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.
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More episodes
Clips
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Talking Funny
Duration: 01:46
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Television takes over
Duration: 01:21
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From the back to backs to the big screen
Duration: 02:38
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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The Shadows - Man of Mystery
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Billy Fury
Wondrous Place
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Marty Wilde
Bad Boy
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Adam Faith
What Do You Want
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Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
Shakin' all over
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The Ventures
Walk Don't Run
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The Ventures
Perfidia
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The Beatles
Love Me Do
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Chris Barber's Jazzband
Cole Smoak
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Johnny and the Hurricanes
Beatnik Fly
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Billy Fury
Comin' up in the world
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Andrew Martin |
| Producer | Rebecca Whyte |
| Director | Rebecca Whyte |
| Series Producer | Ben Southwell |
| Executive Producer | Michael Poole |