History of the BBC Research Papers (original) (raw)

The publication of the sixth volume of the official history of the BBC, Pinkoes and Traitors: The BBC and the nation 1974‐1987 by Jean Seaton is reviewed. The book is found to contain numerous errors, mis‐statements of facts and... more

The publication of the sixth volume of the official history of the BBC, Pinkoes and Traitors: The BBC
and the nation 1974‐1987 by Jean Seaton is reviewed. The book is found to contain numerous
errors, mis‐statements of facts and significant omissions rendering the book an unreliable source
for those researching either the history of the BBC or the impact of the BBC on Britain’s political
and cultural life. Seaton’s major errors and omissions are catalogued as an aid to future researchers
and alternative, more reliable, secondary sources identified.
KEYWORDS
BBC, HISTORY, BROADCASTING, TELEVISION, RADIO, BBC LOCAL RADIO, BBC NATURAL HISTORY UNIT, BRITISH
HISTORY, ASA BRIGGS, JEAN SEATON, HUW WHELDON, ALASDAIR MILNE, PLAY FOR TODAY, THE HITCHHIKER’S
GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, GARDENER’S QUESTION TIME, THE MOUSETRAP, HOWARDS’ WAY, THE THORN BIRDS,
LIFE ON EARTH, NEWSNIGHT, PANORAMA, I, CLAUDIUS, BOYS FROM THE BLACKSTUFF, EDGE OF DARKNESS, BLUE
PETER, BAGPUSS, THE WOMBLES, NATIONWIDE, GRANDSTAND, POT BLACK, THE GENERATION GAME, MATCH OF
THE DAY, BLACK AND WHITE MINSTREL SHOW, EASTENDERS, STARSKY AND HUTCH, MARK TULLY, GRAHAME C
GREENE, CHRISTOPHER ANDREW, TIMOTHY GARTON ASH, TOM BOWER, PAT LOUGHREY, DAVID MCKITTRICK,
BRYCE MCCRIRICK, KELVIN MACKENZIE, GILES OAKLEY, NAOMI SARGANT, RONNIE STONHAM, DAVID
ATTENBOROUGH, DERYCK COOKE, DERRICK AMOORE, SALLY DOGANIS, TIM EGGAR, AUSTEN KARK, SARA
NATHAN, STEWART PURVIS, STEWART PARKER, PHILLIP WHITEHEAD, TONY SMITH, ALASDAIR MILNE, AUBREY
SINGER, ANNA HOME, HUMPHREY BURTON MARK DAMAZER, FRANCESCA KIRBY‐GREEN, DONALD GRATTAN,
ALAN YENTOB, BROADCASTING STANDARDS COUNCIL