Country United Kingdom | Language(s) English | |
Other names Two-Way Family Favourites
(1955-1967) 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 | ||
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.
Internationally
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.