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1960: The Year of the North

Timeshift Series 10

The story of how the north went from being Britain's economic engine room to cultural powerhouse. Andrew Martin explores how the north liberated itself and the country as a whole.

Documentary which sets out to show that the 1960s - the most creative decade of the 20th century - began not in swinging London but in smokestack northern England. It was from there that a new kind of voice was heard - cocky and defiant, working class, affluent, stroppy and sexy.

Novelist Andrew Martin explores how in 1960 the north asserted itself, came out of the closet artistically speaking, abandoned the cloth cap stereotype and in the process liberated itself and Britain as a whole. The story of how the north went from being the economic engine room of the country to cultural powerhouse is told through the work of northern writers such as Alan Sillitoe, Shelagh Delaney, Stan Barstow and Tony Warren. Thanks to their lead in conspicuously kicking over the old traces, by the end of 1960 if you wanted iconoclasm, humour, style and music, you definitely looked to the north.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 7 Jun 2015 22:45
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four

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The North on a PlateSeries 10

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Clips

See all clips from 1960: The Year of the North (3)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • The Shadows - Man of Mystery

  • Billy Fury

    Wondrous Place

  • Marty Wilde

    Bad Boy

  • Adam Faith

    What Do You Want

  • Johnny Kidd and the Pirates

    Shakin' all over

  • The Ventures

    Walk Don't Run

  • The Ventures

    Perfidia

  • The Beatles

    Love Me Do

  • Chris Barber's Jazzband

    Cole Smoak

  • Johnny and the Hurricanes

    Beatnik Fly

  • Billy Fury

    Comin' up in the world

Credits

Presenter Andrew Martin
Producer Rebecca Whyte
Director Rebecca Whyte
Series Producer Ben Southwell
Executive Producer Michael Poole

Broadcasts