Rewinder

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BBC Radio 4 LW

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Greg James digs into the BBC's archives, using current stories as a portal to the past.

BBC Radio 4 FM

Rewinder: Endless Pips

Endless Pips

BBC Radio 4 - Rewinder, Endless Pips

Greg James loses himself in the BBC's enormous archives.

Greg James heads deep into the BBC archives to deliver a selection of prime audio, using stories of the week as his launch-pad, along with requests and challenges from listeners.

Greg James dives into the BBC Archive to track down audio gems, using listener requests, overlooked anniversaries and current stories as inspiration.

After the government announced that it will test its emergency alert system on mobile phones, Greg returns to the nervy days of the Cold War, uncovering the recordings to be played on the radio in case of nuclear attack. He also hears about less alarming emergencies, including the time that a steamy gym shower forced Terry Wogan off air. 

In the time before 24-hour broadcasting, the BBC filled dead hours with the famous test cards as well as Trade Test Colour Films, short documentaries on a variety of subjects, for the benefit of TV engineers and retailers. The BBC didn't want these filler films to actually be entertaining - after watching a few, Greg doesn't think they've got anything to be worried about. 

As we try to predict how AI will shape our future, Greg looks to the past and hears the sometimes strange, often amazingly prescient predictions of young people as they imagine tech in the year 2000.

Miss Havisham and Pip hit our TV screens once again so Greg revisits previous adaptations of Great Expectations, and uncovers a huge conspiracy: the BBC seems to adapt the Dickens novel every ten years, going right back to 1959!

And as Pink Floyd's seminal album Dark Side of the Moon turns 50, Greg goes loopy about the use of tape loops on the track Money. He explores other influential loops including the Are You Being Served theme - then he cranks up an old reel-to-reel tape machine, digs out some magnetic tape, and creates his own loop... and creates his own loop... and creates his own loop...

Series archivists: Michael Cosgrave and Colin Waddell
Producer: Tim Bano

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