Family Favourites

2022-07-18T22:56:27Z

2A02:C7E:66F:A600:CCA8:551E:C5FC:DD6B:

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}

{{Infobox radio show
| name = Family Favourites
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| other_names = ''Two-Way Family Favourites'' {{small|(1955-1967)}}
| format =
| runtime =
| start_time =
| end_time =
| runtime_note =
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| home_station = [[BBC Light Programme]] [[BBC Radio 2]]
| syndicates = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] {{small|([[Australia]])}} [[BFBS]] [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] {{small|([[Canada]])}} [[Radio New Zealand]] [[RTHK]] {{small|([[Hong Kong]])}}
| presenter = [[Cliff Michelmore]] [[Jean Metcalfe]] Bill Crozier (Cologne only) [[Michael Aspel]] [[Judith Chalmers]] [[Sarah Kennedy]] Jean Challis [[Pete Murray (DJ)|Pete Murray]] (segments only) [[Ed Stewart]] (segments only)
| first_aired = {{Start date|1945|08|01|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1980|01|13|df=yes}}
| opentheme = [[With a Song in My Heart (song)|With a Song in My Heart]]
}}

'''''Family Favourites''''' (remembered by its later name '''''Two-Way Family Favourites''''') was the successor to the wartime radio show ''Forces Favourites'', broadcast at Sunday lunchtimes on the [[BBC Light Programme]], later [[BBC Radio 2]] from 1945 until 1980. From 1967 to 1972 it was also carried on [[BBC Radio 1]]. It was a request programme designed to link families at home in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] with British Forces serving in [[West Germany]] or elsewhere overseas. The programme was a big success with listeners.

It had the memorable signature tune "[[With a Song in My Heart (song)|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]],<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/jan/29/guardianobituaries1 Jean Metcalfe | | The Guardian]</ref> Bill Crozier (in Cologne only), [[Michael Aspel]], [[Judith Chalmers]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.womenspeakers.co.uk/speakerprofile/333/Judith%20Chalmers%20OBE/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-09-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811134648/http://www.womenspeakers.co.uk/speakerprofile/333/Judith%20Chalmers%20OBE/ |archive-date=2014-08-11 }}</ref> [[Sarah Kennedy]], and the final UK presenter Jean Challis. Both [[Pete Murray (DJ)|Pete Murray]] and [[Ed Stewart]] continued to use the title for segments only of their shows, often linking up with places such as Australia and New Zealand for another couple of years during the 1980s; during this time, the song "Hurry Home" by [[Wavelength (band)|Wavelength]] became popular with the families of troops returning from the [[Falklands War]].<ref>BBC Radio 2 documentary about the series, broadcast 30 August 1993</ref> Aspel returned to host a one-off special edition of the show for [[BBC Radio 2]]'s 40th Birthday celebrations, on 30 September 2007. Cliff Michelmore and Jean Metcalfe later married in 1950.

==Internationally ==
When the programme expanded, it encompassed far-flung corners of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] with, amongst others, Bill Paull being the link man in Canada, June Armstrong-Wright in Hong Kong, [[Ross Symonds]] in Australia, [[Don Durbridge]] in Gibraltar and [[Marama Martin]] in New Zealand.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:BBC Radio 2 programmes]]
[[Category:BBC Light Programmes]]
[[Category:British music radio programmes]]

{{BBC-radio-stub}}
{{UK-radio-show-stub}}

The Goon Show Depository - User contributions [en]

Family Favourites