Main content

A House in Bayswater

First transmitted in 1960, this is an early film by Ken Russell about the tenants and housekeeper of a soon to be demolished house in London’s Bayswater.

First transmitted in 1960, this film was written and directed by Ken Russell for the BBC. It follows the bohemian lifestyles of the tenants of an old London house in Bayswater and its housekeeper, Mrs Collings. The blend of documentary style filming, colourful anecdotes and stylised sequences produces a highly evocative and entertaining film as well as an early example of Ken Russell’s distinctive approach to film making.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Tue 25 Jun 196822:25
BBC One

Clip

BBC Four London Collection

BBC Four London Collection
This programme is part of a collection of BBC programmes celebrating the people and places of London. Available online now. 

Go the BBC Four London Collection

More about this programme

Although not mentioned in the actual film, Ken Russell had previously lived in this house which was about to be demolished to make way for an office block. David Hurn, one of the tenants featured in the film, went on to become a distinguished documentary photographer and a member of Magnum.

About BBC Four Collection programmes

Programmes are selected, in part, for their historical context and reflect the broadcast standards and attitudes of their time, which may not accord to some current BBC editorial guidelines. We aim to select programmes which can be shown in their entirety but in some cases edits are required.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 26 Aug 196021:00
    BBC Television Service
  • Tue 25 Jun 196822:25
    BBC One

Featured in...