The Waltons was a smash hit when it originally aired in the 1970s on both sides of the pond — and now, over four decades after the show ended, the series is back on our screens
The world’s best-loved family saga The Waltons is coming back to British TV after a 10-year absence — with every episode ever made being shown on Great TV. The Freeview channel has secured the rights to air all 219 episodes of the homespun American drama —famous for its ‘Goodnight John-Boy’ catchphrase — starting on January 6.
Great TV will show two episodes back to back every Monday to Friday, with an omnibus catch-up every Sunday. The Waltons, created by Earl Hamner Jr, chronicles the lives of a close-knit family living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II.
Based on Hamner’s own childhood experiences detailed in his book Spencer’s Mountain, the series became a cultural phenomenon for its wholesome portrayal of family values and resilience in difficult times. Great TV’s marketing director Kate Gartland said: “We are absolutely delighted that we can bring back this wonderful, iconic piece of TV magic to the viewers.
“It really is one of the historic milestones in the history of television, and we know that Great TV viewers love to watch classic series from the past. This return also offers a new generation of British viewers the chance to discover why The Waltons remains one of television’s most enduring family dramas — a testament to simpler times and the enduring power of family.”
The show originally aired on CBS from September 1972 to June 1981, spanning nine seasons that captivated American audiences week after week. In Britain, it was first broadcast on BBC1 and BBC2 in 1974 and concluded in April 1983. Each episode was narrated by Hamner himself, voicing the adult version of the show’s central character, John-Boy Walton.
At the heart of the series was the multigenerational Walton household – grandparents, mum and dad, and eight children living together. Richard Thomas starred as John-Boy, the eldest son and aspiring writer whose coming-of-age journey formed the emotional core of the series.
Ralph Waite and Michael Learned portrayed the patient and loving parents, John and Olivia Walton, while Will Geer and Ellen Corby brought warmth and wisdom as Grandpa Zeb and Grandma Esther. The couple’s other children – Jason, Mary Ellen, Ben, Erin, Jim-Bob, and Elizabeth – were played by Jon Walmsley, Judy Norton, Eric Scott, Mary McDonough, David W. Harper, and Kami Cotler respectively.
No television catchphrase is more synonymous with wholesome family entertainment than the nightly ritual that closed many episodes. As the lights went out at the Walton home, family members would call out to each other in the darkness: “Goodnight, John-Boy,” “Goodnight, Elizabeth,” “Goodnight, Daddy,” and so on – a simple yet touching reminder of the family’s bond.
The programme was a hit with viewers both past and present, with the show rating at No.2 in the prestigious Nielsen ratings at its peak. Since the show ended, the show has gained a cult following as many look back at the show with a sense of nostalgia and wholesomeness.
Several of the cast members have died over the decades since the show ended. However, some of the Walton children are still with us today.
Richard Thomas (John-Boy) and Michael Learned (Olivia) continue to act, while Judy Norton (Mary Ellen) has pursued both acting and singing. Other surviving cast members include Jon Walmsley, Eric Scott, Mary McDonough, David W. Harper, and Kami Cotler. Great TV can be found on Freeview Channel 34, as well as the Great Player.
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