BBC Written Archives Centre

Our documents have been selected for permanent preservation because of their value as evidence or as a source for historical or other research. The archive provides a rich resource for the history of broadcasting and the BBC, as well as 20th and 21st century social and political history, biography, music and the arts.

To get started, click the links below to find out more about what we hold and how to use the archive.

We have made some changes to our services.

We are moving to a new model where we will be releasing archive content in a programme of regular releases of material.

We are also looking at our vetting processes to see if it is possible to make more of the collection available for research.

External enquiries that meet the access criteria will have access to materials from the Written Archives collection which have previously been opened.

We will ensure that we update this site regularly with our progress.

If you require access to parts of the collections because you are working on a BBC commissioned project, please contact us and provide details of the commission and your BBC contact.

Unfortunately we are no longer able to answer any personal interest enquiries, supply copies of documents, or undertake any research on behalf of external users.

You can find out more information about the BBC on the BBC's About the BBC page.

You can find out more details about BBC programmes on The Programme Index

Update 24/12/2025

As part of our new access model, we are introducing a programme of regular releases to make more of the BBC’s written archive collections available for research.

Below are details of the documents scheduled for release from December 2025, including descriptions and the number of files newly vetted or opened:

Contributor Files

We are releasing correspondence and contractual papers relating to the engagement of speakers, performers, and other contributors to BBC radio and television programmes prior to 1963:

• Series RCONT1–RCONT11 (1922–1962)
  More details can be found here
  Number of files: approx. 42,000*
• Series TVART1 and TVART2 (1936–1962)
  More details can be found here.
  Number of files: approx. 9,000*

*RCONT2–11 and TVART2 series are uncatalogued and so the number of files for these series are an estimate.

Series fully open for research

Following an audit of parts of the Written Archives collection in 2024, four series previously partially open are now fully available for research:

• Empire Service (1927–1943)
  Empire Service files, including policy documents, Colonial Service Committee on Broadcasting, talks, meeting minutes, tours, and correspondence.
  Newly released files: 2 (Total: 83)
• British Broadcasting Company (1922–1929)
  British Broadcasting Company files concerning its formation and dissolution (1922–1926)
  Newly released files: 17 (Total: 115)
• Children’s Hour (1923–1968)
  Children’s Hour files, including programming material, ‘Children Calling Home’ broadcasts, annuals, conference minutes, diaries, and memos.
  Newly released files: 20 (Total: 181)
• Greek Service (1970–2006)
  BBC Greek Service files covering market research, audience reporting, scripts, Thessaloniki Trade Fair, and closure reactions.
  Newly released files: 3 (Total: 22)

Subject and Topic Based Releases

• Sir David Attenborough collection
  Special collection of Sir David Attenborough’s working papers, covering his BBC career as producer, writer, presenter, Controller of BBC Two, Director of Programmes (Television), and member of the Board of Management. Vetted ahead of Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday in May 2026.
  Number of files: 175

• A. A. Milne (1937–1992)
  Files concerning A. A. Milne and his major works, vetted ahead of the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh (October 2026) and the 70th anniversary of Milne’s death (January 2026).
  Number of files: 10
• Our Friends in the North (1996)
  Files on production, research, editing, finance, publicity, reviews, and audience reactions, vetted ahead of the series anniversary in early 2026.
  Number of files: 16

This website will be updated in due course with information on forthcoming document releases.