The beginning of The Third Programme

Image: Members of the Old Vic Theatre Company appearing in the radio production of Richard II. L-R George Ralph (Duke of York); Alec Guinness (King Richard); Nicholas Hannen (Earl of Northumberland); Margaret Leighton (Queen); Ralph Richardson (John of Gaunt) and Harry Andrews (Henry Bolingbroke).

The Third Programme was launched on 29 September 1946 as part of the post war re-organisation of BBC radio. The Third Programme offered classical music, serious drama, literature and discussion. Introducing it in the Radio Times, BBC Director General Sir William Haley said:

Its whole content will be directed to an audience that is not of one class but that is perceptive and intelligent.

This content inspired Edward Sackville-West to declare the Third Programme to be "the greatest educative and civilising force England has known since the secularisation of the theatre in the sixteenth century."

Sir William Haley, Director-General of the BBC, on the night of the launch of the Third programme.

The opening evening featured Benjamin Britten’s Festival (Occasional) Overture - specially commissioned for the event – as part of a concert conducted by Sir Adrian Boult, and a talk from Field-Marshall Smuts on world affairs. With no news bulletins or fixed schedules, there was space for longer works. In the first week there were complete performances of Shaw’s Man and Superman and of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale.

In 1967 there was a re-organisation of BBC Radio and the Third programme became Radio 3. The station retains the ideals of the Third programme, while encompassing culture and including music from Composer of the Week to the Proms and Late Junction. It remains the best place to hear serious music, broadcast in its entirety, which cannot be found anywhere else on the airwaves.