Half the World Away was originally approached about using an Oasis song for a series about a working-class family in Manchester, he suggested "Married with Children" and was confused when "Half the World Away" was chosen. On tour in America when "The Royle Family" was first screened, he claims the penny did not drop until he returned to the United Kingdom to find the series a huge success and viewed it, feeling the song was perfect for the series. He now claims not to think of "Half the World Away" as an Oasis song, but rather as the theme tune to "The Royle Family".
Radio 4 UK Theme light music tradition. The album, provisionally titled "Early One Morning: British Light Music and Broadcasting Classics", was expected to include "Country Gardens" and "Lillibullero" (the BBC World Service theme), as well as the re-recorded "UK Theme" and "Sailing By". This appears not to have come to fruition. However, the theme is available in another recording on Naxos Records' "British Light Miniatures" performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Paul Murphy. Radio 4 UK Theme The BBC Radio 4 UK Theme is an orchestral arrangement of traditional British and Irish airs compiled by Fritz Spiegl and arranged by Manfred Arlan.