Project Telstar Commemorative Handkerchiefs
Greg James launches himself into the BBC Archives. This week: Project Telstar, a bat called Balls and the birth of children's television.
Greg James is back for another trip deep into the BBC Archives, and into the past, as he uses current stories and overlooked anniversaries to guide him to audio gold.
Inspired by a class of students at a girls' school in Croydon, who recently built their own satellite to launch into space, Greg launches himself into the archives to find other satellite stuff. In 1962 the BBC nervously tracked Telstar, an early communications satellite, hoping to show the first ever live transatlantic TV image. Did they succeed?
75 years ago, the BBC launched its Children’s Television department, and kids’ TV was born. Cue endless agonising by senior managers, strange programme ideas and…dancing pigs.
And with Brits spending more on their pets’ birthdays than ever before, Greg searches for other devoted pet owners, meeting a parrot called Rochester and a bat called Balls.
Producer: Tim Bano
An EcoAudio Certified production
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- Sat 12 Jul 202510:30BBC Radio 4
- Mon 14 Jul 202516:30BBC Radio 4
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