Monday Night at Eight

Monday Night at Eight was a weekly BBC program that was on from 8 pm to 9 pm. It started in 1939, but was preceded by a similar program before the start of World War II called Monday Night at Seven. Because of the longer hours worked during the war, it had been pushed back an hour to enable more people to be able to listen. It was broadcast live with Ronnie Waldman doing the interviews and announcements.

The formats for both programs were similar. The first part consisted of interviews of all types of people; then there was a musical break, and the final part was a radio detective play. Initially it was Inspector Hornleigh Investigates, but in 1942 a new series called Dr Morelle was introduced. Another feature that was started in Monday Night at Eight was Puzzle Corner, used in later programs, and the weekly 'Deliberate Mistake'.

Several actors and singers had their radio debut on Monday Night at Eight. The singer Anne Shelton had her debut in 1940 and Julie Andrews appeared with her mother and stepfather in 1946.

The lyrics of the signature tune were as follows:

It's Monday night at eight o'clock,

Oh, can't you hear the chimes

They're telling you to take an easy chair

To settle by the fireside

Look at your Radio Times

For Monday night at eight is on the air.

The other BBC show of a similar nature was In Town Tonight, which ran in the same period, but was on a Saturday night.