Monday Night at Eight
Encyclopedia
Monday Night at Eight was a weekly BBC
program that was on from 8 pm to 9 pm. It started in 1939, but was preceded by a similar program before the start of World War II
called Monday Night at Seven. Because of the longer hours worked during the war, it had been pushed back an hour to enable more people to be able to listen. It was broadcast live with Ronnie Waldman
doing the interviews and announcements.
The formats for both programs were similar. The first part consisted of interviews of all types of people; then there was a musical break, and the final part was a radio detective play. Initially it was Inspector Hornleigh Investigates, but in 1942 a new series called Dr Morelle was introduced. Another feature that was started in Monday Night at Eight was Puzzle Corner, used in later programs, and the weekly 'Deliberate Mistake'.
Several actors and singers had their radio debut on Monday Night at Eight. The singer Anne Shelton had her debut in 1940 and Julie Andrews
appeared with her mother and stepfather in 1946.
The lyrics of the signature tune were as follows:
It's Monday night at eight o'clock,
Oh, can't you hear the chimes
They're telling you to take an easy chair
To settle by the fireside
Look at your Radio Times
For Monday night at eight is on the air.
The other BBC show of a similar nature was In Town Tonight
, which ran in the same period, but was on a Saturday night.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
program that was on from 8 pm to 9 pm. It started in 1939, but was preceded by a similar program before the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
called Monday Night at Seven. Because of the longer hours worked during the war, it had been pushed back an hour to enable more people to be able to listen. It was broadcast live with Ronnie Waldman
Ronnie Waldman
Ronald Hartley Waldman was a leading British television executive.He was born in London, the eldest son of Michael Waldman, OBE, JP and he was educated at Dame Alice Owen's School, Islington and Pembroke College, Oxford.He began as an actor and producer before joining the BBC Variety department...
doing the interviews and announcements.
The formats for both programs were similar. The first part consisted of interviews of all types of people; then there was a musical break, and the final part was a radio detective play. Initially it was Inspector Hornleigh Investigates, but in 1942 a new series called Dr Morelle was introduced. Another feature that was started in Monday Night at Eight was Puzzle Corner, used in later programs, and the weekly 'Deliberate Mistake'.
Several actors and singers had their radio debut on Monday Night at Eight. The singer Anne Shelton had her debut in 1940 and Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
appeared with her mother and stepfather in 1946.
The lyrics of the signature tune were as follows:
It's Monday night at eight o'clock,
Oh, can't you hear the chimes
They're telling you to take an easy chair
To settle by the fireside
Look at your Radio Times
For Monday night at eight is on the air.
The other BBC show of a similar nature was In Town Tonight
In Town Tonight
In Town Tonight was a BBC radio programme broadcast on Saturday evening from 1933 to 1960 . It was an early example of the chat show, originally presented by Eric Maschwitz.Its theme music was the Knightsbridge March by Eric Coates...
, which ran in the same period, but was on a Saturday night.