Behind the Scenes collection

Blue Peter's John Noakes demonstrates some mind-boggling visual effects in this clip from 1970

Go backstage with this fascinating collection of clips that explain and potentially ruin the magic of television.

See how outside broadcasts brought sporting events such as the Boat Race into people’s homes, find out how Doctor Who’s terrifying special effects were made, meet the creators of some of the BBC’s finest sitcoms, or check out the groovy futuristic sounds of the Radiophonic Workshop.

This collection shows both the evolution of broadcasting technology and the creativity that went into transforming these experiments into memorable telly moments.

1940s

Television is here again, 1946

This demonstration film shows post-war viewers what they can expect from the returning BBC TV service

BBC's new outside broadcast kit, 1949

"Rapid change from long shot to close-up is possible through the rotating lens turret"

The logistics of televising the Boat Race, 1949

Newsreel explored the many technical challenges of broadcasting the entire Boat Race to the nation

1950s

Newsreel's own Dubbing Theatre, 1950

Newsreel goes behind the scenes of... Newsreel.

Making the Radio Times Christmas edition, 1950

"Backstage with the periodical with the world's biggest sale"

New Children's Television studio, 1952

"This is your studio. It's the new studio at Lime Grove"

1960s

How TV programmes are made, 1961

Science and Life does its best to ruin the magic of television for everybody

Inside the BBC Record Library, 1963

500,000 LPs, 78s and wax cylinders, from the earliest sound recordings to the latest pop hits, are moving house

The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, 1965

Electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire demonstrates how she creates her innovative sounds

Behind the scenes at Blue Peter, 1968

Valerie, John and Peter reveal what goes on behind the television cameras and in the studio gallery

1970s

First experimental TV play recreated, 1970

The original crew show how they produced Pirandello's The Man with a Flower in his Mouth on 14 July 1930

Colour Separation Overlay, 1970

John Noakes has the (chroma) key to our hearts

The making of MoTD, 1974

In Vision shows what's required to bring Match Of The Day to TV screens

A day in the life of Nationwide, 1975

Let's go (behind the scenes of) Nationwide!

Filming the Cresta Run, 1975

"It didn't half give him neck ache, but it was worth it"

Dad's Army writers, 1975

"Tell me about Mrs Mainwaring - does she have a drink problem?"

Making Captain Pugwash, 1976

The brave buccaneer himself takes you behind the scenes

Dubbing The Water Margin, 1976

A Japanese epic, based on a Chinese classic, dubbed by an English writer who understands neither language

A Recipe for Porridge, 1977

John Noakes pays a visit to Slade Prison, better known as Ealing Studios

Making Doctor Who, 1977

"Every visual effect is an experiment"... A look behind the scenes of the UK's biggest sci-fi show

Early film technology, 1978

'You wonder how programmes ever got made at all'

On the set of Pennies From Heaven, 1978

Kieran Prendiville interviews Dennis Potter and Bob Hoskins

Porridge feature film, 1979

Little victories on the big screen

Lesley's Swap Shop, 1979

Lesley Judd takes to the Swap Shop phone lines

1980s

Television magic, 1980

"This must have taken you hours!" "Months, really"

Sci-fi modelling, 1980

Visual effects designer Mat Irvine explains his otherworldly miniature creations

The making of The Shining, 1980

Behind the scenes with Stanley Kubrick, Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall

Morph gets a Blue Peter badge, 1981

Everyone's favourite bit of clay receives his coveted badge from Sarah Greene

Zaphod Beeblebrox's head, 1981

"If we look inside his head - I'm sorry about this..."

Booting up Micro Live, 1983

"Things will break down"

Raymond Briggs - When The Wind Blows, 1983

The making of the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Raymond Briggs' apocalyptic graphic novel

Elizabeth Parker - BBC Radiophonic Workshop, 1984

The composer explains how she scored David Attenborough's The Living Planet

The Tripods, 1984

"I don't think I've ever seen anything quite so weird or scary on television before"

Behind the scenes at CBBC, 1988

How does Andy Crane compare to Phillip Schofield?

Spitting Image, 1988

"We made a lot of mistakes in the beginning because we thought we'd make them highly technical"

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