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Does anyone remember two way family favourites?

(129 Posts)
polomint Sat 07-Mar-26 16:26:58

Jean metcalf and cliff michelmore on a sunday morning playing song requests for British forces abroad. I used to love listening to it. Pat boone was a favourite request for the song " I'll be home my darling". Beverly sisters, alma cogan, Vera Lynn among many others

Bluesmum Mon 09-Mar-26 13:53:43

We never had a tv either but I remember a radio favourite in our house was Workers Playtime, hosted by the unforgettable Wilfred Pickles!!! Anyone else remember his catchphrase - “give ‘em the money, Mabel”?!!! Happy days of innocent, decent clean humour!

blue14 Mon 09-Mar-26 12:24:37

Just remembered - The Laughing Policeman

blue14 Mon 09-Mar-26 12:23:21

Witzend

Yes, and Children’s Favourites! I used to have a cassette of the favourites, including the typewriter one, Nellie the Elephant, Little White Bull, etc.

A couple of years ago I found on YouTube a cartoon version of Nellie the Elephant - the original Mandy Miller version. The Gdcs loved it!

Also .......

The Runaway Train
How Much is that Doggy in the Window
I'm a Pink Toothbrush You're a Blue Toothbrush (....or blue and pink the other way round!)

Brings back so many memories from childhood.

Witzend Mon 09-Mar-26 12:02:37

Allira

HelterSkelter1

Incredible that roast beef and lamb were weekly meals. Arm and a leg prices now.

Chicken was very expensive!

Yes, chicken was hardly ever a thing when I was a child. We almost always had beef or pork - my father disliked lamb - he called it Dead Sheep.
I loved chicken - no fat! I loathed all meat fat - still do.

Witzend Mon 09-Mar-26 12:00:24

Yes, and Children’s Favourites! I used to have a cassette of the favourites, including the typewriter one, Nellie the Elephant, Little White Bull, etc.

A couple of years ago I found on YouTube a cartoon version of Nellie the Elephant - the original Mandy Miller version. The Gdcs loved it!

Allira Mon 09-Mar-26 10:34:59

HelterSkelter1

Incredible that roast beef and lamb were weekly meals. Arm and a leg prices now.

Chicken was very expensive!

HelterSkelter1 Mon 09-Mar-26 08:35:56

Incredible that roast beef and lamb were weekly meals. Arm and a leg prices now.

Lovetopaint037 Mon 09-Mar-26 07:50:35

Ps that came out wrong. Beryl Reid and Julie Andrews were with Archie and Petr Brough.

Lovetopaint037 Mon 09-Mar-26 07:48:26

Yes Jean Metcalf had a lovely speaking voice and Cliff Mitchell Moore completed the warm two way relationship. The music choices were of their time and so enjoyable. Then there was Educating Archie, Peter Brough, The Billy Cotton Band Show.Beryl Reid and I believe Julie Andrews. When the children were babies I belonged to a Young Wives Club and Betty Hardy from Around the Horn came to talk to us. She was really friendly and so interesting. I mentioned I thought Michael Redgrave was a better actor than Laurence Olivier (on reflection that was daft). She said she would tell him! On another day of the week there was Take it From Here. Jimmy Edwards as the dad while the couple sat on the sofa saying “
Oooh! R-o-n (June Whitfield) and Peter …….replying Oooh! E-e-th. Happy times.

Bellanonna Sun 08-Mar-26 22:13:51

What a great thread. I remember all the programmes mentioned and Family Favourites also evokes memories of the smell of Sunday lunch.

We used to hear Ted Ray, Archie Andrews, Workers’ Playtime and the 6pm Sing Something Simple. That tune is going around in my head now.

Yes Allira, my brother also loved Dick Barton and he used to sit with his ear to the wireless so that he could hear it properly.

We also used garden mint and vinegar for the mint sauce but when I later discovered mint sauce in a jar I much preferred that.

Pudding back then was often apple and custard or sometimes with blackberries added.

I can still smell those roast dinners. Usually beef or lamb. Chicken would have been a luxury.

Lovely to read peoples’ memories.

twiglet77 Sun 08-Mar-26 21:40:51

The name changed to just Family Favoutites but it ran from 1945 until 1980. My mother had it on the huge wireless on the sideboard, it would be playing when I got back from Sunday School through the 1960s.

Allira Sun 08-Mar-26 19:48:01

Anyone remember Dick Barton, Special Agent?
My brother loved it. 🙂

Emeraldforest Sun 08-Mar-26 18:46:23

Such happy memories of this and other radio shows of the 50s! We had the radio on all the time.
I was sad when Mrs Dale's diary ended! Always more my thing than the Archers!

JamesandJon33 Sun 08-Mar-26 16:35:18

Workers Playtime. And Wilfred Pickles…. ‘Give him the money. Mabel.’

blue14 Sun 08-Mar-26 13:59:19

Yes - I remember this being played on Sunday.

On Saturday mornings on the radio Uncle Mac played songs for children.

Dylis Sun 08-Mar-26 13:50:46

We always ate Sunday dinner in the evening. I can remember listening to Sing Something Simple while doing the dishes with my sister as quickly as possible to get out to play.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sun 08-Mar-26 12:34:22

LadyGracie

I remember it well, we listened wherever we were stationed, it makes me think of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

I also remember Letter from America, was it presented by Alistair Cook? it was always so interesting, he had a very soothing voice.

Ooh thank you for reminding me I have 2 boxed sets of these programmes
I too found AC’s voice very listenable
I shall start playing them tomorrow a trip down memory lane.

Gin Sun 08-Mar-26 12:28:12

Yes we always listened to it, Jean M went on to present Women’s Hour for many years. We had the radio on all day and I still put ours on as soon as I walk into the house , drives everyone else mad.

I think I could still remember the day’s listening. At the weekend it was Children’s Requests on Saturday, Two Way Family Favourites on Sunday, plus Take it from Here or when I was very young, Meet the. Huggets.

During the week: Housewives ‘ Choice, Music While You Work, Workers’ Playtiime - all listened to whilst Mum did the housework.

Children’s Hour was as must, I loved all the dramas : Ballet Shoes, The Lone Pine Five, Jennings at School, Cowleze Farm, oh and Norman and Henry Bones. The music played introduced me to classical music. So much more memorable using one’s imagination rather than TV. I do not think my children will have such vivid memories of their programmes.

Allira Sun 08-Mar-26 11:51:11

Retroladywriting

LadyGracie

I remember it well, we listened wherever we were stationed, it makes me think of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

I also remember Letter from America, was it presented by Alistair Cook? it was always so interesting, he had a very soothing voice.

It would be interesting to hear Letter from America at the present time, for sure.

Wouldn't it just!!
I used to enjoy that programme.

Retroladywriting Sun 08-Mar-26 09:00:59

LadyGracie

I remember it well, we listened wherever we were stationed, it makes me think of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

I also remember Letter from America, was it presented by Alistair Cook? it was always so interesting, he had a very soothing voice.

It would be interesting to hear Letter from America at the present time, for sure.

Retroladywriting Sun 08-Mar-26 09:00:07

Oh yes! As I read that an image of my mum stirring Bisto into the roasting tin to make gravy came to mind.

Chardy Sun 08-Mar-26 08:42:40

RAF Akrotiri used to get mentioned occasionally on Two Way Family Favourites. It's only this year that I've learned how it's spelt! I used to think it was Aqua-teeri

mbody Sun 08-Mar-26 08:30:41

A must every Sunday

LadyGracie Sun 08-Mar-26 08:07:52

I remember it well, we listened wherever we were stationed, it makes me think of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

I also remember Letter from America, was it presented by Alistair Cook? it was always so interesting, he had a very soothing voice.

Calendargirl Sun 08-Mar-26 07:55:26

I found ‘Sing Something Simple’ rather poignant somehow.

It was on at about 6pm, as I recall, and meant it was school next day!