The BBC's first British television service launched 80 years ago today, on 2 November 1936. To mark the occasion our colleages at BBC History have launched a new website celebrating the landmark anniversary combining archive material from the early days of television.
The site is packed full of video and audio footage telling the story of television including its invention, the opening night at Alexandra Palace in 1936, TV closure during the war and its resurrection in 1946, as well as TV’s milestone moments such the Olympics and the Coronations of 1937 and 1953. We've selected some choice clips below to whet your appetite.
Alexandra Palace gets ready for Radiolympia TV Demonstrations – a movie reel film showing the BBC studios being built at Alexandra Palace, with two different studios (one using the Baird system and one using the EMI electrical system), and the first night of broadcast to the Radiolympia exhibition.
BBC TV reopens after war – a BBC Television movie reel film showing presenter Jasmine Bligh announcing the resumption of the TV service from Alexandra Palace on 7 June 1946.
Adele Dixon sings ‘Magic Rays of Light’, a specially composed song celebrating the new medium of television on the opening night of broadcast – 2 November 1936 – also featuring behind-the-scenes footage.
Petula Clark singing 'Miser Miser' from the Alexandra Palace studios in 1947.
First BBC TV producer Cecil Madden describes being told that he had four months to set up the new TV service before receiving a phone call a few hours later explaining plans had changed and the service had to be on air in just nine days.
Programme sample of Margot Fonteyn dancing for the camera, and then the whole of the Sadler's Wells company dancing ‘Façade’.
The BBC's first TV Producer Cecil Madden explains the difficulties of using the clunky Baird system of TV which took 90 seconds to get the picture onto screen. He describes how Baird gave a demonstration for members of the press who were enthusiastic about running round the equipment to see themselves on screen and how this led to problems.
- Discover more about The Birth Of TV on the BBC History website
- Read more about BBC TV's 80th Birthday Anniversary on on the Media Centre
