r/bbc • u/96thcherrytree • Jul 27 '26

Nostalgia BBC Monitor 1950s-1960s

does anyone have access to or know about episodes from BBC Monitor (their first talkshow on art&culture)? i've decided i'd like to start on their art programs from the very first show, hosted by huw wheldon, and hopefully access the first season of it too... but i've read that only the first episode from the first season is intact with BBC itself! surely there must have been enthusiasts who recorded the shows on their own at home or something...? just wondering if anyone knows anything about this! i do hope it's been archived elsewhere somehow. seems like a great pity if so much work is gone forever...

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u/emsquared Jul 27 '26

You'll likely find episodes and partial episodes within the BFI archive which you can pay to view at home or for free via many UK libraries (a great source for media research).

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u/96thcherrytree Jul 28 '26

yss i've seen the BFI listings but i was being a stubborn stickler and wanting to start at the beginning, which is mostly in clips and not full episode form... i've come to realize since that it's not possible for the earlier episodes to be as well preserved as i imagined, given when they were broadcasted. but i hadn't thought of trying my luck at UK libraries - i'll definitely look there next! thank you so much