The BBC Light Program Part 3

Part 1

Part 2

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. We are looking at a typical Sunday on the Light Program from the mid 1960s. The Light program was the station that in a few years would be divided to become both Radio 1 and Radio 2.

Looking at the listings, last week we finished at 12.00 Noon so we will continue from there.

1.30 pm
Round The Horn
Transmitted from 1965 until 1968, this was one of the most popular radio programs and is still available today and a link to the various episodes on Amazon UK is shown at the end of this post.

The series was the creation of the talented writers, Barry Took and Marty Feldman and the program starred Kenneth Horne, after whom the program was named along with Kenneth Williams who is, in my opinion the main reason the series was and is so popular. Addition support was ably given by Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden, Bill Pertwee and Douglas Smith.

Music was provided by the Fraser Hayes Four who also appeared on ‘Beyond Our Ken’ which we will no doubt come to later.

I could write a whole article about this program (in fact I shortly will) but I will leave that for later, save it to say that if you remember the program then you will know what I mean. If you have yet to sample the delights of Round The Horn then you have to remember that this is very 1960s humour and it’s also a showcase for the talents of Kenneth Williams.

2.0 pm
The Clitheroe Kid
Why have one comedy program when you can have two great programs together? The Clitheroe Kid starred diminutive Jimmy Clitheroe as a schoolboy, in fact the only character I ever saw him play. The program had some memorable actors including Peter Sinclair and Patricia Burke.

There was also (and this was a character I liked) Diana Day who played his sister and the great Danny Ross as Daft Alfie, a character that, perhaps, we would not see played these days.

2.30pm
Farnon In Concert
Robert Farnon was a Canadian composer and conductor who made his home in the UK. This program was simply an hour and a half of music suitable for a Sunday afternoon.

Round The Horn Audio CDs
Below are links on Amazon UK to three ‘Round The Horn Very Best Episodes’.
“Round the Horne”, the Very Best Episodes: v. 1 (BBC Audio)
“Round the Horne”, the Very Best Episodes: v. 2 (BBC Radio Collections)
“Round the Horne”, the Very Best Episodes: v. 2 (BBC Radio Collections)
There is also a tremendous number of Round The Horn items available, including the whole of each of the various series that were made. For more information look at the ‘Customers who brought this also brought’ link and be aware of the offer if you want all three of the above CDs.

The Clitheroe Kid CD
Just to complete these links, you can also get a double CD containing four episodes of The Clitheroe Kid at the link below.
Clitheroe Kid (Radio Collection)

I think that is probably enough to be going on with. Sunday afternoons were a time often spent listening to the radio and I remember all of these programs well. Interestingly, they don’t ‘date’ and can make interesting hearing even now.