The Appleyards

British children's TV soap opera (1952–1960)

The Appleyards is a British television soap opera for children, made and transmitted fortnightly by BBC Television across eleven series and one special from October 1952 to April 1957, plus a revival one-off in 1960, from the BBC's Lime Grove Studios. It was initially produced and directed by Naomi Capon.[1]

The series was initially transmitted live on a Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 5 p.m. with a Sunday repeat, which was the same cast giving a second live performance. From the second series onwards in 1953 it was broadcast on Saturdays. The programme told the story of the home counties family Mr. and Mrs. Appleyard and their four children: John, Janet, Margaret and Tommy. They were usually accompanied by their neighbour and best friend Ronnie Grant.

It was of its time but also a groundbreaking family sitcom, popular with both adults and children alike but particularly the latter who saw it as an embodiment of their own family. The catchy light music signature tune came from the Chappell Record Library and was called "Looking Around" by Colin Smith (real name is Rhys Donald Lloyd Thomas), recorded by conductor Robert Farnon.

A reunion programme, Christmas with the Appleyards, went out at Christmas 1960.[2]

## Archive status

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Almost all of the programme's episodes were aired live and never recorded. Only one episode (entitled "Family Treat" and originally aired on 29 December 1956) of the entire run of 77 exists in television archives as of 2017, and can be found on YouTube.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Appleyards, The (1952-57, 1960)". Screenonline. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
2. ^ "Appleyards". Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.

## External links

[edit]

* [1] The Appleyards at Television Heaven

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Soap operas in the United Kingdom

TV soaps|

| National|

* Coronation Street
* EastEnders
* Emmerdale
* Hollyoaks

|

Scotland|

* River City

Wales|

* Pobol y Cwm
* Rownd a Rownd

Medical dramas|

* Casualty

Australian-imported co-productions|

* Home and Away
* Neighbours

Radio soaps|

* The Archers

Defunct|

| 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)
* 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)

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)

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