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History of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ

Explore the history of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ since its foundation in 1922 to the present day

Explore the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ’s rich history - uncover the stories behind topical anniversaries, delve into fascinating objects from our diverse collections, or take a deeper look through one of our long‑form articles.

And tell us your memories of what the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ means to you.

  • Getting the UK talking for two decades, The One Show has reached a milestone! Throughout August, Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ History celebrates 20 years of the iconic show through a rich archive of remarkable images, and memorable moments.
  • Anniversaries

    "A frank account of life on the ocean waves in one of her majesty’s ships" was the Radio Times billing for Sailor first seen in August 1976. Read more about this and other Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ anniversaries here.
  • The Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ at Maida Vale has seen a vast array of performers, a diverse range of musical genres and countless creative individuals pass through its doors since 1934. Join us on a celebratory journey through broadcasting history.
  • Throughout the Women's T20 World Cup 2026, we reflect on how women’s sport has been depicted in Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ content since the 1920s. Explore some extraordinary archive documents, images and rarely-seen footage here.
  • The Return of Television

    The Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Television Service, Europe's first post-war television channel was launched in the summer of 1946. 80 years on, media historian Paul Hayes marvels at the speed at which the service was restarted, after years laying dormant during the Second World War. Image: Jasmine Bligh, the first presenter to be seen on Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Television, 1946.
  • Our Friends in the North Remembered

    Our Friends in the North is back on Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ iPlayer. This is our exploration of the impact and legacy of the iconic drama and what it had to say about the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ 30 years ago.
  • Sir David Attenborough is 100 and to mark the occasion, Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ History has opened up the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Archives to bring you some extraordinary insights into the life of the legendary natural history broadcaster.
  • Matt Brittin is the new Director-General of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ. Our gallery explores the life and times of the leaders of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ.
  • Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Archive

    Hand-picked and popular selections from the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ archives.
  • Hop aboard an audiovisual time machine, that will transport you back to the golden age of TV.
  • Explore the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµâ€™s historical listings information from 1922 to the present day.
  • A University of Sussex-AHRC research project
  • The UK's largest oral history collection of interviews with professionals from across the film, television, radio and theatre industries.
  • Giving longstanding and retired staff the opportunity to write their part of the unofficial history of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ.
  • Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ iPlayer from the Archive

    The destination to discover the most distinctive content from the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ's rich archive.
  • Archive on Four

    Brilliant stories told using archive from the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ and beyond.

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