History of the BBC
Explore the history of the BBC since its foundation in 1922 to the present day
Explore the BBC’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 BBC means to you.
Anniversaries
27 May 1996 was a major date for science fiction fans - the return of Doctor Who! Known as Doctor Who the Movie, the feature length film saw Paul McGann as the iconic time traveller. Read more about the Doctor's come back here.
Making drama popular
Fantasy, costume drama, science fiction, realist plays.. since the earliest days of BBC Television, drama has been central to the schedules says Jamie Medhurst, Professor of Media and Communication, Aberystwyth University.
Attenborough 100
Sir David Attenborough is 100, and, to mark the occasion, BBC History has opened up the BBC Archives to bring you some extraordinary insights into the life of the legendary natural history broadcaster.
The BBC and the General Strike
When the Trades Union Congress called for a General Strike in the UK 100 years ago, few thought of the BBC as a news organisation. David Hendy, Professor Emeritus, University of Sussex explores why that perception was about to change forever.
Faces of the BBC
Luther, the powerful drama from 2010 saw Idris Elba in the lead role fighting crime on the streets of London. This powerful image is part of our Faces of the BBC gallery.
Building of the Week - Tŷ Darlledu, Caerdydd (Broadcasting House, Cardiff)
The return of the regular Doctor Who series (2005) underpinned a complete re-development of BBC drama production at Roath Lock in Cardiff. However, an earlier BBC building in Cardiff had an equally fascinating history, read more about it here.
Share Your Memories
Do you have a favourite David Attenborough or Eurovision moment? Which shows have brought you joy? What would you like to see more or less of? Share your memories here.
BBC Directors-General
Matt Brittin is the new Director-General of the BBC. Our gallery explores the life and times of the leaders of the BBC.
Links
BBC Archive
Hand-picked and popular selections from the BBC archives.
BBC Archive - Youtube channel
Hop aboard an audiovisual time machine, that will transport you back to the golden age of TV.
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.
