The BBC — Auntie Goes To War
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Auntie Goes to War
At the start of The Second World War, the National and Regional Programmes merge to become the Home Service. The BBC is expanding rapidly. By 1941, there are over 10,000 staff, compared with a mere 465 in 1924.
The Home Service remains in Broadcasting House throughout the war, despite being bombed heavily.
On 15 October 1940, the BBC is bombed during a news bulletin. Thousands of records are destroyed and studios are badly damaged. But the unflappable Bruce Belfrage continues to read the news as if nothing has happened.
During the war, the Home Service becomes the country’s primary source of reliable information and broadcasts some historic speeches:
Declaration of War by King George VI and Neville Chamberlain - 3 September 1939.
Churchill’s first wartime broadcast - 1 October 1939.
Churchill’s “This was their finest hour” speech - 18 June 1940.
Most wartime programmes are live and many momentous broadcasts are not recorded. Churchill has to re-record his speeches at a later date.
To be continued.....
Radio Times covers from the period
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| Summer number 1939 | Outbreak of war 1939 | |
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| The Forces Programme 1940 | ||
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| Flanagan and Allen 1944 | VE Day 1945 | |
My thanks to Robert Williams for allowing me to use his scans. Copyright on the Radio Times cover designs belongs to Radio Times and that the copyright on the cover illustrations belongs to the individual artists and photographers. |
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Copyright © 1995-2008 Andy Forbes [except where stated] All rights reserved. www.64-baker-street.org
