Family Favourites
| Other names |
Two-Way Family Favourites (1955-1967) |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| 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 |
| Air dates | 1 August 1945 to 13 January 1980 |
| Opening theme | With a Song in My Heart |
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,[1] Bill Crozier in Cologne, Michael Aspel, Judith Chalmers[2] 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, Canada, June Armstrong-Wright from Hong Kong, Ross Symonds from Australia, Don Durbridge from Gibraltar and Marama Martin from New Zealand.