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

BBC Radio 2

Radio 2

The People's Songs

Music

Stuart Maconie tells the story of modern Britain via the songs that provided a soundtrack.

Featuring memories contributed by Radio 2 listeners, Stuart Maconie narrates the story of post-war Britain via 50 records that soundtracked this dramatic and kaleidoscopic period.

The People's Songs: Smalltown Boy

Documentaries

Factual: History

Smalltown Boy

20/03/2013

BBC Radio 2 - The People's Songs, Smalltown Boy

Openly gay pop arrived in the UK in the 1980s thanks to Bronski Beat and Pet Shop Boys.

Openly gay pop arrived in the UK in the 1980s with Pet Shop Boys and Bronski Beat, illustrating how far British society had moved towards being more open-minded and inclusive.

Whilst British pop has had a long and colourful history of powerful and visionary movers and shakers who just happened to be gay, for a long time it was a story that was kept under wraps. Partly because it would have been distasteful to a huge chunk of the mainstream record buying public, but mostly because it was also illegal until 1967. But consider these gay trailblazers: Brian Epstein and Simon Napier Bell were incredibly successful managers, the former with, of course, The Beatles, the latter with Marc Bolan and later Wham. Joe Meek was a maverick music-making trail-blazer and Kenny Everett the most influential DJ of his era.

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

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The People's Songs

Smalltown Boy

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