BBC Radio 2 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Light Programme.

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Sounds of the 20th Century

Trevor Dann

Sounds of the 20th Century: Episode 5: 1955

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1955

Episode 5

Episode 5: 1955

BBC Radio 2 - Sounds of the 20th Century, 1955

Jeremy Vine introduces 1955, the year of Elvis, James Dean, ITV and the Third Man.

Jeremy Vine introduces an audio journey through five decades. ITV was launched, James Dean died, Third Man Kim Philby is unmasked, rock 'n' roll dominates and Elvis Presley emerges.

Sounds Of The 20th Century is an audio journey through five decades of triumph, tragedy and trivia in 50 hour-long episodes.

Each programme is dedicated to one year from 1951 to 2000 and features nothing that wasn't heard, seen or read at the time. There's no hindsight, no "I-heart-the-80s"-style reminiscences; just the music, the news, the radio, the TV and the movies as they were first experienced.

Jeremy Vine introduces 1955. A year when when a young singer called Elvis Presley starts to get noticed. BBC Television gets its first competitor with the arrival of ITV and shows like Take Your Pick and Dragnet. James Dean is killed before moviegoers have seen him in Rebel Without A Cause, Ruth Ellis becomes the last woman in Britain to be hanged and Kim Philby is unmasked as the Third Man. 

The music comes from rock'n'rollers like Little Richard, Chuck Berry and - with his music for the controversial film Blackboard Jungle - Bill Haley.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

Jeremy Vine introduces Radio 2's audio journey through the years

Jeremy Vine introduces Radio 2's audio journey through the years from 1951 to 2000, helping listeners to relive the music, news, radio, TV and movies of the times

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Episode 5: 1955

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