Legs & Co. image

Legs & Co.: 1976-1981

After a very short tenure, Ruby Flipper left the Top of the Pops studio for the last time, and a new(ish) all female group was formed, Legs & Co, which was once more choreographed by Colby. Three of the six in the initial line-up (Menhenick, Cartwight and Hammond) were taken from Ruby Flipper, with Rosie Hetherington, Gill Clarke and Pauline Peters making up the six. Despite being an all-female group, on occasion one or more male dancers were brought in several times for routines. The most notable was Hot Gossip dancer Floyd Pearce, who was also a member of Ruby Flipper in 1976. He made nine guest appearances with Legs & Co.

By the time of the new troupe's first appearance on Top of the Pops on 21st October 1976, dancing to the Average White Band's "Queen of My Soul", the group remained unnamed. For their first appearances, they were introduced as the "Top of the Pops" dancers, and their name was listed as "??????" on the end credits. The BBC decided to allow viewers to choose a name for the new dance troupe via a competition promoted on Top of the Pops. The name "Legs & Co." submitted by competition winner Elaine Coombes, was announced on Top of the Pops on 4th November 1976.

The members of Legs and Co. comprised of:

  • Lulu Cartwright
  • Patti Hammond
  • Sue Menhenick
  • Rosemary Hetherington
  • Pauline Peters
  • Gill Clark

The troupe's last performance on TOTP was on 15th October 1981, dancing to "Birdie Song" by The Tweets.

On 2nd December 1982, a week after Legs & Co.'s final on-screen appearance, Zoo, made their Top of the Pops debut. With the ongoing ramp up of a party atmosphere in the studio, and with many artists offering their music videos to the BBC for free, Zoo would be the last regular dance troupe to regularly appear on Top of the Pops.

Dance Troupes

Performances


Appearances

Episode Track / Artist
The Final Countdown The Smurf Song
Father Abraham & The Smurfs
15/10/1981 Birdie Song (birdie Dance)
The Tweets
01/10/1981 Hands Up (give Me Your Heart)
Ottawan
24/09/1981 Endless Love
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
17/09/1981 You'll Never Know
Hi-gloss
10/09/1981 Hands Up (give Me Your Heart)
Ottawan
03/09/1981 Slow Hand
The Pointer Sisters
27/08/1981 Hold On Tight
Electric Light Orchestra
20/08/1981 Rainy Night In Georgia
Randy Crawford
13/08/1981 Startrax Club Disco
Startrax
06/08/1981 The Caribbean Disco Show
Lobo
30/07/1981 Hooked On Classics
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
23/07/1981 Lay All Your Love On Me
ABBA
23/07/1981 Stars On 45 Volume 2
Starsound
16/07/1981 Walk Right Now
The Jacksons
09/07/1981 Wordy Rappinghood
Tom Tom Club
09/07/1981 Stars On 45 Volume 2
Starsound
02/07/1981 Razzamatazz
Quincy Jones
02/07/1981 One Day In Your Life
Michael Jackson
25/06/1981 One Day In Your Life
Michael Jackson
18/06/1981 Take It To The Top
Kool & The Gang
04/06/1981 One Day In Your Life
Michael Jackson
28/05/1981 Ain't No Stopping
Enigma
21/05/1981 Stray Cat Strut
Stray Cats
07/05/1981 Stars On 45
Starsound
30/04/1981 Ai No Corrida
Quincy Jones
23/04/1981 Bermuda Triangle
Barry Manilow
23/04/1981 Stars On 45
Starsound
16/04/1981 Chi Mai
Ennio Morricone
09/04/1981 Up The Hill Backwards
David Bowie
02/04/1981 Can You Feel It?
The Jacksons
26/03/1981 It's A Love Thing
The Whispers
19/03/1981 Lately
Stevie Wonder
12/03/1981 Once In A Lifetime
Talking Heads
05/03/1981 Jones Vs Jones
Kool & The Gang
19/02/1981 The Oldest Swinger In Town
Fred Wedlock
19/02/1981 Once In A Lifetime
Talking Heads
12/02/1981 What's On Your Mind
George Benson
29/01/1981 It's My Turn
Diana Ross
22/01/1981 Don't Stop The Music
Yarbrough & Peoples
15/01/1981 I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
Stevie Wonder
08/01/1981 Lonely Together
Barry Manilow
Christmas 1980 - Part 2 Working My Way Back To You ~ Forgive Me Girl (medley)
The Detroit Spinners
Christmas 1980 - Part 1 Woman In Love
Barbra Streisand
Christmas 1980 - Part 1 Funky Town
Lipps Inc
18/12/1980 (just Like) Starting Over
John Lennon
04/12/1980 Lady
Kenny Rogers
27/11/1980 Don't Walk Away
Electric Light Orchestra
20/11/1980 I'm Coming Out
Diana Ross
13/11/1980 (just Like) Starting Over
John Lennon
06/11/1980 The Same Old Scene
Roxy Music
30/10/1980 Fashion
David Bowie
23/10/1980 D.i.s.c.o.
Ottawan
23/10/1980 Woman In Love
Barbra Streisand
16/10/1980 Woman In Love
Barbra Streisand
09/10/1980 Casanova
Coffee
02/10/1980 Searching
Change
25/09/1980 Another One Bites The Dust
Queen
25/09/1980 It's Only Love
Elvis Presley
18/09/1980 It's Only Love
Elvis Presley
11/09/1980 It's Only Love
Elvis Presley
11/09/1980 It's Only Love
Elvis Presley
04/09/1980 It's Still Rock And Roll To Me
Billy Joel
21/08/1980 Bank Robber
The Clash
14/08/1980 All Over The World
Electric Light Orchestra
14/08/1980 Funkin' For Jamaica
Tom Browne
14/08/1980 Use It Up And Wear It Out
Odyssey
07/08/1980 Funkin' For Jamaica
Tom Browne
07/08/1980 Use It Up And Wear It Out
Odyssey
07/08/1980 Use It Up And Wear It Out
Odyssey
09/07/1980 Use It Up And Wear It Out
Odyssey
29/05/1980 You Gave Me Love
Crown Heights Affair
29/05/1980 Theme From M*a*s*h (suicide Is Painless)
Mash
22/05/1980 Theme From M*a*s*h (suicide Is Painless)
Mash
15/05/1980 Just Can't Give You Up
Mystic Merlin
08/05/1980 Let's Go Round Again
Average White Band
01/05/1980 The Groove
Rodney Franklin
24/04/1980 Check Out The Groove
Bobby Thurston
17/04/1980 Call Me
Blondie
10/04/1980 Sexy Eyes
Dr. Hook
03/04/1980 Don't Push It, Don't Force It
Leon Haywood
27/03/1980 Stomp
Brothers Johnson
20/03/1980 Spirit Of Radio
Rush
13/03/1980 Working My Way Back To You ~ Forgive Me Girl (medley)
The Detroit Spinners
06/03/1980 Together We Are Beautiful
Fern Kinney
28/02/1980 So Lonely
The Police
22/02/1980 And The Beat Goes On
The Whispers
15/02/1980 Rock With You
Michael Jackson
07/02/1980 And The Beat Goes On
The Whispers
31/01/1980 Jazz Carnival
Azymuth
24/01/1980 Spirits (having Flown)
The Bee Gees
17/01/1980 Green Onions
Booker T. & The M.G.'s
10/01/1980 Please Don't Go
K.C. & The Sunshine Band
03/01/1980 My Feet Keep Dancin'
Chic
Christmas 1979 - Part 2 I Will Survive
Gloria Gaynor
Christmas 1979 - Part 2 Y.m.c.a.
Village People
Christmas 1979 - Part 1 Ring My Bell
Anita Ward
Christmas 1979 - Part 1 Tragedy
The Bee Gees
20/12/1979 Blue Peter
Mike Oldfield
13/12/1979 Living On An Island
Status Quo
06/12/1979 Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
29/11/1979 No More Tears (enough Is Enough)
Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand
22/11/1979 Rise
Herb Alpert
15/11/1979 No More Tears (enough Is Enough)
Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand
08/11/1979 Rise
Herb Alpert
01/11/1979 Star
Earth, Wind & Fire
25/10/1979 My Forbidden Lover
Chic
18/10/1979 Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
11/10/1979 Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
Michael Jackson
04/10/1979 Them Heavy People
Kate Bush
27/09/1979 You Can Do It
Al Hudson & The Partners
20/09/1979 Don't Bring Me Down
Electric Light Orchestra
13/09/1979 Strut Your Funky Stuff
Frantique
13/09/1979 Gone Gone Gone
Johnny Mathis
06/09/1979 Just When I Needed You Most
Randy Vanwarmer
06/09/1979 If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me
The Bellamy Brothers
30/08/1979 Lost In Music
Sister Sledge
30/08/1979 Gone Gone Gone
Johnny Mathis
23/08/1979 Just When I Needed You Most
Randy Vanwarmer
09/08/1979 Morning Dance
Spyro Gyra
02/08/1979 After The Love Has Gone
Earth, Wind & Fire
26/07/1979 Born To Be Alive
Patrick Hernandez
19/07/1979 Bad Girls
Donna Summer
12/07/1979 Lady Lynda
The Beach Boys
21/06/1979 Cavatina
John Williams
14/06/1979 Say When
Lene Lovich
07/06/1979 Ring My Bell
Anita Ward
31/05/1979 Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
McFadden & Whitehead
24/05/1979 Hot Stuff
Donna Summer
17/05/1979 Sunday Girl
Blondie
10/05/1979 Knock On Wood
Amii Stewart
03/05/1979 Reunited
Peaches & Herb
26/04/1979 Love You Inside Out
The Bee Gees
19/04/1979 Shake Your Body (down To The Ground)
The Jacksons
12/04/1979 Silly Thing
The Sex Pistols
05/04/1979 Sultans Of Swing
Dire Straits
29/03/1979 Forever In Blue Jeans
Neil Diamond
22/03/1979 Turn The Music Up
The Players Association
15/03/1979 I Want Your Love
Chic
09/03/1979 Something Else
The Sex Pistols
09/03/1979 Tragedy
The Bee Gees
01/03/1979 Keep On Dancin'
Gary's Gang
01/03/1979 Tragedy
The Bee Gees
22/02/1979 Tragedy
The Bee Gees
15/02/1979 Contact
Edwin Starr
08/02/1979 Chiquitita
ABBA
01/02/1979 Heart Of Glass
Blondie
25/01/1979 Cool Meditation
Third World
18/01/1979 This Is It
Dan Hartman
11/01/1979 One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
04/01/1979 September
Earth, Wind & Fire
Christmas Day 1978 Summer Nights
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-john
Christmas Day 1978 Three Times A Lady
The Commodores
14/12/1978 You Don't Bring Me Flowers
Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond
07/12/1978 Too Much Heaven
The Bee Gees
30/11/1978 Le Freak
Chic
23/11/1978 Dance (disco Heat)
Sylvester
09/11/1978 Hopelessly Devoted To You
Olivia Newton-john
09/11/1978 Instant Replay
Dan Hartman
02/11/1978 Part Time Love
Elton John
02/11/1978 Macarthur Park
Donna Summer
26/10/1978 Sweet Talkin' Woman
Electric Light Orchestra
26/10/1978 Instant Replay
Dan Hartman
19/10/1978 Sandy
John Travolta
19/10/1978 Macarthur Park
Donna Summer
12/10/1978 Blame It On The Boogie
The Jacksons
12/10/1978 Talking In Your Sleep
Crystal Gayle
05/10/1978 Now That We've Found Love
Third World
28/09/1978 Grease
Frankie Valli
21/09/1978 You Make Me Feel (mighty Real)
Sylvester
14/09/1978 Kiss You All Over
Exile
07/09/1978 I Thought It Was You
Herbie Hancock
31/08/1978 Everlasting Love
Andy Gibb
24/08/1978 Brown Girl In The Ring
Boney M
17/08/1978 Super Nature
Cerrone
17/08/1978 Three Times A Lady
The Commodores
10/08/1978 Baby Stop Crying
Bob Dylan
03/08/1978 Don't Stop Now
Gene Farrow
03/08/1978 Boogie Oogie Oogie
A Taste Of Honey
27/07/1978 Come Back And Finish What You Started
Gladys Knight & The Pips
27/07/1978 How Can This Be Love
Andrew Gold
20/07/1978 Come On Dance Dance
Saturday Night Band
20/07/1978 Dancing In The City
Marshall Hain
13/07/1978 Used Ta Be My Girl
The O'Jays
13/07/1978 The Smurf Song
Father Abraham & The Smurfs
06/07/1978 Boogie Oogie Oogie
A Taste Of Honey
29/06/1978 The Man With The Child In His Eyes
Kate Bush
22/06/1978 Dancing In The City
Marshall Hain
15/06/1978 The Smurf Song
Father Abraham & The Smurfs
08/06/1978 Ça Plane Pour Moi
Plastic Bertrand
25/05/1978 You're The One That I Want
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-john
18/05/1978 Love Is In The Air
John Paul Young
11/05/1978 More Than A Woman
Tavares
11/05/1978 Because The Night
Patti Smith Group
04/05/1978 Back In Love Again
Donna Summer
04/05/1978 Let's All Chant
Michael Zager Band
27/04/1978 Everybody Dance
Chic
27/04/1978 Because The Night
Patti Smith Group
20/04/1978 Night Fever
The Bee Gees
20/04/1978 Let's All Chant
Michael Zager Band
13/04/1978 Everybody Dance
Chic
13/04/1978 Move Your Body
Gene Farrow
06/04/1978 Never Let Her Slip Away
Andrew Gold
30/03/1978 The Ghost Of Love
Tavares
23/03/1978 Rumour Has It
Donna Summer
16/03/1978 Is This Love
Bob Marley & The Wailers
09/03/1978 I Can't Stand The Rain
Eruption
02/03/1978 Fantasy
Earth, Wind & Fire
23/02/1978 All Right Now
Free
16/02/1978 Wishing On A Star
Rose Royce
09/02/1978 Take A Chance On Me
ABBA
02/02/1978 The Groove Line
Heatwave
26/01/1978 Lovely Day
Bill Withers
19/01/1978 Uptown Top Ranking
Althia & Donna
05/01/1978 Let's Have A Quiet Night In
David Soul
Christmas 1977 - Part 2 Silver Lady
David Soul
Christmas 1977 - Part 2 I Feel Love
Donna Summer
Christmas 1977 - Part 1 Fanfare For The Common Man
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Christmas 1977 - Part 1 Sir Duke
Stevie Wonder
22/12/1977 Love's Unkind
Donna Summer
15/12/1977 Egyptian Reggae
Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
15/12/1977 My Way
Elvis Presley
08/12/1977 Dance Dance Dance (yowsah Yowsah Yowsah)
Chic
01/12/1977 Getting Ready For Love
Diana Ross
24/11/1977 Egyptian Reggae
Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
17/11/1977 Turn To Stone
Electric Light Orchestra
10/11/1977 How Deep Is Your Love
The Bee Gees
03/11/1977 I Believe You
Dorothy Moore
27/10/1977 Black Betty
Ram Jam
20/10/1977 Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft
The Carpenters
13/10/1977 The Greatest Love Of All
George Benson
06/10/1977 From Here To Eternity
Giorgio
29/09/1977 Waiting In Vain
Bob Marley & The Wailers
29/09/1977 Way Down
Elvis Presley
22/09/1977 Best Of My Love
The Emotions
22/09/1977 Way Down
Elvis Presley
15/09/1977 Down Deep Inside (theme From The Deep)
Donna Summer
15/09/1977 Way Down
Elvis Presley
08/09/1977 Oxygene Part Iv
Jean-Michel Jarre
01/09/1977 Silver Lady
David Soul
01/09/1977 Nobody Does It Better
Carly Simon
01/09/1977 Way Down
Elvis Presley
25/08/1977 Way Down
Elvis Presley
18/08/1977 Nobody Does It Better
Carly Simon
11/08/1977 We're All Alone
Rita Coolidge
11/08/1977 I Feel Love
Donna Summer
04/08/1977 Nights On Broadway
Candi Staton
04/08/1977 I Feel Love
Donna Summer
28/07/1977 Roadrunner
Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
28/07/1977 I Feel Love
Donna Summer
21/07/1977 I Feel Love
Donna Summer
14/07/1977 Easy
The Commodores
07/07/1977 Ma Baker
Boney M
30/06/1977 Feel The Need In Me
The Detroit Emeralds
23/06/1977 Oh Lori
Alessi
16/06/1977 You're Gonna Get Next To Me
Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis
09/06/1977 Show You The Way To Go
The Jacksons
02/06/1977 The Shuffle
Van Mccoy
02/06/1977 Got To Give It Up
Marvin Gaye
26/05/1977 Mah Na Mah Na
Piero Umiliani
26/05/1977 Tokyo Joe
Bryan Ferry
19/05/1977 Disco Inferno
The Trammps
19/05/1977 The Shuffle
Van Mccoy
12/05/1977 Mah Na Mah Na
Piero Umiliani
12/05/1977 Got To Give It Up (pt. 1)
Marvin Gaye
05/05/1977 Hotel California
The Eagles
05/05/1977 Lonely Boy
Andrew Gold
28/04/1977 I Wanna Get Next To You
Rose Royce
28/04/1977 The Shuffle
Van Mccoy
21/04/1977 Sir Duke
Stevie Wonder
14/04/1977 Lonely Boy
Andrew Gold
07/04/1977 Love Hit Me
Maxine Nightingale
31/03/1977 Going In With My Eyes Open
David Soul
24/03/1977 Sunny
Boney M
17/03/1977 Moody Blue
Elvis Presley
10/03/1977 Torn Between Two Lovers
Mary Mcgregor
03/03/1977 Sound And Vision
David Bowie
24/02/1977 Saturday Nite
Earth, Wind & Fire
17/02/1977 Chanson D'amour
Manhattan Transfer
17/02/1977 Mighty Power Of Love
Tavares
10/02/1977 Boogie Nights
Heatwave
03/02/1977 Don't Leave Me This Way
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
27/01/1977 New Kid In Town
The Eagles
20/01/1977 Suspicion
Elvis Presley
13/01/1977 Car Wash
Rose Royce
06/01/1977 Don't Give Up On Us
David Soul
Christmas 1976 - Part 2 Let 'em In
Wings
Christmas 1976 - Part 2 December '63 (oh What A Night)
The Four Seasons
Christmas 1976 - Part 1 Dancing Queen
ABBA
Christmas 1976 - Part 1 Jungle Rock
Hank Mizell
23/12/1976 I Wish
Stevie Wonder
16/12/1976 You'll Never Get To Heaven
The Stylistics
09/12/1976 Portsmouth
Mike Oldfield
02/12/1976 Somebody To Love
Queen
25/11/1976 Maid In Heaven
Be Bop Deluxe
18/11/1976 Do You Feel Like We Do
Peter Frampton
11/11/1976 Spinning Rock Boogie
Hank C. Burnette
04/11/1976 Rock 'n' Me
Steve Miller Band
28/10/1976 Theme From Jaws
Lalo Schifrin
21/10/1976 Queen Of My Soul
Average White Band

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHT

Stars On 45 by Starsound

Danced to by Legs & Co. 07/05/1981

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