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?
Last on
Clips
-
![]()
Home improvements
Duration: 01:20
-
![]()
Sun lounging
Duration: 01:06
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
-
![]()
00:02Madness
Baggy Trousers
-
![]()
00:02Madness
Baggy Trousers
-
![]()
00:02Soft Cell
Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go?
-
![]()
00:03Visage
Fade To Grey
-
![]()
00:04Visage
Fade To Grey
-
![]()
00:05Blondie
Atomic
-
![]()
00:10Buggles
Video Killed The Radio Star
-
![]()
00:12The Cure
A Forest
-
![]()
00:13Queen
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
-
![]()
00:13Jerrold Immel
Dallas
-
![]()
00:15The Human League
Don't You Want Me
-
![]()
00:15The Human League
Don't You Want Me
-
![]()
00:15Kool & the Gang
Celebration
-
![]()
00:20The Pointer Sisters
I'm So Excited
-
![]()
00:15Kool & the Gang
Celebration
-
![]()
00:21Tv Themes
The Young Ones
-
![]()
00:21Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
The Message
-
![]()
00:26New Order
Blue Monday
-
![]()
00:28Wham!
Club Tropicana
-
![]()
00:31Madonna
Holiday
-
![]()
00:33Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Two Tribes
-
![]()
00:32Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Two Tribes
-
![]()
00:35Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey
Together In Electric Dreams
-
![]()
00:35Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey
Together In Electric Dreams
-
![]()
00:39Band Aid
Do They Know It's Christmas?
-
![]()
00:40a‐ha
Take On Me
-
![]()
00:41Spandau Ballet
Gold
-
![]()
00:41Talking Heads
Road To Nowhere
-
![]()
00:42Thompson Twins
Hold Me Now
-
![]()
00:44Pet Shop Boys
In The Night (Extended Mix)
-
![]()
00:47Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin
Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves
-
![]()
00:48Eurythmics, Aretha Franklin
Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves
-
![]()
00:49Pet Shop Boys
What Have I Done To Deserve This?
-
![]()
00:51Fleetwood Mac
Everywhere
-
![]()
00:51Fleetwood Mac
Everywhere
-
![]()
00:53D Mob
We Call It Acieed (feat. Gary Haisman)
-
![]()
00:54Soul II Soul
Keep on Movin' (feat. Caron Wheeler)
-
![]()
00:58Culture 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 |
Back in Time...
Families travel back in time to experience how food, leisure and society has transformed.