YouTube has brilliant 30-minute BBC radio show made in 2002 in which various well-known entertainment legends (e.g. Ken Dodd) reminisce about their days at the Hulme Hippodrome and the Playhouse working for the BBC.
Programme notes: Geoffrey Wheeler revisits the scene of the Manchester Playhouse Theatre in Hulme. Built back-to-back with the Hulme Hippodrome, the Playhouse was used by the BBC as a radio and TV recording studio for light entertainment, comedy and music shows from 1955-86. It was host to some of the BBC’s best-loved comedy and variety shows with Al Read, Ken Dodd, Les Dawson, Jimmy Clitheroe, Morecambe & Wise and many other shows. It was also home to the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra.
This documentary was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2002.
If you haven’t heard it already it’s well worth a listen.