Saturday night television in 1970s Britain
In 1973 I was 10 years old and my parents ran a newsagent in Walworth, South East London. I used to help out every Saturday; I sold kids ‘penny muck’ and my mum used to give me some change in a small box, just in case any of the kids needed it.
To me, those were the best days of my life. We lived above the shop and every Saturday evening we used to settle down as a family and watch television together. I really miss those days and wonder if families still do that today?
Saturday night TV in our house was the highlight of our week. We usually had a mixed grill for tea, or fish and chips and I remember there was an abundance of programmes to choose from: The Generation Game, Mike Yarwood Show, Dixon of Dock Green, Basil Brush, The Two Ronnies, Some Mother’s Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Seaside Special and, later in the evening, we watched Michael Parkinson and Match of the Day.
I was never a Dr Who fan, I guess I’m in the minority but I could never get into it. The same is true of programmes like Poldark and The Onedin Line.
Sitting and watching television together as a family was an institution when I was growing up and being the youngest, I was always the TV’s remote control! But they were fun, innocent times and I wouldn’t change them for anything.
I’d love to know what television programmes you watched when growing up.
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