Married couple Cicely Mathews and Graeme Roberts took part in the British Broadcasting Corporation's Northern Ireland programs, primarily Children's Hour.

Cicely Mathews hosted and organized Children's Hour from November 1945 to 1964. The program encouraged the participation of children, which led to the production of I Want to be an Actor. Mathews auditioned children at schools before they came to the studio for a microphone test and potentially a broadcast. This play ran for 255 shows and included the participation of over 1,300 children who offered their talents as singers, musicians, and actors. In addition to I Want to be an Actor, Mathews utilized the magazine format of broadcasting that included music, stories, and talk. The programs Ulster Parade, Ulster Magazine, and Irish Stew followed the magazine format. Prior to her work with the BBC, Mathews was a teacher of speech and drama.

Graeme Roberts, Cicely's husband, authored and presented numerous plays and short stories for Children's Hour. Besides being a local actor, he also restarted a program entitled "Important to Us," which was a talk series on Irish affairs.

Children's Hour was cancelled in 1964 due to the increased popularity of television.

Sources:

Bardon, Jonathan. Beyond the Studio: A History of BBC Northern Ireland. Belfast, Ireland: The Blackstaff Press, 2000.

Cathcart, Rex. The Most Contrary Region: The BBC in Northern Ireland, 1924-1984. Belfast, Ireland: The Blackstaff Press, 1984.

Grevatt, Wallace. BBC Children's Hour: A Celebration of those Magical Years. Sussex, England: Book Guild, 1988.