5 Journeys Back to the 1970s

This April, we jump into a time machine back to the 1970s, as 5 revisits the decade that changed Britain forever – from the things we ate, to the ways we worked, played and even how we paid for it all. Across multiple weekends this spring, we’re going to be packing our bags for a series of fun-filled, nostalgia-packed weekenders taking in quizzes, entertainment, documentaries, history, adventure and experiment.

It’s TV like they used to make!

In addition to the 1970’s Diet with Josie Gibson (announced HERE), further shows include, Sally Lindsay’s 70’s Quiz Night  (1 x 90’); 70’s Big Night In (1 x 90’); 1970s School Disco (1 x 90’); 1971 When Britain Went Decimal (1 x 60’) plus many more, to watch and stream on 5 across April.

Sally Lindsay’s 70’s Quiz Night is a fun-filled nostalgia-fest celebrating the best, biggest and funniest bits of the 1970s.  Host Sally will be joined by team captains John Thompson and Shaparak Khorsandi, along with their teams of celebrity guests. With questions to answer, games to play, and classic clips to enjoy, the two teams will go head-to-head to find out who remembers the most about the 1970s. They’ll compete across a series of fun rounds, based on topics from sitcoms to scary children’s programmes, food to pop music, gameshows to the biggest headlines of the decade.

Sally Lindsay said: “Being born in 1973 all my early childhood was memories of orange teacups, massive flares and 3 bar electric fires, and what memories they are! Absolutely thrilled to lead a quiz that take a fun, nostalgic trip right back to that special time with friends of mine battling it out to be the ultimate 70’s champion! Come and join us and see what you remember!”

Production Company: Saffron Cherry Productions.  Commissioning Editor 5, Greg Barnett.  Executive Producer, Gareth Collett and Caroline Roberts-Cherry; Producer, Kate Staples; Director, Julian Smith.

The 70s Big Night In invites three modern families to enjoy a good, old-fashioned night in front of the telly, as they sit down to a night of prime-time TV from the Golden Age of Saturday night schedules; family entertainment as it was 50 years ago, when shows such as Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em dominated the airwaves, drawing 25 million viewers at its peak. We’ll offer a fascinating lens on 70s family life and society – celebrating a time when Saturday night TV brought families together and captivated the nation.

Production Company: Orchard Studios.  Commissioning Editor 5, Kate Ansell.  Executive Producer, Clare Mottershead; Producer, Sam Gunasekera; Showrunner/director, Tom Whitter

The 1970s School Disco was a rite of passage for every kid in the ‘70s.  In this film, a host of 70s movers and shakers, experts, historians and pupils of the decade recall the anticipation, joy and embarrassment of the social event of the school year. From the tunes to the outfits; the drinks to the dance moves, we unpack the key elements that made it so special, with a nationwide poll revealing the nation’s 5 top favourite 70s disco tunes!

Production company: Coming Up Roses.  Commissioning Editor, 5, Denise Seneviratne.  Executive Producers: Harriet Scott, Oliver Wright.

In 1971: When Britain Went Decimal 5 digs into the weird and wonderful story of the decimalisation of British currency in 1971 – the biggest change in UK monetary history – when the ancient system of pounds, shillings and pence was replaced with decimal currency.   Years in the making, this gargantuan operation involved minting billions of coins, converting millions of machines, and teaching the entire nation how to cope with this colossal conversion.  It sparked the largest public information campaign the country had ever seen, complete with gritty TV dramas, saucy, scantily clad ‘Decimal Dollies’ and a bizarre yet catchy song by Max Bygraves…

Production company: Coming Up Roses.  Commissioning Editor, 5, Greg Barnett.  Executive Producers: Oliver Wright.

Shows available to watch and stream on 5 throughout April.