Junior Choice is a BBC Radio programme originally broadcast from 1967 until 1982 with Christmas specials from 2007 to present, with the exception of 2016. Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on Saturday mornings from 9.10 to 9.55 (later, 9.00–10.00), and later BBC Radio 1, and BBC Radio 2, its precursor from 1952 was entitled Children's Choice, echoing the weekday Housewives' Choice,[1] then from 1954, Children's Favourites.
The programme played requests from children of all ages. For the first 11 years of its run, the programme was introduced by Derek McCulloch, known as Uncle Mac. McCulloch's grandfatherly tone was quintessentially 'old-school' BBC.[2] His opening words "Hello children, everywhere!", his catch-phrase was a modification of his much earlier closing words "Goodnight children, everywhere" on Children's Hour.[3]
Children wrote in with requests often just to get their names mentioned on the radio. McCulloch ensured that all types of music were played whatever the majority had requested: not just children's pieces but a wide range of music from pop to hymns to the light classics.[4] The signature tune until the mid-1960s was Puffin' Billy by Edward White played by the Melodi Light Orchestra.[5]
- ^ "Turnipnet web site (BBC Nostalgia)". Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ "The Wireless web site (BBC Nostalgia)". Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ McNamara-Wright, Rose (1998). Goodnight Children, Everywhere: (Uncle Mac: BBC Children's Hour 1939-1945). South Oxhey Publishing. ISBN 0953356906.
- ^ "Listings on 16 pages of various requests often played". Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ "Radio Rewind web site (BBC Nostalgia)". Retrieved 29 December 2014.