How the BBC Began

1h 29min

Documentary

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.

Production Companies

The Garden Productions

Crux Productions

Episodes

Cast

Accident and Opportunity

1. Accident and Opportunity

1h 29min

22nd Oct 2022

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.

Building the Audience

2. Building the Audience

1h 29min

29th Oct 2022

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.

Shooting the Rapids

3. Shooting the Rapids

1h 27min

3rd Mar 2024

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.

First air date

22nd Oct 2022

Last air date

3rd Mar 2024

Status

Returning Series

Type

Miniseries

Original language

en

Networks