In the North West in 1966, the world was fizzing with pop, the Beatles and the new footballing superstar George Best. But Stuart Maconie digs deeper than this and discovers a world of casinos, strip joints, slum clearances and the early stirrings of women’s lib.
The BBC will take a close look at the swinging Sixties in a special documentary series looking beyond the famous fashion, music and football of the decade.
Fifty years after England won the World Cup, and Time magazine declared London the ‘swinging city’, a host of household names will examine what life was really like across the country during this fascinating period of cultural and social change.
The 11 documentaries will be shown in England’s regions, and use archive footage and real people’s memories to show that life in 1966 was about more than just mini-skirts and The Beatles.
In the North West, writer and music presenter Stuart Maconie looks at the slum clearances while broadcaster Adrian Chiles looks at how many people in the West Midlands were battling racism. Actor Robert Lindsay, ex-Emmerdale star Charlie Hardwick, and former MP Michael Portillo are among the other presenters.
Stuart Thomas, Head of English Regions Programmes, said: “These films are a nostalgic nod back to the 1960s, and really capture how the music and fashion of the time were inspiring a new generation. It was also a time for change, and it’s fascinating to see the transformation that was happening to many inner city areas at the time, and how big leaps in transport and education were making the world more accessible to more people.”
The Living In ’66 series will broadcast on 1 June at 7.30pm in each of the BBC English regions.
