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The 1940s, 50s and 60s

Episode 1 of 2

One family time-travels through six decades of festive nostalgia. A wartime Christmas has the Robshaws embracing the 'make do and mend' spirit of the era.

A wartime Christmas has the Robshaws embracing the 'make do and mend' spirit for presents (carrot fudge anyone?) and they sit down to unrationed ox heart and a Christmas pudding made primarily of grated potato. The 50s brings ham with tinned peaches, canapes, cocktails and the first televised Queen's speech, while Fred's 60s gift of a chocolate smoking set would hardly raise an eyebrow back in the day...

1 hour

Last on

Sat 14 Dec 201915:30
BBC Two except Wales & Wales HD

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The 1970s, 80s and 90s

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Clip

Music Played

  • Wizzard

    I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

  • Andy Williams

    It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

  • Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters

    Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

  • Black Dyke Band

    Silent Night

  • Fats Waller and His Rhythm

    (Swingin' them) Jingle Bells

  • Gracie Fields

    The Fairy on the Christmas Tree

  • Vaughn Monroe

    Let it Snow

  • Judy Garland

    Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

  • Doris Day

    Here Comes Santa Claus

  • Nat King Cole

    The Christmas Song

  • Gene Autry

    Frosty The Snowman

  • Johnny Mathis

    I'll Be Home for Christmas

  • Ray Noble

    Savoy Christmas medley

  • The Penguins

    Jingle Jangle

  • Big Joe Turner

    Christmas Date Boogie

  • Frank Sinatra

    Jingle Bells

  • The Drifters

    White Christmas

  • Julie London

    Warm in December

  • Dickie Valentine

    Christmas Island

  • The Cameos

    Merry Christmas

  • Dinah Washington

    Ole Santa

  • Louis Armstrong

    Cool Yule

  • Floyd Dixon

    Empty Stocking Blues

  • Oscar McLollie

    Dig That Crazy Santa Claus

  • Peggy Lee

    It's Christmas Time Again

  • The Orioles

    What Are You Doing New Year's Eve

  • Little Eva

    Let's Turkey Trot

  • Stevie Wonder

    What Christmas Means To Me

  • Angela Lansbury

    We Need A Little Christmas (feat. Frankie Michaels, Jane Connell & Sab Shimono)

  • Brenda Lee

    Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

  • Eartha Kitt

    Santa Baby

  • The Ventures

    Jingle Bell Rock

  • Stevie Wonder

    Someday At Christmas

  • Burt Bacharach

    The Bell That Couldn't Jingle

  • Otis Redding

    Merry Christmas Baby

  • Slade

    Merry Xmas Everybody

  • Wizzard

    I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

  • The Drifters

    White Chrismas

  • Louis Armstrong & The Commanders

    Cool Yule

  • Eartha Kitt

    Santa Baby

  • Slade

    Merry Xmas Everybody

Credits

PresenterGiles Coren
ParticipantPolly Russell
Executive ProducerEmily Shields
Series ProducerAbigail Priddle

Broadcasts

  • Mon 14 Dec 201521:00
    BBC Two except Scotland
  • Tue 15 Dec 201521:10
    BBC Two Scotland
  • Tue 22 Dec 201518:30
    BBC Two
  • Wed 30 Dec 201503:05
    BBC Two
  • Wed 21 Dec 201617:00
    BBC Two
  • Thu 21 Dec 201715:50
    BBC Two Scotland
  • Thu 21 Dec 201716:00
    BBC Two except Scotland
  • Sun 23 Dec 201815:20
    BBC Two except Scotland
  • Sat 14 Dec 201914:30
    BBC Two Wales & Wales HD only
  • Sat 14 Dec 201915:00
    BBC Scotland
  • Sat 14 Dec 201915:30
    BBC Two except Scotland & Wales

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Back in Time...

Back in Time...

Families travel back in time to experience how food, leisure and society has transformed.