Getting Chippy

Greg James explores the BBC Archives using overlooked anniversaries, the big stories of the week and your suggestions to guide him to extraordinary audio.

Following this week's headlines about a crisis for fish and chips, with fried chicken shops taking over the high streets, Greg finds out that chippies have been in crisis since the 1960s, when Alan Whicker reported on a possible shortage of chips in Wales. He also visits the Dorchester Hotel where the price of fried chicken is under scrutiny.

It's 60 years since John Lennon said to a reporter that the Beatles were 'more popular than Jesus', sparking outrage across the United States and almost leading to the cancellation of the band's US tour. Greg finds extraordinary archive of Maureen Cleave, the British journalist who interviewed John, as well as recordings of the protests and the ensuing press conference where John had to apologise.

After leading the nation in morning stretches on his Radio 1 Breakfast Show, Greg discovers that the BBC has been doing morning exercise programmes for a long time. During the war, the BBC broadcast daily 'physical jerks' with instructors taking listeners through their paces set to lively and live piano music.

For Valentine's Day, he looks at the history of computer dating, from early experiments in the sixties using computers to match compatible couples to a very sceptical reporter on Nationwide in 1976.

And a disgruntled listener writes in to correct Greg's understanding of hovercrafts, leading to more inflatable fun - and a man who has built a 25 foot submarine in his front garden.

Producer: Tim Bano
Series archivists: Tariq Hussain and Gordon Edmonds

An EcoAudio certified production