The BBC Light Program Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

In the 1960s radios certainly played music but they also provided more news and entertainment and a greater range of programming than radios do now.

They were also seen as an important information source. Television was still new, not all homes had one and the information and entertainment programs on TV started much later in the afternoon. So the radio was still the main day-time news and information source.

The BBC at the start of the 1960s had three radio channels called Home, Light and Third. These remained for much of the decade only changing to the numbered stations of Radio one, two and three in 1967. You can read the first of my articles on Pirate Radio here to see more about this changeover.

This series will look at the programs that were available on both the radio and on the TV during this decade, looking for the differences with today and in particular looking at the history and development of the programming that was used.

You have to begin somewhere so today, and for the next few articles, we will look at the what was on the Light program which would later split to become Radio 2 and Radio 1.

The Light Program
This was formed during the Second World War to allow soldiers overseas to keep in touch with home and to allow messages to be passed to loved ones. Although in the mid-1960s the war was 20 years away this was still a small function of the programming. Along with this the station had to provide entertainment for a wide audience from teenagers to the elderly.

Let’s imagine it’s a typical mid-60s Sunday and see what is on offer.

6.55 am
The Light program did not broadcast at night and so the day begins at 6.55 am with a five minute religious program called ‘The First Day Of The Week’.

Most people in the UK were practising Christians at this time and religious programming was an important way for people to keep the faith.

7.00 am
At 7.00 the news was broadcast followed by some music to take the time up to start of the next program. In this case it was Dudley Savage who provided the entrainment. He was a well known organist and more can be read about his life at the Wikipedia page here.

7.33
At 7.33 (don’t ask me why it’s such an odd time!) we find a program called ‘Start The Day Right’ presented by an old actor, Jimmy Hanley. This was a program of popular music played, on this day, by the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra.

The BBC at that time had several orchestras that it could call upon to play music when asked. I’m not sure how they were funded but I believe some of them continue to this day.

8.55
At five to eight there was a short five minute weather forecast. Forecasting in those days was not nearly as sophisticated as it is today but, of course, being simpler it was more often right!

9.00
At eight each Sunday there would be an hour’s program of Children’s Favourites. This program, as you might expect, would play songs requested by children and deal with other children’s issues.

The BBC took it’s responsibilities for children (as opposed to young adults) very seriously and children’s programming was considered important. To see more about this particular show you can choose the link here which also has a fascinating list of the songs that children requested.

Yes, I have to admit to listening to children’s programming although this was in the 1950s but I can remember most of the songs mentioned on the page above!

That deals with the early morning on the Light program and gives you a flavour of what was on offer. Next week I hope to be able to get a lot further on in the day.