Gresham III 11 April 2012

1. Gresham III 11 April 2012 The BBC Protecting it from Government

2. The “Today” Programme • 7 million adults listen each weekday morning in the UK

3. The BBC • Lord Reith, first general manager of the BBC. “Educate, inform and entertain.”

4. A Little History • In 1901 the first transatlantic wireless messages were transmitted by Marconi

5. Radio early days • Broadcasting was controlled and centralised from the start

6. Radio History • In 1920 Dame Nellie Melba sang God Save the King and some arias to Europe

7. The Radio Times • In 1923 the Radio Times commenced weekly publication

8. Broadcasting House • The first Royal Charter for the BBC in 1927 • The flagship Broadcasting House in Portland Place, central London

9. The General Strike • The Press stopped but BBC News continued and became a public institution • Lord Reith announced the end of the strike on air

10. Television • Started 1936 • The word is half Latin and half Greek • The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 made TV desirable

11. King George V • The King made his first Christmas broadcast to the Empire in 1932

12. Abdication • King Edward VIII’s Abdication Speech in 1936 was broadcast • He could not rule without the support of the woman he loved

13. Director Generals • Greg Dyke • Mark Thompson

14. Chairmen • Gavyn Davies • Michael Grade • Michael Lyons • Chris Patten

15. David Kelly • Talks to Andrew Gilligan about the intelligence dossier

16. WMD • The UK Government issued a dossier on WMD which said that Saddam’s weapons could be ready within 45 minutes

17. The Hutton Inquiry • Alastair Campbell complained • Lord Hutton conducted an inquiry

18. The Quality of Intelligence • Lord Butler headed an inquiry into the quality of the intelligence on WMD

19. Chilcot Inquiry