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The Robshaw family discover a surprising decade of progress and optimism as they journey through the 30s. Their larder is now stuffed with familiar brands and healthy dinners.

The Robshaw family are experienced time travellers, but this time they are going further back than they have ever been before - to the turn of the 20th century, to discover how the food we ate and the way we ate it helped shape the modern family. An ordinary house in south London is their time machine, transporting them through five decades and two world wars. Guided by presenters Giles Coren and social historian Polly Russell, they trace the incredible changes to Britain's diet and the extraordinary social transformation they reveal.

In episode four, the family discover a very surprising decade of progress and optimism as they journey through the 1930s. Gone is all the starch formality of previous decades. Their larder is now stuffed with familiar brands and snacks and deliciously healthy dinners too, even if they are made in a pressure cooker that looks more like an unexploded bomb than a bit of kitchen equipment.

Along the way, Brandon and Rochelle take a trip out for dinner and a dance in their very first family car and there is popcorn to go with their own home cinema, but the family's old servant Debbie finds out that the 30s bring hard times for working women like her. As the Robshaws taste the food, wine and hope of a very progressive era, the threats on the horizon come closer with a visit to London's East End to commemorate the battle of Cable St and all the traditional favourites of a Jewish dinner with Giles. But as 1939 comes around, their hopes for the future are dashed as their final party is interrupted by an historic radio announcement.

59 minutes

Last on

Thu 24 Feb 2022 16:15
麻豆社 Two

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Clips

See all clips from 1930s (2)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:02

    Duke Ellington

    It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

    Singer: Ivie Anderson. Orchestra: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra.
  • 00:05

    Lew Stone & His Band

    Anything Goes

  • 00:08

    Charlie Kunz & The Casani Club Orchestra & George Barclay

    Red Sails In The Sunset

  • 00:10

    Bennie Moten鈥檚 Kansas City Orchestra

    Moten Swing

  • 00:13

    Henry Hall & The 麻豆社 Dance Orchestra

    How's Chances

  • 00:13

    Orlando

    Love Is Good For Anything That Ails You

  • 00:15

    Ray Noble and His Orchestra

    Did You Ever See A Dream Walking?

  • 00:17

    The Big 18

    Swingtime In The Rockies

  • 00:19

    Fletcher Henderson

    Christopher Columbus (Album Version)

  • 00:20

    The 麻豆社 Dance Orchestra

    Radio Times

  • 00:21

    Henry Hall & The 麻豆社 Dance Orchestra

    Hands Across The Table

  • 00:23

    Jay Wilbur

    You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming

  • 00:24

    Roy Fox & His Band

    On The Other Side of The Hill

  • 00:28

    Duke Ellington

    Blue Skies

  • 00:30

    Glenn Miller

    Get Happy

  • 00:31

    Al Bowlly

    The Echo of A Song

  • 00:32

    Various Artists - Memoir Records

    I Must See Annie Tonight

  • 00:33

    Jack Hylton and His Orchestra, Jack Hylton

    Painting The Clouds With Sunshine

  • 00:35

    Artie Shaw and His Gramercy Five

    Begin The Beguine

  • 00:36

    Frankie Masters & His Orchestra

    Scatter Brain

  • 00:36

    George Melachrino & Savoy Orpheans

    Love Walked In

    Conductor: Carroll Gibbons.
  • 00:37

    Charles Prentice & Drury Lane Theatre Orchestra

    Selection From "Glamorous Night"

  • 00:38

    Ambrose

    Hors D'Oeuvres

  • 00:42

    Blue Mountaineers

    Sweet Sixteen and Never Been Kissed

  • 00:48

    Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy

    Little Joe From Chicago

  • 00:48

    Sidney Torch

    On A Spring Note

  • 00:49

    Benny Goodman and His Orchestra

    Sing, Sing, Sing

  • 00:50

    Brian Lawrence & His Sextet

    Says My Heart

  • 00:51

    George Formby

    Swimmin' With The Wimmin'

  • 00:56

    Louis Levy & His Orchestra

    Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

  • 00:54

    Erskine Hawkins

    Tuxedo Junction

  • 00:58

    Meg Hutchinson

    Over The Rainbow

Credits

Presenter Giles Coren
Presenter Polly Russell
Participant Jilly Goolden
Participant Ainsley Harriott
Executive Producer Emily Shields
Executive Producer Emma Hindley
Series Producer Nancy Bornat
Producer Victoria Bell
Director Victoria Bell
Editor Matthew White
Production Company Wall to Wall Media

Broadcasts

Back in Time... watch clips from previous series

Back in Time... watch clips from previous series

Families travel back in time to experience how food, leisure and society has transformed.