Those Were The Days

Echoes of Laughter and Lore

In Those Were the Days, beloved broadcaster Terry Wogan invites readers on a nostalgic journey through the golden era of radio, television, and popular culture in postwar Britain. From the crackling excitement of the BBC’s early light entertainment broadcasts to the dawn of colour television that transformed living rooms across the nation, Wogan’s warm, witty reminiscences capture the spirit of a time when a single microphone could unite millions. With vivid anecdotes about luminaries such as Sir David Attenborough, Bruce Forsyth, and the Magic Roundabout’s Maisie Potter, this memoir-weaving tapestry is at once a celebration of showbiz milestones and a heartfelt tribute to the unsung technicians, writers, and audience members whose passion shaped an industry.

Behind the Microphone

Wogan lifts the curtain on the camaraderie and chaos backstage: the electric hum of studio floors, the nervous energy before a live broadcast, and the impromptu jokes that saved many a faltering cue. He recounts his own humble beginnings as a fledgling announcer, discovering that the key to connecting with listeners lay not in polished scripts but in genuine warmth and playful curiosity. Alongside tales of chart-topping records and chart-busting moments, we learn how the BBC’s Top of the Pops producers navigated strikes, tech glitches, and trademark Woganisms—qualities that endeared him to generations and cemented his place as “the nation’s friend.” These vignettes are interspersed with reflections on how evolving technology—from vinyl to the internet—reshaped our relationship with fame and storytelling.

Reminiscence and Reflection

More than a chronicle of broadcast history, Those Were the Days is a personal odyssey through laughter, tears, and the occasional on-air faux pas. Wogan muses on the power of shared experiences—comic sketches that broke the tension of bleak winters, charity fundraisers that harnessed collective goodwill, and the simple joy of gathering around a wireless set to hear a familiar voice. His affectionate portraits of colleagues and candid musings on fame’s fleeting nature remind us that the true magic of entertainment lies in its ability to bring people together.

. “A sparkling memoir from one of Britain’s most cherished voices, brimming with warmth, humour, and the irresistible charm of yesteryear’s airwaves,” writes Terry Wogan’s description.