Rock and roll versus polite society!

A frenzied group of screaming girls mob the car of Curley Tempest, their favourite pop idol in the opening scenes of this episode of Head over Heels. Set in 1950s London, this frothy television comedy drama focussed on a group of young women enrolled in the Gracie Ellis Finishing School. Head over Heels was a short-lived programme originally broadcast on ITV in 1993 for one series.

In this episode student Catherine wins the opportunity to dine with pop star Curley, played by former Emmerdale regular Billy Hartman. While she’s initially besotted with the singer, her romantic ideas are ruined by reality. Meanwhile fellow pupil Bernadette is at odds with her exploitative mother who thinks nothing of farming out her daughter as a fashion model and into the lecherous clutches of a dubious photographer.

Central to Head over Heels is the growing gap between the etiquette being taught at the school and the arrival of teen culture and rock and roll music embodied by the trendy espresso bar across the road. This is a new era with a younger pop culture drawing heavily on film, music and fashion. Popular fashions, it is explained, definitely clash with the ideals of being lady-like. The title of this episode borrows from the song Curley sings about his beloved being dressed head to toe in pink. It takes its cue from numerous fashion themed pop music at the time from Elvis’ Blue Suede Shoes to The Big Bopper’s hit Chantilly Lace. As Catherine wonders what to wear to her date with the musician, viewers are treated to the requisite shopping montage as she tries on a multitude of pink dresses.

Catherine's romantic dreams are shattered by a meeting with her pop idol.