As the Second World War drew to a close the 成人快手 looked to the peace and replaced the General Forces Programme with the Light Programme. The popular request show Forces Favourites gave way to Family Favourites, which first aired on the new channel on Wednesday 1 August 1945. It was a joint 成人快手 and British Forces Network production, offering: “From London, the tunes you asked us to play. From Germany, the tunes that make them think of you.” It soon moved to the weekend and, for many nostalgic listeners today, the theme tune With a Song in My Heart conjures memories of Sunday lunchtime.
The presenter most associated with Family Favourites is Jean Metcalfe, who started on Forces Favourites. She met her future husband - Cliff Michelmore - while they were both working on the show. Other well-known presenters were Judith Chalmers, Michael Aspel and Sarah Kennedy. In 1955 the programme became Two Way Family Favourites. Because of the nature of the showsongs about home, enduring love and separation were always popular.
Two Way Family Favourites outlasted the Light Programme on which it started, but ended in 1980, with a final edition presented by Jean Challis. Today the interconnected nature of the world means that such a programme is no longer seen as a vital lifeline for service personnel abroad, but radio listeners are always gratified to hear a request or dedication read out.
August anniversaries
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Family Favourites
1 August 1945 -
Sailor
5 August 1976 -
It's a Knockout
7 August 1966 -
First 成人快手 Promenade Concert
13 August 1927 -
The Weakest Link
14 August 2000 -
Junior Masterchef
14 August 1994 -
Launch of 1Xtra
16 August 2002 -
Dr Finlay's Casebook
16 August 1962 -
The Marriage Lines
16 August 1963 -
Observer reveals MI5 vetting of 成人快手 staff
18 August 1985 -
Why Don't You...?
20 August 1973 -
The Moral Maze
20 August 1990 -
First experimental 成人快手 TV Programme
22 August 1932 -
Match of the Day begins
22 August 1964 -
成人快手 Monitoring
26 August 1939 -
Radio 5 launches
27 August 1990 -
First live TV from the continent
27 August 1950 -
Start of experimental stereo broadcasting
28 August 1962 -
Elizabeth Cowell first female TV announcer
31 Aug 1936 -
The Monocled Mutineer
31 August 1986 -
Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow
31 August 2002 -
The Battle of Britain
Summer 1940