1 9 6 8 – 1 9 7 2 (UK)
The clear ancestor of That’s Life, Braden’s Week – which aired on Saturday evenings on BBC1 – not only humorously reviewed the week’s events but was also an early consumers’ champion, tackling thorny subjects with a light touch.
Canadian Bernard Braden – late of On The Braden Beat – fronted affairs, supported by a team of reporter/researchers who included John Pitman, Esther Rantzen and Harold Williamson. Williamson specialised in interviewing children. A musical interlude was provided by Jake Thackray.
Rantzen and producer John Lloyd headed off to That’s Life once Braden’s Week came to a controversial end in 1972.
The BBC were unhappy that Braden had decided to advertise Stork margarine on ITV and dismissed him, claiming it was not viable for the host of a consumer programme to be seen endorsing goods commercially.
Braden returned to Canadian television before resurfacing on British programmes such as After Noon Plus and a revamped All Our Yesterdays in 1987.
