For most of the last 50 years of his life. John Reith, founder of the BBC, kept a diary. Selections from this diary, edited by Charles Stuart, have recently been published.
What would have been the effect on the BBC had Lord Reith continued to dominate it during and after the last war? Was Reith equal to the great offices of state to which he aspired?
These two questions are considered by Oliver Whitley, member of the BBC's Board of Management 1964-71.