TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 - 1999

This might have been ITV's first Saturday morning hit. A curious show from our point of view nowadays as presenter Joan Edwards does the housework to the tunes of the day as requested by viewers. "A lively miscellany from salads to sambas and foxtrots to fishing" as TV Times put it, also "Joan Edwards enlivens her Saturday morning chores by playing the records chosen by viewers".

Joan would play records on her radiogram while she got on with the household chores, like cooking, cleaning and making a dress. Talking to TV Times Joan claimed, "I'm looking forward to it immensely, because I'm quite used to housework," she said, and she added, "It isn't going to be anything new to me." The show was awarded the TV Times front cover in November 1956. But this wasn't the only string on her apron as she also hosted ABC's Holiday Town during the summer months of 1957.

It ran from 9.00 until 10.00 am, while the first 45 minutes would be played by ATV London before ITV's morning into mid-afternoon closedown.

HOUSEWIVES CALL THE TUNE

ABC

15th September 1956 - 6th April 1957