Mrs Dale's Diary was the first significant BBCradio serial drama. It was first broadcast on 5 January 1948 on the BBC Light Programme, which became Radio 2 in 1967; it ran until 25 April 1969. A new episode was broadcast each weekday afternoon, with a repeat the following morning.
The main scriptwriter for many years was Jonquil Antony, and her first collaborator (under a pseudonym)
was Ted Willis, later to originate equally well-known characters for Dixon of Dock Green.
The lead character, Mrs Dale, was played by Ellis Powell until she was sacked in controversial circumstances in 1963 and replaced by Jessie Matthews. In 1975 Matthews' biographer, Michael Thornton, wrote:
Format
An innovative characteristic of the programme was that a brief introductory narrative in each episode was spoken by Mrs Dale as if she were writing her diary.
The serial centred on Mrs Mary Dale, a doctor's wife, husband Jim, and the comings and goings of a middle-class society. The Dales lived at Virginia Lodge in the fictional LondonMetro-land-style suburb of Parkwood Hill. They had moved there from the real area of Kenton, which straddles the border between the London boroughs of Brent and Harrow. Later in the series, to modernise the programme and its setting, the producers relocated the family in the fictional new town of Exton New Town.
The first episode of the long running daily serial from 5 January 1948 with Mary Dale played by Ellis Powell.
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme
published: 19 Sep 2021
Mrs Dale's Diary - 9 January 1958
An episode of the long running daily serial in which Mrs Dale, played by Ellis Powell, reflects on the events of 1954 & 1955. Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme as Mrs Dale Look Back.
Taken from the Radio 2 repeat on 29 July 1995
published: 02 Jan 2018
Mrs Dale's Diary - 1 November 1960
An episode of the long running daily serial from 1 November 1960 with Ellis Powell as Mary Dale in which Great Aunt Hester and her family arrives from Canada.
Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme.
published: 19 Sep 2021
Introduction (From "Mrs Dale's Diary")
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Introduction (From "Mrs Dale's Diary") · Marie Goossens
On the Air
℗ 2013 Memory Lane
Released on: 2013-09-22
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 11 Nov 2014
Jessie Matthews ( actress Mrs Dale's diary just a girl evergreen pickwick papers ) - In 500 words
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published: 26 Jul 2024
Listen with Mother 16 June 1965
An edition of the long-running radio programme Listen with Mother from the BBC Home Service on 16 June 1965. Presented by Eileen Browne with the story, Big Fat Puss-Cat by Sheila Hayley, read by Julia Lang.
published: 18 Feb 2015
WHEN FAMILY CALLS…SUNDAY MATINEE MRS DALE’S DIARY #hollywood #radio #nostalgia
THE LATEST FROM LONDON
published: 11 May 2024
Radio Themes from the 1950s
Radio Them Tunes from the 1950s
Are you old enough to recall the pre-TV days when the family gathered round the wireless of an evening? If so, chances are you'll recall some of these clips. If not, ask your granddad, he will.
1. Much Binding In The Marsh
2. Dick Barton, Special Agent
3. Ray's A Laugh
4. PC49
5. Music And Movement
6. Music While You Work
7. Mrs. Dale's Diary
8. The Billy Cotton Band Show
9. Family Favourites
10. Down Your Way
11. My Word
12. Meet The Huggets
13. The Navy Lark
14. Operation Luna (Journey Into Space)
15. Take It From Here
16. Paul Temple
17. Educating Archie
published: 09 Jun 2014
Mrs Diary's Dales
Suspecting skulduggery behind her fall from first place in the W.I. Cookery Competition, she writes to the local paper.
This triggers an unexpected chain of events, leading her into situations where her acerbic nature provides the audience with plenty of laughs.
If you liked Alan Bennett's Talking Heads you will love Mrs. Diary!Mrs Dales' Diaries
The first episode of the long running daily serial from 5 January 1948 with Mary Dale played by Ellis Powell.
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme
The first episode of the long running daily serial from 5 January 1948 with Mary Dale played by Ellis Powell.
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme
The first episode of the long running daily serial from 5 January 1948 with Mary Dale played by Ellis Powell.
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme
An episode of the long running daily serial in which Mrs Dale, played by Ellis Powell, reflects on the events of 1954 & 1955. Originally broadcast on the BBC Li...
An episode of the long running daily serial in which Mrs Dale, played by Ellis Powell, reflects on the events of 1954 & 1955. Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme as Mrs Dale Look Back.
Taken from the Radio 2 repeat on 29 July 1995
An episode of the long running daily serial in which Mrs Dale, played by Ellis Powell, reflects on the events of 1954 & 1955. Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme as Mrs Dale Look Back.
Taken from the Radio 2 repeat on 29 July 1995
An episode of the long running daily serial from 1 November 1960 with Ellis Powell as Mary Dale in which Great Aunt Hester and her family arrives from Canada.
O...
An episode of the long running daily serial from 1 November 1960 with Ellis Powell as Mary Dale in which Great Aunt Hester and her family arrives from Canada.
Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme.
An episode of the long running daily serial from 1 November 1960 with Ellis Powell as Mary Dale in which Great Aunt Hester and her family arrives from Canada.
Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Introduction (From "Mrs Dale's Diary") · Marie Goossens
On the Air
℗ 2013 Memory Lane
Released on: 2013-09-22...
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Introduction (From "Mrs Dale's Diary") · Marie Goossens
On the Air
℗ 2013 Memory Lane
Released on: 2013-09-22
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Introduction (From "Mrs Dale's Diary") · Marie Goossens
On the Air
℗ 2013 Memory Lane
Released on: 2013-09-22
Auto-generated by YouTube.
An edition of the long-running radio programme Listen with Mother from the BBC Home Service on 16 June 1965. Presented by Eileen Browne with the story, Big Fat ...
An edition of the long-running radio programme Listen with Mother from the BBC Home Service on 16 June 1965. Presented by Eileen Browne with the story, Big Fat Puss-Cat by Sheila Hayley, read by Julia Lang.
An edition of the long-running radio programme Listen with Mother from the BBC Home Service on 16 June 1965. Presented by Eileen Browne with the story, Big Fat Puss-Cat by Sheila Hayley, read by Julia Lang.
Radio Them Tunes from the 1950s
Are you old enough to recall the pre-TV days when the family gathered round the wireless of an evening? If so, chances are you'...
Radio Them Tunes from the 1950s
Are you old enough to recall the pre-TV days when the family gathered round the wireless of an evening? If so, chances are you'll recall some of these clips. If not, ask your granddad, he will.
1. Much Binding In The Marsh
2. Dick Barton, Special Agent
3. Ray's A Laugh
4. PC49
5. Music And Movement
6. Music While You Work
7. Mrs. Dale's Diary
8. The Billy Cotton Band Show
9. Family Favourites
10. Down Your Way
11. My Word
12. Meet The Huggets
13. The Navy Lark
14. Operation Luna (Journey Into Space)
15. Take It From Here
16. Paul Temple
17. Educating Archie
Radio Them Tunes from the 1950s
Are you old enough to recall the pre-TV days when the family gathered round the wireless of an evening? If so, chances are you'll recall some of these clips. If not, ask your granddad, he will.
1. Much Binding In The Marsh
2. Dick Barton, Special Agent
3. Ray's A Laugh
4. PC49
5. Music And Movement
6. Music While You Work
7. Mrs. Dale's Diary
8. The Billy Cotton Band Show
9. Family Favourites
10. Down Your Way
11. My Word
12. Meet The Huggets
13. The Navy Lark
14. Operation Luna (Journey Into Space)
15. Take It From Here
16. Paul Temple
17. Educating Archie
Suspecting skulduggery behind her fall from first place in the W.I. Cookery Competition, she writes to the local paper.
This triggers an unexpected chain of ...
Suspecting skulduggery behind her fall from first place in the W.I. Cookery Competition, she writes to the local paper.
This triggers an unexpected chain of events, leading her into situations where her acerbic nature provides the audience with plenty of laughs.
If you liked Alan Bennett's Talking Heads you will love Mrs. Diary!Mrs Dales' Diaries
Suspecting skulduggery behind her fall from first place in the W.I. Cookery Competition, she writes to the local paper.
This triggers an unexpected chain of events, leading her into situations where her acerbic nature provides the audience with plenty of laughs.
If you liked Alan Bennett's Talking Heads you will love Mrs. Diary!Mrs Dales' Diaries
The first episode of the long running daily serial from 5 January 1948 with Mary Dale played by Ellis Powell.
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme
An episode of the long running daily serial in which Mrs Dale, played by Ellis Powell, reflects on the events of 1954 & 1955. Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme as Mrs Dale Look Back.
Taken from the Radio 2 repeat on 29 July 1995
An episode of the long running daily serial from 1 November 1960 with Ellis Powell as Mary Dale in which Great Aunt Hester and her family arrives from Canada.
Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Introduction (From "Mrs Dale's Diary") · Marie Goossens
On the Air
℗ 2013 Memory Lane
Released on: 2013-09-22
Auto-generated by YouTube.
An edition of the long-running radio programme Listen with Mother from the BBC Home Service on 16 June 1965. Presented by Eileen Browne with the story, Big Fat Puss-Cat by Sheila Hayley, read by Julia Lang.
Radio Them Tunes from the 1950s
Are you old enough to recall the pre-TV days when the family gathered round the wireless of an evening? If so, chances are you'll recall some of these clips. If not, ask your granddad, he will.
1. Much Binding In The Marsh
2. Dick Barton, Special Agent
3. Ray's A Laugh
4. PC49
5. Music And Movement
6. Music While You Work
7. Mrs. Dale's Diary
8. The Billy Cotton Band Show
9. Family Favourites
10. Down Your Way
11. My Word
12. Meet The Huggets
13. The Navy Lark
14. Operation Luna (Journey Into Space)
15. Take It From Here
16. Paul Temple
17. Educating Archie
Suspecting skulduggery behind her fall from first place in the W.I. Cookery Competition, she writes to the local paper.
This triggers an unexpected chain of events, leading her into situations where her acerbic nature provides the audience with plenty of laughs.
If you liked Alan Bennett's Talking Heads you will love Mrs. Diary!Mrs Dales' Diaries
Mrs Dale's Diary was the first significant BBCradio serial drama. It was first broadcast on 5 January 1948 on the BBC Light Programme, which became Radio 2 in 1967; it ran until 25 April 1969. A new episode was broadcast each weekday afternoon, with a repeat the following morning.
The main scriptwriter for many years was Jonquil Antony, and her first collaborator (under a pseudonym)
was Ted Willis, later to originate equally well-known characters for Dixon of Dock Green.
The lead character, Mrs Dale, was played by Ellis Powell until she was sacked in controversial circumstances in 1963 and replaced by Jessie Matthews. In 1975 Matthews' biographer, Michael Thornton, wrote:
Format
An innovative characteristic of the programme was that a brief introductory narrative in each episode was spoken by Mrs Dale as if she were writing her diary.
The serial centred on Mrs Mary Dale, a doctor's wife, husband Jim, and the comings and goings of a middle-class society. The Dales lived at Virginia Lodge in the fictional LondonMetro-land-style suburb of Parkwood Hill. They had moved there from the real area of Kenton, which straddles the border between the London boroughs of Brent and Harrow. Later in the series, to modernise the programme and its setting, the producers relocated the family in the fictional new town of Exton New Town.
“We had a special kind of audience in mind ... But since 2011, the programme has been mainly filmed at the BBC’s drama studios at Roath Lock in Cardiff Bay ... Soap history ... Examples include Mrs Dale’s Diary in 1948 and, of course, The Archers in 1951 ... .