The BBC broadcasting through the Iron Curtain
Witness History20 Joulu 2022

The BBC broadcasting through the Iron Curtain

It is the 90th anniversary of the BBC World Service. Broadcasting to countries behind the Iron Curtain without a free or independent media between 1947 and 1991 was arguably the service’s finest hour.

The corporation was on the front line of the information war as the BBC’s former Moscow correspondent Bridget Kendall recalls.

Programmes such as the German Service’s Letters Without Signatures created a sense of community among isolated East Germans who could not air their views publicly at home.

Meanwhile, Peter Udell, the former controller of European Services, had the challenge of trying to overcome the Soviet censors. Produced and presented by Josephine McDermott.

Archive recordings of former employees in the BBC Oral History Collection were used courtesy of Sussex University.

(Photo: A West Berlin policeman looks at an East German watchtower at night, 1961. Credit: Getty Images)

Jaksot(2000)

John Logie Baird invents television

John Logie Baird invents television

On 26 January 1926, John Logie Baird first demonstrated his 'televisor' in public. It was the prototype for television. Many people couldn't believe what they were seeing whilst others thought it was ...

26 Tammi 10min

Agatha Christie: best-selling novelist of all time

Agatha Christie: best-selling novelist of all time

On 12 January 1976, author Agatha Christie died peacefully, aged 85.She created the detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.By the time of her death, Christie had written more than 80 books. Most of...

23 Tammi 10min

The Challenger space shuttle tragedy

The Challenger space shuttle tragedy

On 28 January 1986, a space shuttle launch went wrong.Six astronauts and a teacher, Christa McAuliffe, were killed.In 1984, US President Ronald Reagan had announced that Nasa would search for a member...

22 Tammi 10min

Operation Mincemeat

Operation Mincemeat

In the early hours of 30 April, 1943, one of the most audacious hoaxes of World War Two has just got underway. Its code-name - Operation Mincemeat.The body of a British naval officer, Major William Ma...

21 Tammi 10min

The Irish priest who built an airport

The Irish priest who built an airport

In May 1986, a new airport opened in Knock in the west of Ireland. It was the dream of an Irish priest, Monsignor James Horan, who raised millions to have it built. The location for the airport seeme...

20 Tammi 9min

Exiled Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran

Exiled Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran

In February 1979, after the Shah left Iran, religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini flew back to Tehran from Paris.He had been in exile and was greeted by millions of people lining the streets. In 2011, M...

19 Tammi 10min

Afghan Star

Afghan Star

In 2005, a new show was launched on television in Afghanistan to find new musical talent – it was called Afghan Star and was inspired by formats like American Idol and the X-Factor. The programme came...

16 Tammi 10min

The deadly Vargas mudslides in Venezuela

The deadly Vargas mudslides in Venezuela

In December 1999, torrential rain in Venezuela led to floods and mudslides. Government estimates put the number killed at 3,000 but other reports suggest between 10,000 and 30,000 were killed. Many bo...

15 Tammi 10min

Suosittua kategoriassa Yhteiskunta

olipa-kerran-otsikko
siita-on-vaikea-puhua
kaksi-aitia
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
i-dont-like-mondays
poks
kolme-kaannekohtaa
antin-palautepalvelu
sita
yopuolen-tarinoita-2
aikalisa
mamma-mia
rss-murhan-anatomia
loukussa
rss-palmujen-varjoissa
meidan-pitais-puhua
terapeuttiville-qa
lahko
rss-nikotellen
rss-napy