How the BBC Began

The often-hilarious stories of the BBC's first 50 years. The corporation's pioneers describe its evolution – which was often by accident rather than design.

Documentary

Seasons

1. Accident and Opportunity

Air Date: 2022-10-22

The eyewitnesses and participants in the BBC’s early history recount some of the triumphs and disasters as new frontiers of broadcasting were mapped out – often by accident rather than design.

2. Building the Audience

Air Date: 2022-10-29

BBC TV’s first female newsreader, Nan Winton, tells the story of how she was sacked, and staff from the BBC’s monitoring service explain the role they played in defusing the Cuban Missile Crisis.

3. Shooting the Rapids

Air Date: 2024-03-03

The story of how the BBC struggled to be impartial at critical moments in British history and how it handled social changes in Britain after the Second World War.

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