View source for Workers' Playtime (radio programme)

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2020}}

{{Infobox radio show
| name          = Workers' Playtime
| image         = 
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| other_names   = 
| format        = [[Variety show]]
| runtime       = 30 minutes
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| country       = United Kingdom
| language      = English
| home_station  = {{ubl|[[BBC Home Service]]|[[BBC Forces Programme]]|[[BBC Light Programme]]}}
| presenter     = 
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| creator       = 
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| editor        = 
| producer      = Bill Gates
| exec_producer = 
| narrated      = 
| rec_location  = 
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| first_aired   = {{Start date|1941|05|31|df=y}}<ref name=rt921 />
| last_aired    = {{End date|1964|10|06|df=y}}<ref name=rt2134 />
| num_series    = 
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| audio_format  = [[Monaural|Mono]]
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}}
'''''Workers' Playtime''''' was a British radio variety programme transmitted by the [[BBC]] between 1941<ref name=rt921>{{Cite magazine|title=Workers' Playtime |date=1941-05-23 |magazine=[[Radio Times]] |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbchomeservice/basic/1941-05-31#at-12.30 |page=29 |access-date=2020-02-16| publisher=[[BBC Publications]]| issue=921 |edition=National |volume=71}}</ref> and 1964.<ref name=rt2134>{{Cite magazine|title=Workers' Playtime |date=1964-10-01 |magazine=[[Radio Times]] |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/light/1964-10-06#at-12.31 |page=41 |access-date=2020-02-16| publisher=[[BBC Publications]] |issue=2134 |edition=London & South East |volume=165}}</ref> Originally intended as a morale-booster for industrial workers in Britain during [[World War II]], the programme was broadcast at lunchtime, three times a week, live from a factory canteen "somewhere in Britain". Presenter and former music hall artist [[Margery Manners]] used her experience of getting sailors to sing along with her choruses to cheer workers and listeners.<ref>Gifford, Dennis (30 April 1997) "[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-margery-manners-1259064.html OBITUARY: Margery Manners] ". The Independent. Retrieved 16 December 2024.</ref>

Initially, the show was broadcast simultaneously on both the [[BBC Home Service]] and [[BBC Forces Programme|Forces Programme]],<ref name="rt921" /> then from 1957 onwards solely on the [[BBC Light Programme|Light Programme]]. For all its 23 years each show concluded with the words from the show's producer, Bill Gates: "Good luck, all workers!"

The programme had the support of the government because the shows were seen as supporting the war effort on the [[home front]]. ''Workers' Playtime'' was a touring show, with the [[Ministry of Labour (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Labour]] choosing which factory canteens it would visit.

Throughout World War II, [[Ernest Bevin]], the Minister of Labour and National Service, would appear on these shows from time to time to congratulate the workers and exhort them to greater efforts. When the war ended it was realised that the show had worked, which meant that Ernest Bevin wanted ''Workers' Playtime'' to continue to raise the morale of the workers, whilst the government rebuilt Britain and the British economy. The BBC, for its part, was very happy to continue with a show which had proved a national success even if it did mean transporting crew, cable, microphones, two pianos, a producer, two pianists and a group of variety artists up and down the country three times a week.

==Artists==
Many famous variety, vocal and comedy artists appeared over the years, such as [[Charlie Chester]], [[Bob and Alf Pearson]], [[Peter Sellers]], [[Tony Hancock]], [[Frankie Howerd]], [[Terry-Thomas]], [[Anne Shelton (singer)|Anne Shelton]], [[Betty Driver]], [[Eve Boswell]], [[Dorothy Squires]], [[Arthur English]], [[Julie Andrews]], [[Morecambe and Wise]], [[Peter Cavanagh (impressionist)|Peter Cavanagh]], comedian [[George Martin (comedian)|George Martin]], [[Janet Brown]], [[Roy Hudd]], comedian [[Michael Howard (comedian)|Michael Howard]], harmonica player Paul Templar, [[The Stargazers (1940s–1950s group)|The Stargazers]], [[Bob Monkhouse]], impressionist [[Peter Goodwright]], [[Percy Edwards]], [[Ken Dodd]], [[Ken Platt]], [[Gert and Daisy]] (Elsie and Doris Waters) and many more. Regular musicians included [[James Moody (composer)|James Moody]] (piano), [[Bert Weedon]] (guitar) and [[Max Abrams]] (drums). A selection of original recordings from the show can be heard on the audiobook CD ''Workers' Playtime'' published by CD41 in 2008.

== See also ==
* ''[[Music While You Work]]''
* ''[[Variety Bandbox]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/radio/workersplaytime.htm Whirligig-TV article on ''Workers' Playtime'']
* [http://www.ltmrecordings.com/workersplaytimeinfo.html ''Workers' Playtime'' CD audiobook - tracklist and liner notes]

[[Category:BBC Radio comedy programmes]]
[[Category:BBC Home Service programmes]]
[[Category:BBC Light Programme programmes]]
[[Category:British variety radio programmes]]
[[Category:1941 radio programme debuts]]
[[Category:1941 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1964 radio programme endings]]
[[Category:1964 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1940s British radio programmes]]
[[Category:1950s British radio programmes]]
[[Category:1960s British radio programmes]]

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