Sunday Night at 10
Encyclopedia
Sunday Night At 10, also known as The Age of Swing, is a weekly hour long programme on BBC Radio 2
in the United Kingdom. Aired on Sunday evenings at 10pm, it features big band
music from the late 1930s and early 1940s through to the present day. Presented by jazz singer Clare Teal
it regularly draws a weekly listening audience of 360,000.
presented by Alan Dell
. Following Dell's death Malcolm Laycock
began to present the show on Sunday evenings, and for many years it featured a mixture of music from British dance band
s of the 20s and 30s and from the big band
era. The first half of the show was usually dedicated to the British dance bands of artists such as Jack Hylton
and Geraldo, while the second half would feature the music of bandleaders such as Glenn Miller
and Tommy Dorsey
. In addition, the show would feature interviews with occasional guests from the big band genre and a "Mystery Disc" where a piece of music would be played and listeners would be asked to guess the identity of a mystery artist. It would conclude with Laycock reading out a list of big band concerts taking place around the United Kingdom.
In November 2008 the show's format was altered, switching the focus to mostly big band music, though it continued to close with the concert announcements. The decision to alter the show led to complaints from the programme's traditional listeners who believed Radio 2 was turning its back on its older listeners, something that was echoed by Laycock himself, and who later claimed that he had been ordered to drop the British dance bands part of his show.
In July 2009 Laycock announced his departure from the station. He had been due to take a four week holiday, but instead took the impromptu decision to leave after failing to negotiate a new contract. His announcement took his bosses by surprise. He presented his final edition of Sunday Night At 10 on 26 July 2009. His sudden departure prompted outraged listeners to write to Radio 2 controller Bob Shennan
and even their local MPs
in an attempt to bring him back. Shennan later said that he had tried to persuade Laycock not to resign, but without success. Laycock went on to claim in a newspaper interview that he had been constructively dismissed
by Radio 2. The BBC denied this was the case and said his departure had occurred because they were unable to meet his demand for a 60 percent pay rise.
Clare Teal
took over the show from the following Sunday, 2 August. The BBC said that the programme would continue, while Bob Shennan said that it would not be scrapped.
British dance band music made a return to the show from November 2009, albeit not to the same extent as previously. An entire show was also dedicated to the genre in December 2009.
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
in the United Kingdom. Aired on Sunday evenings at 10pm, it features big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
music from the late 1930s and early 1940s through to the present day. Presented by jazz singer Clare Teal
Clare Teal
Clare Teal is an English jazz singer who has become famous not only for her singing, but also for having signed the biggest ever recording contract by a British jazz singer.-Biography:...
it regularly draws a weekly listening audience of 360,000.
Show format
The programme begins shortly after the news at 10:00pm has concluded. Clare Teal outlines some of the artists who will be featured on that particular evening. The show often has a theme running through it by which many of the songs played are connected. The details of each song, such as composer, album on which it is available, etc, are given after it has been played and the information is placed on the show's website after Sunday Night at 10 has finished. The show generally ends with the presenter reading out a list of big band concerts which are to be held at venues around the United Kingdom during the coming week, after which the show concludes and hands over for the 11:00pm news. The edition is then available on the BBC website to be listened to again for the following seven days.History
The programme began in 1995 and based its format on the long-running Dance Band DaysDance Band Days
The Dance Band Days was a weekly half hour programme on BBC radio of recordings by dance bands of the 1920s to early 1940s. It ran from 1969 to 1995 and was introduced, until his death, by Alan Dell...
presented by Alan Dell
Alan Dell
Alan Dell, born Alan Creighton Mandell , was a BBC radio broadcaster, associated with dance band music of the 1920s, 30s and early 40s.- Formative years :...
. Following Dell's death Malcolm Laycock
Malcolm Laycock
Malcolm Richard Laycock was a British radio presenter and producer, best known for his work on programmes related to jazz, dance band and big band music. During his career he presented shows for both BBC Radio 2 and the BBC World Service...
began to present the show on Sunday evenings, and for many years it featured a mixture of music from British dance band
British dance band
British dance bands developed a unique style of popular jazz and dance music during the 1920s and 1930s that developed in British dance halls and hotel ballrooms thousands of miles away from the true origins of jazz...
s of the 20s and 30s and from the big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
era. The first half of the show was usually dedicated to the British dance bands of artists such as Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton was a British band leader and impresario.He was born John Greenhalgh Hilton in the Great Lever area of Bolton, Lancashire, the son of George Hilton, a cotton yarn twister. His father was an amateur singer at the local Labour Club and Jack learned piano to accompany him on the stage...
and Geraldo, while the second half would feature the music of bandleaders such as Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
and Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
. In addition, the show would feature interviews with occasional guests from the big band genre and a "Mystery Disc" where a piece of music would be played and listeners would be asked to guess the identity of a mystery artist. It would conclude with Laycock reading out a list of big band concerts taking place around the United Kingdom.
In November 2008 the show's format was altered, switching the focus to mostly big band music, though it continued to close with the concert announcements. The decision to alter the show led to complaints from the programme's traditional listeners who believed Radio 2 was turning its back on its older listeners, something that was echoed by Laycock himself, and who later claimed that he had been ordered to drop the British dance bands part of his show.
In July 2009 Laycock announced his departure from the station. He had been due to take a four week holiday, but instead took the impromptu decision to leave after failing to negotiate a new contract. His announcement took his bosses by surprise. He presented his final edition of Sunday Night At 10 on 26 July 2009. His sudden departure prompted outraged listeners to write to Radio 2 controller Bob Shennan
Bob Shennan
Robert Duncan James Shennan is a British radio executive who was appointed as Controller of BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music in January 2009.-Early life:...
and even their local MPs
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in an attempt to bring him back. Shennan later said that he had tried to persuade Laycock not to resign, but without success. Laycock went on to claim in a newspaper interview that he had been constructively dismissed
Constructive dismissal
In employment law, constructive dismissal, also called constructive discharge, occurs when employees resign because their employer's behaviour has become so intolerable or heinous or made life so difficult that the employee has no choice but to resign. Because the resignation was not truly...
by Radio 2. The BBC denied this was the case and said his departure had occurred because they were unable to meet his demand for a 60 percent pay rise.
Clare Teal
Clare Teal
Clare Teal is an English jazz singer who has become famous not only for her singing, but also for having signed the biggest ever recording contract by a British jazz singer.-Biography:...
took over the show from the following Sunday, 2 August. The BBC said that the programme would continue, while Bob Shennan said that it would not be scrapped.
British dance band music made a return to the show from November 2009, albeit not to the same extent as previously. An entire show was also dedicated to the genre in December 2009.