BBC Archive

Curated extracts from the BBC's huge content archive.

Gems from the Archive

Brutal lessons of 1984 nuclear bomb drama Threads
Threads, the nuclear apocalypse docudrama, was first broadcast on 23 September 1984
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
9 October 2024
1974: How Enid Blyton began writing as a child. Audio, 00:03:09
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
23 September 1974
Archive Quiz: Quiz show quiz
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BBC
Ceefax and the birth of interactive TV
Attribution
BBC
Posted
20 September 2024
1959: The Ford Popular gets a makeover. Video, 00:00:45
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
23 September 1959

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The Music Is Black

1983: Musical Youth go back to school. Video, 00:01:44
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
22 March 1983
1971: Calypso comes to Carnaby Street. Video, 00:03:07
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BBC Archive
Posted
6 May 1971
1979: Poly Styrene – Punk Pioneer. Video, 00:02:27
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BBC Archive
Posted
22 January 1979

Made of Manchester

1986: Manchester's second-hand fashion mecca. Video, 00:02:11
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
17 November 1986
1973: Sir Matt Busby interviewed. Video, 00:07:38
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
3 November 1973
1983: New Order on writing music. Video, 00:02:46
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
10 October 1983

BBC Archive from around the UK

Explore thousands of BBC archive films. This unique collection shows life and events across the UK since the 1940s.

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1964: James Stagg - The Meteorologist Who Delayed D-Day. Video, 00:04:51
Attribution
BBC
Posted
10 September
1986: Manchester's second-hand fashion mecca. Video, 00:02:11
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BBC
Posted
4 September
1984: Aardman Animations on bringing real life to the screen. Video, 00:04:35
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BBC
Posted
4 September
1960: Britain's first traffic wardens begin patrolling London. Video, 00:02:04
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BBC
Posted
4 September
1973: Gloria Steinem on creating Ms. Magazine. Video, 00:02:58
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BBC
Posted
3 September
1980: A trip to Jodrell Bank. Video, 00:05:32
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BBC
Posted
3 September
1976: Bristol's Bayeux tapestry. Video, 00:04:17
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BBC
Posted
2 September
1978: Dolly Parton talks ambition and family. Video, 00:02:59
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BBC
Posted
26 August
1995: Behind the scenes at Casualty. Video, 00:04:07
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BBC
Posted
17 August
1994: The serious business of dressing like a comedian. Video, 00:04:22
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BBC
Posted
14 August
1975: Worcester's secret sauce. Video, 00:03:26
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BBC
Posted
5 August
1975: Weymouth's sand sculptures. Video, 00:04:34
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BBC
Posted
4 August
1978: Life in a Birmingham Prefab. Video, 00:04:13
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BBC
Posted
3 August
1976: Water rationing in Jersey. Video, 00:01:49
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BBC
Posted
31 July
1991: Manbags in Manchester. Video, 00:04:48
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BBC
Posted
30 July
1975: The world's first shop for left-handers. Video, 00:04:05
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BBC
Posted
29 July
1976: How to keep your plants alive in a heatwave. Video, 00:05:05
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BBC
Posted
28 July
1966: Bringing football home in 1966. Video, 00:06:26
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BBC
Posted
16 July
1990: The classic red phone box. Video, 00:03:12
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BBC
Posted
30 June
1985: Dame Penelope Keith on her much-loved television roles. Video, 00:04:39
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BBC
Posted
29 June
1981: Look inside pop-up book 'Haunted House' Video, 00:05:54
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BBC
Posted
29 June
1986: GCSEs – a new qualification for school students. Video, 00:03:45
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BBC
Posted
15 June
1976: David Hockney on his early life and influences. Video, 00:04:33
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BBC
Posted
12 June
1979: Poly Styrene – Punk Pioneer. Video, 00:02:27
Attribution
BBC
Posted
29 May

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