Ruby Flipper: 1976

In early 1976, Ruth Pearson announced her retirement from Pan's People, leaving the dance troupe with only four remaining members, all of whom had joined within the preceding four years: Cherry Gillespie, Mary Corpe, Lee Ward, and Sue Menhenick. Rather than continuing with the existing line-up or recruiting additional dancers, it was decided to replace Pan's People with a new, mixed-gender dance troupe.

Flick Colby and Ruth Pearson conceived the name "Ruby Flipper" for this new ensemble, ingeniously derived from a combination of their own names (RUth PEaRson + FLIck colBY) – a subtle anagram for those with an affinity for wordplay.

The original Ruby Flipper line-up featured four female dancers and three male dancers:

• Lulu Cartwright
• Cherry Gillespie
• Phillip Haigh (occasionally credited as Phillip Steggles)
• Patti Hammond
• Sue Menhenick
• Floyd Pearce
• Gavin Trace

Ruby Flipper made their TOTP debut on 6 May 1976 performing a dance routine to "Can't Help Falling In Love" by The Stylistics.

Sadly, Ruby Flipper's tenure on Top of the Pops was short-lived. Lee Ward departed shortly after the group's formation, reportedly expressing dissatisfaction with the new direction, commenting, "It's a big mistake. Men rush home to watch sexy ladies. They do not want to see other men."

According to Flick Colby, BBC executive Bill Cotton advised both her and Ruth Pearson to disband Ruby Flipper in favour of reinstating an all-female dance group. Colby recounted, "He said he didn't like the concept and that he wanted a girl group back on the show. I was told to reform an all-girl group–or quit." Phillip Haigh similarly recalled, "They didn't really give a clear reason why, but they just said that it had been decided that 'Ruby Flipper will be coming to an end and that they'd be looking for a new group'."

By the autumn of 1976, Colby and Pearson disbanded Ruby Flipper and established a new all-female dance troupe instead, which ultimately became known as Legs & Co., named through suggestions from the viewing public. Ruby Flipper made their final appearance on Top of the Pops on 14 October 1976, performing as a quintet to "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry.