This document provides a timeline of key events in the history of the BBC including: the launch of BBC Radio in 1922; the first edition of Radio Times magazine in 1923; the establishment of the Radiophonic Workshop in 1958 which created sound effects for shows like Doctor Who; the opening of BBC Television Centre in 1960 as the world's first purpose built TV production center; the launch of the first full color TV service on BBC Two in 1967; the groundbreaking documentary The Family in 1974 which was one of the earliest examples of reality TV; the hugely popular nature series Life on Earth with David Attenborough in 1979; the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981 which had an estimated global audience of 750 million; the launch

1. BBC Timeline

2. • Where it all started - BBC Radio
• Following the closure of numerous amateur
stations, the BBC started its first daily radio
service in London � 2LO. After much
argument, news was supplied by an agency,
and music drama and 'talks' filled the
airwaves for only a few hours a day. It wasn't
long before radio could be heard across the
nation.

3. • September 1923The first edition of The
Radio Times
• The first edition of The Radio Times listed the
few programmes on offer, provided advice for
budding radio enthusiasts, and numerous
advertisements by the fledgling radio industry,
offering the latest in radio receiving
technology. It was to become one of the world
most popular listing magazines.

4. • April 1958The Radiophonic Workshop is
established
• Based in the legendary Room 13 of Maida
Vale studios and using an often bizarre mix of
objects, the Radiophonic Workshop created
uniquely memorable electronic sounds �
such as the Doctor Who theme music - and
became one of the most significant influences
on 20th century electronic music.

5. • June 1960Television Centre opens
• Designed by Graham Dawbarn, BBC
Television Centre was the world's first
purpose built television production centre
designed for a non-commercial broadcaster.
Copied in numerous countries, the building
has become an iconic image of broadcasting.
Countless shows have been made there,
including Fawlty Towers, Monty Python's
Flying Circus,and Strictly Come Dancing

6. • July 1967
• BBC TWO - the first full colour TV service
in Europe
• Although occasional programmes in colour
could be watched on BBC Two as early as
1966, a full colour service was not launched
until Wimbledon 1967 was televised. Colour
was extended to BBC ONE and ITV by 1969,
and by 1976, the colour network was
complete, when the Channel Islands joined
the system.

7. • April 1974
• The Family - the first documentary
• This ground-breaking programme captured
the tensions and humour of family life in the
working class Wilkins family. It raised
controversial issues about class, race and
manners in 70s England, and was the first
time cameras had simply filmed daily life
without direct interviews - the earliest
example of 'reality TV'.

8. • 1979
• Life On Earth the nation is hooked
• Although natural history programmes had
been seen on BBC TV before, it wasn’t until
David Attenborough started this epic series
that the genre really took off. Revealing life
around the globe through beautiful
photography and compelling and intimate
commentary, the series initially consisted of
13 episodes.

9. • July 1981The wedding of Prince Charles
and Lady Diana Spencer
• Charles and Diana's wedding had an
estimated global TV audience of 750 million,
making it the most popular programme ever
broadcast. It was full of iconic and memorable
moments, making its mark on a generation,
and was one of the BBC biggest outside
broadcasts of the decade.

10. • 1982The BBC Microcomputer is launched
• The BBC Micro inspired a generation of
children and youngsters to use computers, as
well as stimulating the new media and
computer games industry worldwide.
Government backing and its own dedicated
programme on BBC Two helped to make the
computer a success, rapidly taken up in
homes and schools.

11. • November 1997
• The BBC News 24 Channel
• The BBC first rolling TV news service was
launched as BBC News 24, and was the
second 24 hour news service in Britain,
breaking Sky monopoly. Now available
across a number of digital platforms the
channel continues to win awards for its hard
hitting stories and investigations.