Explore more than 100 years of the BBC’s history – click on our interactive timeline or investigate a topical anniversary, unpack the story of fascinating objects from our varied collections, or go in-depth via one of our long-form articles.
And tell us your memories of what the BBC means to you.
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Anniversaries
That Was the Week That Was (TW3) - the satirical show that took aim at the British establishment in a way never seen before on the BBC, burst onto screens at the end of November 1962. Image: Score for the TW3 theme tune. ©Earle Music Ltd. -
25 years of Media Action
The BBC’s independent, international media development charity creates ground-breaking projects with vulnerable communities and is celebrating 25 years of worldwide action this month. -
Noel's House Party
Noel's House Party was launched with much fanfare on BBC One in November 1991. BBC reporter Richard Latto rummages through the archives of one of the most successful Saturday night shows of all time. -
Bumbling Monks and Hot Priests - 30 years of Vicar of Dibley
To celebrate thirty years of the Vicar of Dibley this month, we take you through the brief but hilarious history of TV’s most influential comedy priests. -
Objects of the BBC
Much of BBC entertainment television made before the Second World War looks and feels quite different to 2024, but artists such drag queen Douglas Byng were pushing the boundaries as early as 1936. Objects of the BBC has more. -
Faces of the BBC
Whilst That Was The Week That Was mixed comedy and satire in the 1960s, by the 70s television comedy had found a much gentler domestic setting in shows such as The Good Life - part of the Faces of the BBC collection. -
Voices of the BBC
From the BBC Oral History Collection here are some of the key personalities, producers, and innovators that tell the inside story of the BBC. -
Share your Memories
Tell us your recollections of past BBC programmes. How have these shows or series informed or entertained you or a relative over the years? -
BBC Exhibitions
Look out for events and exhibitions showcasing BBC entertainment, science, and war programming, international broadcasting, and vintage radio and TV equipment. Image: Image: ffotoNant. -
Plaques
The BBC Heritage Trail brings together newly commissioned blue plaques and existing plaque schemes to celebrate the buildings used for broadcasting over the decades. Also featured are plaques installed as part of David Olusoga’s landmark series Black and British - A Forgotten History, and the BBC Music Day plaques created for BBC Local Radio.
Links
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BBC Archive
Hand-picked and popular selections from the BBC archives. -
The Researchers
Features by academics from across the world looking at a wide range of BBC related subjects. -
BBC Programme Index
Explore the BBC’s historical listings information from 1922 to the present day. -
Connected Histories of the BBC
A University of Sussex-AHRC research project -
British Entertainment History Project
The UK's largest oral history collection of interviews with professionals from across the film, television, radio and theatre industries. -
BBC Memory Bank
Giving longstanding and retired staff the opportunity to write their part of the unofficial history of the BBC. -
BBC iPlayer from the Archive
The destination to discover the most distinctive content from the BBC's rich archive. -
Archive on Four
Brilliant stories told using archive from the BBC and beyond.