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How the BBC Began

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

The often-hilarious stories of the BBC's first 50 years.

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.

Series 1

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Joanna Scanlan

John Bridcut

Magnus Temple

The Garden Productions

How the BBC Began: Series 1: Building the Audience

Building the Audience

BBC Two - How the BBC Began, Series 1, Building the Audience

BBC TV’s first female newsreader, Nan Winton, tells the story of how she was sacked.

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.

BBC Television’s first female newsreader, Nan Winton, tells the story of how she was sacked because the editor preferred men to read the news. That editor, Michael Peacock, describes his shame at the whole episode.

Staff working in the BBC’s monitoring service near Reading explain the critical role they played in defusing the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, when the world was on the brink of nuclear war. And Tony Blackburn describes the alarm his new colleagues at Radio 1 felt when he said he worked without a script: it meant their morning delivery of coffee and doughnuts was under threat.

How the BBC Began: Series 1

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

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How the BBC Began

Series 1

Building the Audience

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