Down Your Way
Encyclopedia
Down Your Way was a BBC
radio
series which ran from 29 December 1946 to 1992, originally on the Home Service
, later on BBC Radio Four
, usually being broadcast on Sunday afternoons. It visited towns around the United Kingdom
, spoke to residents and played their choice of music
. It has sometimes been described as having portrayed an increasingly outmoded and rose-tinted view of Britain , concentrating on market towns with pre-industrial roots and ignoring industrial towns and New Towns
, but it vividly evoked the local and regional distinctiveness as it roved around the United Kingdom
.
It was initially hosted by Stewart MacPherson
but in 1950 Richard Dimbleby
took over its presentation until 1955, then Franklin Engelmann
until his death in 1972 when Brian Johnston
took over until 1987. In 1975, despite then being the second most popular programme on radio, it was taken off the air as an 'economy measure'. It was subsequently reinstated, after a storm of popular protest.
From 1987 until its demise in 1992 it had a different celebrity host every week, who would visit a place of significance in their own lives - effectively turning it into 'Down My Way' and blending it into the then-emerging celebrity culture
.
Its well-remembered signature tune was called "Horseguards, Whitehall
", which you can listen to here (.wav file).
In the 1980s the show was satirised on the Kenny Everett Television Show as "Up Your Way", a saccharine television version presented by "Verity Treacle".
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
series which ran from 29 December 1946 to 1992, originally on the Home Service
BBC Home Service
The BBC Home Service was a British national radio station which broadcast from 1939 until 1967.-Development:Between the 1920s and the outbreak of The Second World War, the BBC had developed two nationwide radio services, the BBC National Programme and the BBC Regional Programme...
, later on BBC Radio Four
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, usually being broadcast on Sunday afternoons. It visited towns around the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, spoke to residents and played their choice of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. It has sometimes been described as having portrayed an increasingly outmoded and rose-tinted view of Britain , concentrating on market towns with pre-industrial roots and ignoring industrial towns and New Towns
New towns in the United Kingdom
Below is a list of some of the new towns in the United Kingdom created under the various New Town Acts of the 20th century. Some earlier towns were developed as Garden Cities or overspill estates early in the twentieth century. The New Towns proper were planned to disperse population following the...
, but it vividly evoked the local and regional distinctiveness as it roved around the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
It was initially hosted by Stewart MacPherson
Stewart Macpherson
Stewart Macpherson was an English musician of Scottish descent. He was born in Liverpool, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 1887, he joined the RAM staff, and taught harmony and composition. He founded the Music Teachers' Association in 1908, and was its chairman until 1923...
but in 1950 Richard Dimbleby
Richard Dimbleby
Richard Dimbleby CBE was an English journalist and broadcaster widely acknowledged as one of the greatest figures in British broadcasting history.-Early life:...
took over its presentation until 1955, then Franklin Engelmann
Franklin Engelmann
Franklin Engelmann was a radio personality popular in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, nicknamed "Jingle". He was best known for hosting Down Your Way , Gardeners' Question Time and the quiz show What Do You Know?, which later became Brain of Britain. In 1955 he was also the original host of Pick...
until his death in 1972 when Brian Johnston
Brian Johnston
Brian Alexander Johnston CBE, MC was a cricket commentator and presenter for the BBC from 1946 until his death.-Early life and education:...
took over until 1987. In 1975, despite then being the second most popular programme on radio, it was taken off the air as an 'economy measure'. It was subsequently reinstated, after a storm of popular protest.
From 1987 until its demise in 1992 it had a different celebrity host every week, who would visit a place of significance in their own lives - effectively turning it into 'Down My Way' and blending it into the then-emerging celebrity culture
Celebrity culture
A celebrity culture is the structure that influences those deemed to be celebrities.-Brief history of celebrity culture:Any medium can be viewed as a vehicle for creating a celebrity culture. The famous religious books of the world's faiths are replete with examples of individuals who are well...
.
Its well-remembered signature tune was called "Horseguards, Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
", which you can listen to here (.wav file).
In the 1980s the show was satirised on the Kenny Everett Television Show as "Up Your Way", a saccharine television version presented by "Verity Treacle".