by Paul Feeney
Desert Island Discs (1942–present) BBC Home Service (1950s). This programme was devised and presented by Roy Plomley from 1942 until his death in 1985. Each week, a guest was invited to choose eight gramophone records and one book. It is said to be the longest-running music radio show in radio history. It was not essential listening for 1950s kids as most of the musical choices seemed to be either classical or from stage shows. The signature tune was, and still is, By the Sleepy Lagoon by Eric Coates.
Dick Barton, Special Agent (1946–51) BBC Light Programme. This was the BBC radio’s first daily serial. Our special agent hero, former Commando Captain Richard Barton, with his two trusty sidekicks, Jock Anderson and Snowy White, solved endless crimes and regularly saved us all from terrible disasters. Its unforgettably dramatic chase signature tune was Devil’s Gallop, composed by Charles Williams.
Easy Beat (1959–67) BBC Light Programme. A Sunday mid-morning show produced and presented by Brian Matthew, it was recorded before a live audience at the Playhouse Theatre, just off Trafalgar Square in London. It featured the Johnny Howard Band, with guest bands and artists including regulars like Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen and Bert Weedon.
Educating Archie (1950–60) BBC Light Programme and Home Service. Yes, ventriloquist Peter Brough really did manage to succeed with his own Sunday lunchtime comedy radio show, which he did while holding his dummy, Archie Andrews, in front of the microphone. The show featured fourteen-year-old Julie Andrews, and an enormous number of comedians who went on to become big names, including Tony Hancock, Max Bygraves, Harry Secombe, Benny Hill, Beryl Reid, Hattie Jacques, Dick Emery, Bruce Forsyth, Sid James, Marty Feldman, Graham Stark, Warren Mitchell and James Robertson Justice. The show was even adapted for an ITV television series in 1958.
The Goon Show (1952–60) BBC Home Service with repeats on the BBC Light Programme. Created and mainly written by Spike Milligan, this comedy sketch show was a firm favourite with 1950s kids, including Prince Charles. The show stared Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, and Michael Bentine, who left the show in 1953. Some of the main characters were: Mr Henry Crun, Lance Brigadier Grytpype-Thynne, Major Dennis Bloodnok and Bluebottle – all played by Peter Sellers; Miss Minnie Bannister, Eccles and Moriarty – all played by Spike Milligan; and Ned Seagoon – played by Harry Secombe. Each of the cast played many minor characters as well, and everything was accompanied by music and comical sound affects.
Hancock’s Half Hour (1954–9) BBC Light Programme. Comedy show written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson about the life of down-at-heel comedian, Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock, who was waiting for the big time to arrive. The main character, Hancock, lived with his dim-witted Australian lodger, played by Bill Kerr, at 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam. Sid James played Hancock’s roguish friend Sid, and in later series, Hattie Jacques played his live-in secretary, Miss Griselda Pugh.
Have A Go (1946–67) BBC Light Programme. A travelling radio quiz, hosted by Yorkshireman Wilfred Pickles, the first BBC newsreader to speak with a broad Yorkshire accent. Accompanied by his wife Mabel, Wilfred took the programme to church halls all around the country, challenging ordinary people to ‘have a go’ and answer quiz questions for money prizes. With ‘Mabel at the table’, Wilfred coined several catchphrases, including ‘How do, how are yer?’, ‘Are yer courting?’ to the younger contestants, and ‘Give ’em the money, Mabel!’ when they won, but all contestants were given the money anyway. The theme tune was Have a Go, Joe by Jack Jordan, the original pianist on the show. Violet Carson, famous for playing Ena Sharpes in Coronation Street, took over as pianist from 1947 to 1953, after that Harry Hudson took over, followed by Eric James in 1966.
Housewives’ Choice (1946–67) BBC Light Programme. A popular record request programme for women at home during the day. It was mainly men that presented the shows, with the most popular presenter probably being George Elrick, known as ‘The Smiling Face of Radio’; he had a long association with the show. The signature tune was In Party Mood by Jack Strachey, another unforgettable tune from the 1950s!
Journey into Space (1953–8) BBC Light Programme. This 1950s radio science fiction classic kept us all up late and sent us to bed with nightmares! Written and produced by BBC producer Charles Chilton, it was set in the future of 1965 and described Man’s conquest of the moon. Each half-hour weekly episode left us all biting our fingernails in suspense with a new cliffhanger ending. The main characters included Captain Andrew ‘Jet’ Morgan, Doc Matthews, Stephen ‘Mitch’ Mitchell, and Lemuel ‘Lemmey’ Barnett, with a changing cast that included Andrew Faulds, David Jacobs, David Kossoff and Alfie Bass.
Life with the Lyons (1950–61) BBC Light Programme. A popular light-hearted domestic radio sitcom that featured a real-life American family living in London, and starred the husband and wife team of Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels, with their children Richard and Barbara Lyon, and the family’s pet dog Skeeter. Other cast members included Molly Weir, who played their Scottish housekeeper Aggie McDonald, Doris Rogers, who played the nosey neighbour Florrie Wainwright, and Ian Sadler as her hen-pecked husband George.
Listen with Mother (1950–82) BBC Light Programme (1950s). A fifteen-minute programme of stories, songs and nursery rhymes, it was broadcast every weekday afternoon at 1.45pm for very young children and their mothers. ‘Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin!’ Presenters and story readers included Daphne Oxenford, Dorothy Smith and Julia Lang.
Meet The Huggetts (1953–61) BBC Light Programme. Comedy series about a London East End charwoman and her family, starring Kathleen Harrison as Ethel, and Jack Warner as Joe.
Mrs Dale’s Diary (1948–69) BBC Light Programme (1950s). This was the first post-war daily weekday soap on British radio. It centred on the fictional life of Mrs (Mary) Dale, the wife of a doctor (Jim), and her family life at Virginia Lodge in the fictional London suburb of Parkwood Hill in Middlesex. Ellis Powell played Mrs Dale up until 1963, when Jessie Matthews replaced her. This was essential comfort listening for kids off school sick.
Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh (1944–54) BBC Light Programme; Radio Luxembourg also produced a series of the show in 1950–1. A comedy series about the goings-on at a fictional RAF station, which, after the war, evolved into a newspaper, The Weekly Bind. The show was written by and starred Kenneth Horne and Richard ‘Stinker’ Murdoch; other cast members included Sam Costa, Maurice Denham, Dora Bryan and Nicholas Parsons.
Music While You Work (1940–67) BBC Light Programme (1950s). This was a half-hour show that featured a different live band or orchestra each weekday morning and afternoon, playing a non-stop medley of popular tunes. Its signature tune was Calling All Workers by Eric Coates.
Paul Temple (1938–68) BBC Light Programme (1950s). Based on the novels by Francis Durbridge, this fictional amateur detective, with the assistance of his wife Steve, solved all sorts of crime mysteries. Several actors and actresses have portrayed the Temples over the years, with the best-known 1950s stars being Peter Coke and Marjorie Westbury. This was another great mystery serial that had children of the time captivated. The theme music, inspired by the rhythm of a train journey, was Coronation Scot by Vivian Ellis.
Pick of the Pops (1955–72) BBC Light Programme (1950s). First presented by forty-seven-year-old Franklin Englemann in 1955, it featured ‘newly released gramophone records’. Alan Dell, a more suitable thirty-two-year-old, took over in 1956, playing ‘a selection of the latest popular gramophone records’. David Jacobs, then a thirty-year-old, took temporary charge in September 1956 before taking over completely in 1958, when it was moved from midweek to a Saturday night slot and records were first played from a BBC devised Pop Chart. The show’s best-known presenter, Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman, made his first appearance on the show in 1961. The signature tune was At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal by Brian Fahey and his Orchestra.
Record Round Up (1948–68) BBC Light Programme (1950s). Jack Jackson, former bandleader turned disc-jockey, created this unusual pop record show where
he interrupted pop records with excerpts from comedy monologues by comedians like Shelley Berman and Bob Newhart. His programme was the first fast-moving zany pop show on British radio, and was said to have inspired later presenters like Kenny Everett.
Saturday Club (1958–69) BBC Light Programme (1950s). Renamed from the Saturday Skiffle Club, which had started in June 1957, this live pop music show was presented by Brian Matthew between 10am and noon every Saturday morning and was essential listening for kids of all ages – that is, if you weren’t at Saturday Morning Pictures! The show included interviews with guest artists and pre-recorded live performances, as well as record requests and new releases. The programme followed on immediately after Children’s Favourites, which meant that lots of young kids also got hooked on the show. Many home-grown pop stars of the day appeared, including Cliff Richard, Adam Faith, Marty Wilde and Johnny Kidd, as well as a host of American artists, like the Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis and Bo Diddley. The cheery welcome of Brian Matthews’ ‘Hello my ol’ mateys!’ was a familiar greeting that could be heard in every hairdressers and barbershop throughout the country each Saturday morning, with hairdressers everywhere reaching to fine-tune their radios for crystal clear reception. The theme tune was Humphrey Littleton’s Saturday Jump.
The Adventures of P.C.49 (1947–53) BBC Light Programme. This light comedy and sleuthing drama series, about an ordinary London Bobby on the beat, was created for radio by Alan Shranks, and featured Brian Reece as the upper-crust Police Constable Archibald Berkeley-Willoughby, solving crimes that were beyond the ability of his superiors. It also starred Joy Shelton as 49’s girlfriend Joan Carr, Leslie Perrins as Detective Inspector Wilson, and Eric Phillips as Detective Sergeant Wright. The signature tune was Changing Moods by Ronald Hanmer.
The Navy Lark (1959–77) BBC Light Programme (1950s). One of the longest-running comedy radio shows ever. It was a send-up of the Senior Service (the Royal Navy – oldest of the British armed forces), and was about life aboard a fictional Royal Navy frigate called HMS Troutbridge. The 1950s cast included: Dennis Price as Lieutenant Price (Number One) in series one; Stephen Murray as Lieutenant Murray (Number One) for series two onwards; Leslie Phillips as Sub Lieutenant Phillips; Jon Pertwee as Chief Petty Officer Pertwee and other characters; Richard Caldicott as Commander Povey; Heather Chasen as Wren Chasen and other characters; Ronnie Barker as Un-Able Seaman ‘Fatso’ Johnson and other characters; and Tenniel Evans as Able Seaman Taffy Goldstein and other characters. Laurie Wyman devised the series, and Tommy Reilly and James Moody composed the signature tune, Trade Wind Hornpipe. This show was thirty minutes of essential comedy listening every Sunday. ‘Left hand down a bit!’
Today (1957–present) BBC Home Service (1950s). An early morning news and current affairs programme first presented by Alan Skempton, who was replaced in 1958 by its long-term and best-known presenter, Jack de Manio, who continued to present the show until 1971. Many will remember listening to the dulcet tones of the hugely popular Jack de Manio, and later his roaming London reporter Monty Modlin, as you dipped your neatly cut bread soldiers into a boiled egg. You would, no doubt, have been late for school if you relied on Jack de Manio’s time-checks in the morning. He was notoriously gaffe-prone and often got the time wrong.
Ray’s a Laugh (1949–61) BBC Light Programme. A domestic comedy created by and starring comedian Ted Ray, with Kitty Bluett playing his wife and Fred Yule playing his brother-in-law. Other well-known names that regularly appeared were Peter Sellers, Patricia Hayes, Kenneth Connor, Pat Coombs and Graham Stark.
Semprini Serenade (1957–82) BBC Light Programme (1950s). This was another ‘easy listening’ weekday evening show that would send the kids running for cover. ‘Old ones, new ones, loved ones, neglected ones’ – Alberto Sempini played them all on keyboard and piano, accompanied by Harry Rabinowitz and the BBC Revue Orchestra.
The Radio Times gave full radio and television programme listings, and the TV Times provided all the information about ITV programmes (often called ‘Channel 9’). ITV’s Gun Law (also produced under the titles of Gun Smoke and Marshal Dillon) was very popular in the mid to late-1950s. Remember Dennis Weaver who played Chester ‘Mis-ter Dil-lon’ Goode?
Sing Something Simple (1959–2001) BBC Light Programme (1950s). A torturous half-hour for any child forced to listen to this every Sunday evening, but its longevity proved that it must have been popular with older people. The show featured the Cliff Adams Singers performing a collection of non-stop familiar songs, accompanied by accordionist Jack Emblow and his quartet.
Take It From Here (1948–58) BBC Light Programme. A music and comedy sketch show written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden, and starred Jimmy Edwards, Dick Bentley, Joy Nichols (left in 1953), June Whitfield and Alma Cogan. The show is best remembered for introducing us, in the early 1950s, to a dysfunctional family called The Glums. Jimmy Edwards played Mr Glum, Dick Bentley played his dim-witted son Ron Glum, and June Whitfield played Ron’s long-suffering girlfriend Eth. Everyone remembers Eth’s regular catchphrase, ‘Oh, Ron…!’, and Ron’s reply, ‘Yes, Eth?’ The writers filled the show with sharp comedy lines, like this one from the overbearing Mr Glum: ‘Ron, run upstairs and fetch me your mother’s toothbrush. I’ve got my new suede shoes on and I’ve trodden in something.’ Kids didn’t always understand the TIFH jokes, but The Glums’ sketches had everyone in stitches.
Top of the Form (1948–86) BBC Light Programme (1950s). This was radio’s general knowledge quiz show for teams of children from secondary schools around the country. However, it mainly featured pupils from grammar and independent schools. The main presenters (question masters) in the 1950s were Kenneth Horne, John Ellison and Robert MacDermott. The quiz involved teams of different age groups and the show was very popular with young listeners, eager to pit their wits against kids of their own age. The rousing theme music was taken from Marching Strings by Marshall Ross (a pseudonym of orchestra leader and composer, Ray Martin).
Woman’s Hour (1946–present) BBC Light Programme (1950s). A weekday woman’s magazine programme that was on between 2pm and 3pm each afternoon. Norman Collins created the programme as a daily line-up of music, advice and entertainment for the home. Jean Metcalfe was its presenter from 1950 to 1958, and then Marjorie Anderson took over until she retired in 1972. This was essential listening for mums at home all day, and another interesting radio show for kids off school with childhood illnesses, particularly boys who would be fascinated by live on-air discussions about women’s menstrual problems and the menopause! Yes, they discussed such things on the radio as far back as 1947!
Worker’s Playtime (1941–64) Originally on the BBC Home Service then moved to the Light Programme in 1957, until 1964. This was a radio variety touring show that was broadcast live, three days a week, from different factory canteens around the country, as selected by the Ministry of Labour. The programme was produced by Bill Gates and featured countless well-known entertainers, like Charlie Chester, Peter Sellers, Tony Hancock, Frankie Howerd, Anne Sheldon, Betty Driver (now famous for her role as Coronation Street’s barmaid, Betty Williams), Eve Boswell, Dorothy Squires, Arthur English, Julie Andrews, Morecambe and Wise, Bob Monkhouse, Ken Dodd, Ken ‘I won’t take me coat off – I’m not stopping!’ Platt, Gert and Daisy (Elsie and Doris Waters) and the impressionist, Peter Goodwright. Children who listened to the show imagined that working in a factory was fun and was all about having a good time – what was so hard in that?
Radio Luxembourg (1933–92), 208 metres on the medium-wave band. One of the earliest commercial radio stations broadcasting to Britain; it helped pioneer modern radio presentation styles and kick-started the careers of many well-known radio and television celebrities. In the 1950s, it brought back to air a new version of the sponsored Ovaltiney’s Concert Party, featuring the We Are The Ovaltineys theme song, which Radio Luxembourg first introduced in the early 1930s. In the ’50s, you will have stayed up late to listen to Pete Murray present the Top Twenty show, one
of the earliest pop music shows transmitted on British radio. Up until the 1960s, when the station became predominantly a pop music station, Radio Luxembourg broadcast a wide variety of programmes, including comedy, drama, music and quiz shows. You might well remember listening to such diverse programmes as The Adventures of Dan Dare, Perry Mason, The Story of Dr Kildare, Take Your Pick with Michael Miles, and Double Your Money with Hughie Green. There were also sports programmes and a host of sponsored religious programmes. Some of the 1950s disc-jockeys and presenters that you may remember included Teddy Johnson (half of the famous Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson husband-and-wife singing duo), Warren Mitchell, Pete Murray, Barry Alldis, Sam Costa, Alan Dell, Dick Emery (the comedian), Keith Fordyce, Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman, David Gell, Tony Hall, Jack Jackson, David Jacobs, Brian Matthew, Don Moss, Ray Orchard, Jimmy Savile, Shaw Taylor, Jimmy Young and Muriel Young. One memory that is surely burned into everyone’s mind is that of the Horace Batchelor’s ‘spot commercials’, for the secret to his ‘Famous Infra-Draw Method’ of winning the football pools – ‘and remember, that’s Keynsham, spelt K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M, Bristol’.
Television
It was the day that all of your dreams came true: the day that television came into your home for the first time. That tiny television screen with its 405 lines of grainy black and white picture was just wonderful. This newly acquired entertainment novelty had the whole family hypnotised into watching anything that appeared on the screen – even the BBC’s black, grey and white test card that often bridged the gap between transmissions! It’s likely that you had already seen some of the programmes on a lucky few friends’ and neighbours’ television sets, but to have your very own television was another one of those life-changing experiences that made you pinch yourself to believe it was true. Some of your favourite programmes had been previously on the radio, but now you could actually see the stars of those shows in the flesh – or at least in the form of a wishy-washy grey miniature moving picture. So what if your dad did have to keep moving around the room with the aerial to improve reception of the television signal. The furniture in the room was all reorganised to face the television, and the hitherto indispensable radio set was forever consigned to some lonely spot in the room – or was it?