October 1971 highlights Black-and-white televisions were still very much in the majority, so neither BBC1 nor BBC2 had any qualms in giving over an hour-and-a-half each to showing monochrome films. Nationwide was also in black-and-white, and only running from Tuesday to Thursday (this situation was rectified in September 1972). So this meant on Fridays Tomorrow's World was shown at the incredibly early time of 6.20; on this day it was the Galloping Gourmet in a series made in Canada. On BBC2 the fledgling Open University was taking up only 25 minutes of daily airtime - again in glorious black-and-white - although there was a longer three hour session on Sunday mornings. There were no comedy programmes at all on this day, but classics airing this week included Steptoe and Son on Monday BBC1, The Goodies on Friday BBC2, and Frankie Howerd in Up Pompeii! on Saturday BBC1. Not so well remembered sitcoms were Now, Take My Wife... starring Sheila Hancock on Monday, and on Friday at 8.00 Under and Over, starring The Bachelors (yes, the sixties Irish balladeers). Taking time out from It's a Knockout, Stuart Hall hosted Quiz Ball on BBC1, a general knowledge quiz for soccer stars and their celebrity supporters. Last thing on BBC2, and Late Night Line-up was given a break tonight to make way for the newly launched music show The Old Grey Whistle Test. Bob Harris (below) was not yet on board, so it was Richard Williams and Ian Whitcomb who introduced the likes of Cat Stevens and The Jack Bruce Band.  Not just on television, but 'progressive' music was breaking new ground on radio as well this week, with Sounds of the 70s now extended to two hours every night on Radio 1. Tonight's
first edition included music from T-Rex, David Bowie, and Sandy Denny and Home. Sounds of
the 70s also had the advantage of being broadcast on FM, but not yet in stereo - only Radio 3 had this added benefit until 1972. (Incidentally Radio 3 this week began its own half hour rock programme on Saturday evenings, believe it or not. Stereo Rock featured records introduced
by Manfred Mann, including the Rolling Stones).
There were more changes to the nation's favourite this week, which saw the Radio 1 Club
rested (but it would be back one year later in a new teatime slot), and Johnnie Walker move to lunchtimes.
 And in Radio Times 2-8 October 1971 Price 8p
Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor appeared on the cover, and Stratford (Charlie Barlow) was interviewed inside, for a new series of the Softly Softly: Task Force. This was the sequel to
Softly Softly, which itself was spun off from Z Cars. Although more associated with the 1960s,
these series carried on throughout much of the 1970s, as did the even longer running police series, Dixon of Dock Green (a new series of which would begin in November). Also interviewed was Bruce Forsyth (left), who this Saturday was hosting his first show for the BBC, the first edition of The Generation Game. RT described Bruce as the 'life and soul of the party', and as having 'a grin that dares you to keep glum when you're around'. Menawhile, to fit in with the new season on Radios 1 and 2, John Peel was featured in Radio Times's 'My Choice' column, in which he praised Radio 1's 'extension of airtime devoted to more adventurous contemporary music.' And he went on to say that 'housewives could stand some of it...I'm sure they could tolerate a Neil Young track...' 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 Radio Times Covers | 
