Other names |
Two-Way Family Favourites (1955-1967) |
---|---|
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Language(s) | English |
Home station |
BBC Light Programme BBC Radio 2 |
Syndicates |
ABC (Australia) BFBS CBC (Canada) Radio New Zealand RTHK (Hong Kong) |
Hosted by |
Cliff Michelmore Jean Metcalfe Michael Aspel Judith Chalmers |
Original release | 1 August 1945 | – 13 January 1980
Opening theme | With a Song in My Heart |
Successor to the wartime show Forces Favourites, Family Favourites (remembered by its later name Two-Way Family Favourites) was broadcast at Sunday lunchtimes on the BBC Light Programme, BBC Radio 2 and the British Forces Broadcasting Service until 1980. It was a request programme designed to link families at home in the UK with British Forces serving in West Germany or elsewhere overseas. It was a big success.
It had the memorable signature tune "With a Song in My Heart" (original played by Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra) and was presented by a variety of well-known radio personalities including Cliff Michelmore, Jean Metcalfe, Bill Crozier in Cologne, Michael Aspel, Judith Chalmers and Sarah Kennedy. The final UK presenter was Jean Challis.
When it expanded it encompassed far-flung corners of the Commonwealth with, amongst others, Bill Paull being the link man in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June Armstrong-Wright from Hong Kong, Ross Symonds from Australia, Don Durbridge from Gibraltar and Marama Martin from New Zealand.