Dig This Rhubarb first aired on BBC1 on 6 October 1963. The live-to-air Sunday night series was originally titled The Company of Six but was quickly – and radically – renamed. Alternating with Monitor, the show commented in an amusing way on items that were not necessarily in the news but with which people were preoccupied. Four or five topics were covered in each programme, including subjects such as attitude to royalty, capital punishment and the iniquities of the younger generation. The series initially featured Clive Swift, Robin Ray, Tony Beckley, Terence Brady, John Gower and Anne Jameson.