefly appeared on screen.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top of the Pops 05/01/1984|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08t164k#credits|website=BBC|access-date=9 June 2017}}</ref>

===Legs & Co. after Top of the Pops=== After their last appearance on ''Top of the Pops'', Legs & Co. spent a further four years performing at corporate events and cabaret shows. However several members had left at the end of the Top of the Pops period; the new line-up had Hammond, Cartwright and Menhenick joined by Patricia McSherry (who also danced with [[Pans People#Life after TOTP|Dee Dee Wilde's Pan's People]]), Sandra Easby and Liz Green. Ruth Pearson and Flick Colby ceased to manage the group; Cartwright managed the group in this latter period. This line-up appeared in a 1982 television commercial for the Milk Marketing Board as part of their ''Gotta Lotta Bottle'' campaign.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gotta Lotta Bottle|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD97tgPC-JI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/bD97tgPC-JI |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|accessdate=7 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Later Easby and Green left and Tanya Lee joined. In 1983 this line-up appeared on [[TV-am]], where the group discussed looking for a new name and perform a routine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Legs & Co on TV-AM|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq_cwZq4qP4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/Eq_cwZq4qP4 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The group were eventually renamed Smax (one of the losing names in the 1976 naming competition)<ref>{{cite web|title=Legs & Co - TOTP 28/10/1976 [Sue & Lulu interview] - TOTP Playback TX: 18/08/2013|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x13mdm7_legs-co-totp-28-10-1976-sue-lulu-interview-totp-playback-tx-18-08-2013_creation|website=Dailymotion|accessdate=25 May 2017|quote=Lulu Cartwright - "Strange names like Smax"}}</ref> for the remainder of their existence.

Patti Hammond died following a long illness on 15 September 2021, at the age of 71.<ref>[https://docoftd.wixsite.com/pans-legs Pan's People, Legs and Co, Ruby Flipper and Zoo Information Pages]</ref>

===Documentaries and other appearances === * Gill Clark made a brief acting appearance in [[Minder (TV series)|Minder]] in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minder - Gill|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJZhMymC8uc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/pJZhMymC8uc |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|accessdate=10 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> * Pauline Peters made a brief acting appearance in [[Tenko (TV series)|Tenko]] in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tenko - Pauline Peters|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At38Emuy_r0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/At38Emuy_r0 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|accessdate=10 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> * Lulu and Patti appeared on [[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]] in the 'Identity Parade' feature in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|title=Never Mind the Buzzcocks - Identity Parade| website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I96jZl_Lc8E |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/I96jZl_Lc8E |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|accessdate=10 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> * The original Legs & Co. line-up were reunited in late 2000 to take part in a documentary on the history of ''Top of the Pops'' named "Top of the Pops: The True Story".<ref>{{cite web|title=Top of the Pops: The True Story|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vSlV8YKeEQ&t=2447s |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205174732/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vSlV8YKeEQ |archive-date=2020-02-05 |url-status=dead|website=Youtube}}</ref> In the programme, they discussed their memories of their time on the show. The documentary was first transmitted on 1 January 2001, repeated in December 2001, and a revised repeat was shown on 30 July 2006, the same day the final regular edition of ''Top of the Pops'' was broadcast. * The six original members also appeared on an edition of ''[[Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway]]'' in January 2003<ref>{{cite web|title=Ant and Dec Saturday Takeaway| website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8OWHYcxA1Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/P8OWHYcxA1Q |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|accessdate=7 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> to surprise a member of the studio audience who had written to ''[[Jim'll Fix It]]'' as a child wishing to dance with Legs & Co., but [[#other appearances in the Top of the Pops era|whose request didn't make the series]]. The girls, minus Patti Hammond, along with the surprised member of the audience, later danced to [[Sister Sledge]]'s "We Are Family", the first time members of Legs & Co. had danced on a British television series for 22 years. * Legs & Co members have appeared three times on Shaun Tilley's Top of the Pop Playback, each time with Sue Menhenick, and additionally with Pauline Peters on 18 December 2016,<ref>{{cite web|title=Top of the Pops Playback|url=https://soundcloud.com/shaun-tilley-1/totp-24112013-2_legs-co-wav|website=Soundcloud|accessdate=25 May 2017}}</ref> Rosie Hetherington on 25 June 2017<ref>{{cite web|title=Top of the Pops playback|url=https://soundcloud.com/shaun-tilley-1/20042014-1_legs-co-wav|website=Soundcloud|accessdate=25 May 2017}}</ref> and Lulu Cartwright on 19 June 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top of the Pops playback|url=https://soundcloud.com/shaun-tilley-1/top-of-the-pops-playback-18-8|website=Soundcloud|accessdate=25 May 2017}}</ref>

===2011 Top of the Pops rerun === From April 2011, the BBC began showing on BBC4 and iplayer weekly all broadcastable episodes from the BBC library from April 1976 onwards which from original dates in October 1976 covered the Legs & Co period on the programme. As master tapes for 9 episodes in the Legs & Co era are not held by the BBC, all these shows were absent from the rerun, except the 31 March 1977 edition, where an off-air recording was used. From October 2012, editions covered by DJs who formed part of [[Operation Yewtree]] were no longer rebroadcast as part of the ongoing rerun.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

Sue Menhenick and Lulu Cartwright appeared as interviewees of the BBCs' ''[[Top of the Pops#"Story of" Specials|The Story of Top of the Pops]]'', produced at the start of each rerun year, for the year 1978, and Menhenick on her own for 1979 and 1981.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.oneforthedads.org.uk/ One for the Dads: Digging the dancing queens of TV pop: Pan's People, Legs and Co, Ruby Flipper and others] * [https://docoftd.wixsite.com/pans-legs/legs-and-co-text A list of all the songs danced to by Legs and Co on TOTP] * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/trivia/legs_and_co/ BBC's overview of Legs & Co.] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20180802075156/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbc3f39cf BFI listing (near-complete)]

{{Top of the Pops}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Legs and Co.}} [[Category:Top of the Pops dance troupes]] [[Category:1976 establishments in England]]