Front Line Family

Front Line Family was a British radio soap opera initially broadcast on the BBC's North American shortwave service. It ran from April 1941 until 1948, when it was replaced by Mrs Dale's Diary. The show's storylines depicted the trials and tribulations of a British family, the Robinsons, living through the war. This featured plots about rationing, family members missing in action and the Blitz. The BBC had resisted soaps as antithetical to its quality image, but began Front Line Family to encourage American intervention on Britain's behalf in World War II. The network instructed the show's writer that "[t]his material must appeal to an audience of relatively limited mentality, an audience who believes in thrilleresque, is not squeamish, and is almost completely credulous". Front Line Family became popular, and soon independent radio stations purchased it for rebroadcasting within the United States. After the war the show was moved to the Light Programme in 1946 and continued to run until 1948.

Front Line Family was a British radio soap opera initially broadcast on the BBC's North American shortwave service. It ran from April 1941 until 1948, when it was replaced by Mrs Dale's Diary. The show's storylines depicted the trials and tribulations of a British family, the Robinsons, living through the war. This featured plots about rationing, family members missing in action and the Blitz.^[1]

The BBC had resisted soaps as antithetical to its quality image, but began Front Line Family to encourage American intervention on Britain's behalf in World War II. The network instructed the show's writer that "[t]his material must appeal to an audience of relatively limited mentality, an audience who believes in thrilleresque, is not squeamish, and is almost completely credulous". Front Line Family became popular, and soon independent radio stations purchased it for rebroadcasting within the United States.^[2] After the war the show was moved to the Light Programme in 1946 and continued to run until 1948.

References

[edit]

^ Kuffert, Len (1 November 2016). Canada before Television: Radio, Taste, and the Struggle for Cultural Democracy. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN 978-0-7735-9981-9.
^ Cull, Nicholas John (1995). Selling War: The British Propaganda Campaign against American "Neutrality" in World War II. Oxford University Press. pp. 135–136. ISBN 0-19-508566-3.

Radio	Front Line Family (1941–1948) Mrs Dale's Diary (1948–1969) Waggoners' Walk (1969–1980) Citizens (1987–1991) Westway (1997–2005) Silver Street (2004–2010) Ambridge Extra (2011–2013) Greenborne (2021)
1950s TV	The Appleyards (1952–1957) Emergency Ward 10 (1957–1967) The Grove Family (1954–1957) Sixpenny Corner (1955–1956) Starr and Company (1958)
1960s TV	199 Park Lane (1965) Castle Haven (1969–1970) Compact (1962–1965) Crossroads (1964–1988, 2001–2003) High Living (1968–1971) Market in Honey Lane (1967–1969) The Newcomers (1965–1969) United! (1965–1967) Weavers Green (1966)
1970s TV	Angels (1975–1983) General Hospital (1972–1979) Within These Walls (1974–1978) The Cedar Tree (1976–1979) Garnock Way (1976–1979)
1980s TV	Albion Market (1985–1986) The Bill (1983–2010) Brookside (1982–2003) Gems (1985–1988) For Maddie with Love (1980) Neighbours (1985–2025) Miracles Take Longer (1984) Park Avenue (1988–1992) The Practice (1985–1986) Taff Acre (1981) Take the High Road (1980–2003) Together (1980–1981) Triangle (1981–1983)
1990s TV	Castles (1995) Eldorado (1992–1993) Families (1990–1993) Family Affairs (1997–2005) Family Pride (1991–1992) Holby City (1999–2022) Jupiter Moon (1990, 1996) London Bridge (1996–1999) Machair (1993–1999) Quayside (1997) Revelations (1994–1996) Springhill (1996–1997)
2000s TV	Doctors (2000–2024) Echo Beach (2008) Night and Day (2001–2003) The Royal Today (2008)

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Front Line Family

References

See also