Praise Be!
Summer hymn request programme linked by Thora Hird.
Praise Be! was a summer replacement programme for the BBC Television religious series Songs of Praise. It aired from 1984, having previously been known as Your Songs of Praise Choice from 1977 until 1983. The programme featured a selection of hymns from previous years' shows, linked by Thora Hird reading requests and dedications.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Religious broadcasting
- Creator
- Donald Baverstock
- Presenter
- Aled Jones / Katherine Jenkins / Sean Fletcher / Pam Rhodes / Claire McCollum / Kate Bottley / (See full list)
- Theme Music Composer
- Herbert Chappell (1980–1986) · Robert Prizeman (1986–2021)
- End Theme
- Songs of Praise – Toccata for Organ
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Num Episodes
- 3105 (approx) (Jan 2024)
- Executive Producer
- Barry Hart
- Producer
- David Waters / Charlotte Hindle / Karen Hannah
- Runtime
- 35 minutes
- Company
- BBC Television (in-house) (1961–2016) / BBC Studios (2016–2017) / Nine Lives Media (2017–2023) / Avanti Media (2017–2023) / CTVC (2023-)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
For many years, the series Songs of Praise was replaced during the summer months by other Christian-themed programming. From 1977 until 1983, a selection of hymns from the previous year's shows, linked by Thora Hird reading requests and dedications, was featured in Your Songs of Praise Choice. In 1984, the programme changed its name to Praise Be!, which then aired until 1993. Other summer replacements included Home on Sunday (1980–88) and Sweet Inspiration (1993–94).
Reader's Guide
Praise Be! served as a summer replacement for the long-running BBC religious programme Songs of Praise, maintaining a connection to the parent series by drawing on its archive of hymn performances. The programme's significance lies in its role as a seasonal fixture that allowed the BBC to continue offering religious content during the summer months while providing a platform for viewer interaction through hymn requests and dedications. The involvement of Thora Hird, a well-known actress and presenter, added a familiar and comforting presence. The programme's format reflected the broader tradition of religious broadcasting on British television, particularly within the Sunday evening 'God slot' that had been established by government regulation. By focusing on viewer-submitted requests, Praise Be! fostered a sense of community and personal connection, allowing audiences to participate in the programming. Its eventual replacement by Sweet Inspiration in 1993 marked a shift in how the BBC approached summer religious programming, but Praise Be! remains a notable example of how a long-running series can spawn spin-offs that engage audiences in different ways.
Did You Know?
- Praise Be! was originally titled Your Songs of Praise Choice from 1977 until it changed its name in 1984.
- The programme featured Thora Hird reading requests and dedications.
- It was one of several summer replacements for Songs of Praise, including Home on Sunday and Sweet Inspiration.
- Praise Be! aired from 1984 until 1993.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Praise Be!?
Praise Be! is a BBC religious television programme that filled the summer slot left by the regular Songs of Praise series. Each episode compiled hymns from past shows, with audience requests and dedications read on screen by Thora Hird.
Who presented Praise Be!?
Thora Hird served as the on-screen presenter, linking the hymn selections by reading viewer requests and dedications aloud. She anchored the format throughout its entire run under both the original and later titles.
What was Praise Be! called before 1984?
The show originally aired as Your Songs of Praise Choice from 1977 to 1983 before being rebranded to Praise Be!. The core format of compiled hymns and read-out dedications stayed essentially unchanged across the name switch.
Why did Praise Be! exist as a separate programme?
The BBC needed a way to keep its religious programming strand on air during the summer break when the full Songs of Praise series went off schedule. Rather than leaving the slot blank, they assembled a lighter compilation show built from earlier episodes.
How long did Praise Be! run on television?
Under the Praise Be! title, the series aired from 1984 through 1993. Including its earlier incarnation as Your Songs of Praise Choice, the format has been on the BBC since 1977.
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