Facts in bold.
The BBC was established in 1906, ten years before the invention of broadcasting. But then, disaster struck, with the invention of the radio. The Director-General immediately resigned in disgrace, and was replaced by John Reith, who hated the wireless and thought he was applying for a place on a committee to suppress it. He launched the BBC World Service with a speech telling listeners, ‘The programmes will neither be very interesting, nor very good.’ Reith would not allow unmarried women to present shows, and was wary of allowing them to appear at all. When a young David Attenborough filmed a native fertility dance in Papua New Guinea, he had to fashion makeshift wedding rings out of reeds to ensure the footage would be broadcast.
Television was shut down completely between six and seven to make sure parents put their children to bed, and at other times placards regularly appeared between programmes bearing messages such as ‘Excessive television is injurious to the eyes,’ ‘Shouldn’t you rather be gardening?’ and ‘Ladies, the BBC trusts your continued viewing of this broadcast signifies you have already completed your household chores.’
But when Lord Reith left to become a motivational speaker, the BBC instantly transformed into the sordid mire of scandal and corruption it is today. In 1966 an episode of the puppet pig show Pinky and Perky was banned for being too political. Comedians were expressly forbidden from making jokes about stammering, cucumbers, or Sir Stafford Cripps.
British farmers used The Archers to learn the latest innovations in regional accents, British submarine commanders used the Today programme to decide whether or not to launch their nuclear weapons at anyone, and just last year the nation was rocked by revelations that Blue Peter isn’t even filmed on board ship.
The Unbelievable Truth about the BBC, by John Finnemore
“If You Want To Go Faster”
After people reblogged my last graphic I thought I’d take another crack.
Karl of ATC had several fantastic lines in Vaduz, and this was one of the best.
“Save You From Dragons”
Several hours later and I’ve finished my iphone case design!
I absolutely loved the latest Cabin Pressure episode, Valduz, that I couldn’t resist putting this quotation on my new case. I had a lot of fun designing this, hope you like it!(x)
