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The 80s

A family gives up its 21st-century technology and travels back in time. The family embrace the 80s, where TV and shopping dominated our leisure time.

Like many modern families, the Ashby-Hawkins home is stuffed full of tablets, computers, phones and gadgets to distract them in their spare time. But for one summer, they agreed to give up all their 21st-century technology and travel back in time to discover the radical transformation of our leisure time since 1950.

The family's own home becomes their time machine as they are transported back to a different decade each week. Guided by presenters Giles Coren and social historian Polly Russell, the family's entire experience is underpinned by the Family Expenditure Survey, a government study which ran from the 1950s right through to 1999. The survey's detailed spending records give us the best possible clue as to what families were doing with their leisure time across the five decades.

The family embrace the 80s, where TV and shopping dominated our leisure time. It is also the decade where technology arrives in our homes in a significant way. Kids Daisy and Seth are thrilled by the new VCR and home computer, and there is even a pager for Steph, who is now a shoulder-padded 80s businesswoman. Dad Rob has got plenty to occupy him - when he is not trying out the kids' CB radio, his home sunbed, or having his highlights done, he is shopping for a Don Johnson makeover with 80s fashion guru Caryn Franklin. But what does the arrival of all this stuff mean for family life?

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Madness

    Baggy Trousers

  • Madness

    Baggy Trousers

  • Soft Cell

    Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go?

  • Visage

    Fade To Grey

  • Visage

    Fade To Grey

  • Blondie

    Atomic

  • Buggles

    Video Killed The Radio Star

  • The Cure

    A Forest

  • Queen

    Crazy Little Thing Called Love

  • Jerrold Immel

    Dallas

  • The Human League

    Don't You Want Me

  • The Human League

    Don't You Want Me

  • Kool & the Gang

    Celebration

  • The Pointer Sisters

    I'm So Excited

  • Kool & the Gang

    Celebration

  • Tv Themes

    The Young Ones

  • Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

    The Message

  • New Order

    Blue Monday

  • Wham!

    Club Tropicana

  • Madonna

    Holiday

  • Frankie Goes to Hollywood

    Two Tribes

  • Frankie Goes to Hollywood

    Two Tribes

  • Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey

    Together In Electric Dreams

  • Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey

    Together In Electric Dreams

  • Band Aid

    Do They Know It's Christmas?

  • 补鈥恏补

    Take On Me

  • Spandau Ballet

    Gold

  • Talking Heads

    Road To Nowhere

  • Thompson Twins

    Hold Me Now

  • Pet Shop Boys

    In The Night (Extended Mix)

  • Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin

    Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves

  • Eurythmics, Aretha Franklin

    Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves

  • Pet Shop Boys

    What Have I Done To Deserve This?

  • Fleetwood Mac

    Everywhere

  • Fleetwood Mac

    Everywhere

  • D Mob

    We Call It Acieed (feat. Gary Haisman)

  • Soul II Soul

    Keep on Movin' (feat. Caron Wheeler)

  • Culture Club

    Karma Chameleon

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Giles Coren
Expert Polly Russell
Executive Producer Emily Shields
Series Producer Nancy Bornat
Director Tom McCarthy
Producer Tom McCarthy
Production Company Wall to Wall Media

Broadcasts

Back in Time...

Back in Time...

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