That’s entertainment
MARION McMULLEN looks back at the launch of That’s Life 50 years ago
had rude-looking vegetables, funny poems and songs and even a talking dog that said “sausages”.
Consumer rights programme That’s life offered a mix of lighthearted entertainment alongside topical issues and serious investigations.
The BBC show launched 50 years ago on May 26, 1973, with Esther Rantzen at the helm. She was joined by a team of co-presenters over the years including Glyn Worsnip, Kieran Prendiville, Chris Serle, Bill Buckley, Gavin Campbell, Paul Heiney and Adrian Mills.
Adrian, who recently worked with Esther on the That’s After Life podcast, said: “Esther always used to say, talk to people with life experience.
“They might have a wealth of stories that they have never mentioned to anybody and you find absolute gold nuggets there.”
Cyril Fletcher would urge viewers to “pin back their lug holes” as he recited his latest ode while Richard Stilgoe and Victoria Wood both regularly appeared with topical music offerings about the news making the headlines that week.
The popular show ran for 21 years until 1994 and attracted up to 20 million viewers.
It also saw Esther set up ChildLine in 1986 offering counselling and support for children and young peoIT ple in the UK. She was made a dame in 2015 for services to children and older people through both ChildLine and The Silver Line.
Now aged 82, Esther was presented with the lifetime achievement award last year at the Women Of The Year Awards for her trailblazing work as a female broadcaster on That’s Life! and for her activism. Esther recently said: “The BBC gave me unique opportunities, absolutely unique opportunities.”