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Points West through the ages | |
 | | Hugh Shiriff, resplendent in button hole and best BBC voice. |
| | From humble beginnings in the fifties, we take a look at how Points West has become one of the most popular regional TV shows. |
BBC Bristol
Radio Bristol
BBC Wiltshire
Radio Swindon
Radio Wiltshire
BBC Gloucestershire
Radio Gloucestershire
BBC Somerset
Somerset Sound
Have you ever wondered
what goes on behind the cameras? Find out in our tour of the newsroom and studios.
Eenjoy one of our live views across the West in our webcams section
| | It all began in 1957 with a young actress called Armine Sandford, probably TV's first woman news reader.
 | | The big cylindrical object in the bottom right is a microphone! |
Gradually it became less formal reflecting every aspect of regional life. A growing team of talented reporters was getting out into the field covering the latest news.
 | | Sheila Young and Andrew Harvey |
Many nationally-known faces began their careers here in the West. In the early eighties the real challenge was not to look too uncomfortable with the comfortable sofa look.
 | | Graham Purches and Sue Carpenter on the famous red sofa |
But whatever the style, playful Points West seemed larger than life.
 | | Chris and Susan on Points West in the early 1990s |
And this look made Points West seem more like the inside of Dr Who's Tardis.
 | | The "Tardis" set |
Today, new developments are introduced almost weekly. Pictures and sound can be sent back to the studio live and we edit reports digitally on computers.
 | | Imogen Sellers and Chris Vacher |
In the West newsroom we pioneered a new computer system for the entire BBC, we were the first to provide regional subtitling, the BBC Bristol website, and a local Ceefax text service.
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