Wot Cheor Geordie was an early attempt by the BBC to produce a radio variety programme broadcast from Regional Studios and in a local dialect. Wot Cheor is a greeting in Geordie dialect.
The show
Wot Cheor Geordie was a radio variety programme broadcast from the BBC Regional Studios in Newcastle. It began in the early 1940s and continued until 1956. It featured songs, plays and sketches, all in dialect; some were only moderately successful, while others were considered outstanding. Generally, the programme was a great success. In 1948 the programme title was included under the "variety" category in the BBC publicity file and it this fact brought it to the notice of London, who requested a recording. A tape was sent from Newcastle with an assurance that the dialect would be toned down and this could be done without losing its humour, Prior to this, in the 1930s the BBC attempted to expand into the regions by using local materials and local dialects. The North East of England was no exception, and on 9 June 1937 a sketch was broadcast. It utilised the fictitious character "Geordie Marley" who had been created by Newcastle comic writer Captain Walter Dierecx. The sketch was as follows :- Programme announcer – This is This is the Northern Programme. Here’s a tale about the day the Marley’s spent going to the place where the Blaydon Races were run. The famous races that the song was written about were held seventy-five years ago today….... Marley – Hillo!, ah’ll back ye knaa wat the tune is? Ay hinnies, "Blaydon Races", Tyneside’s National Anthem. Did any owlder folk ivor gan te the Blaydon Races? Ah ownly went theor wance, an’ that was the day the ninth o’ June, an’ it wes some race an’ all mind ye. Ah’ll tell ye aboot it"
Programme regulars
The cast of entertainers, writers etc. varied from week to week. These are some of the regulars :-
In 1948 Leonard Barras sent a sketch for consideration, was immediately accepted and became as regular writer
