BBC-3 (partially found BBC One satire show; 1965-1966): Difference between revisions
(Ever since writing about Brendan Behan's infamous 1956 Panorama interview, I knew I had to cover this one day. And boy, was it worth it! The outrage over the single casual usage of a certain four-letter expletive by Kenneth Tynan is mind-boggling, especially since it aired on a late-night show! This incident is the show's most famous moment, as its satire format was becoming stale when compared to cutting-edge programming like Not Only... But Also.) |
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Conceptualised by Ned Sherrin, the show originally was to be called ''It's All Been Done Before'', reflecting that it was the third weekend satire series written by and starring individuals featuring in ''Not So Much A Programme... More A Way Of Life'', which in itself was a successor of the more successful 1962-1964 program ''That Was The Week That Was''.<ref name="bbc">[https:// | Conceptualised by Ned Sherrin, the show originally was to be called ''It's All Been Done Before'', reflecting that it was the third weekend satire series written by and starring individuals featuring in ''Not So Much A Programme... More A Way Of Life'', which in itself was a successor of the more successful 1962-1964 program ''That Was The Week That Was''.<ref name="bbc">[https://bbc.co.uk/comedy/bbc3/ ''BBC'' documenting the show and its stale nature.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref name="nostalgia">[https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/bbc3/ ''Nostalgia Central'' detailing the show, its claim to fame, and how it never really replicated the success of its predecessors.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref>[https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/much-programme-way-life/ ''Nostalgia Central'' summarising ''Not So Much A Programme... More A Way Of Life''.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref>[https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/that-was-the-week-that-was/ ''Nostalgia Central'' summarising ''That Was The Week That Was''.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref> Instead, the show utilised ''BBC-3'' to reflect the creation of BBC 2 in 1964 (a channel titled BBC Three would not exist until 2003).<ref>[https://bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/april/first-night-of-bbc-two/ ''BBC'' summarising the launch of BBC 2 on 20th April 1964, which inspired ''BBC-3'''s name.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref>[https://bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/february/bbc-three/ ''BBC'' summarising the launch of an actual BBC Three channel on 9th February 2003.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref> ''Radio Times'' would humorously state that the show had "No connection with any other enterprise trading under a similar name".<ref name="radiofirst">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/1965-10-02#at-22.25 Issue 2,186 of ''Radio Times'' summarising the first episode of ''BBC-3''.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref> | ||
Featuring Robert Robinson, Lynda Baron and John Bird as presenters, ''BBC-3'' followed a similar format to ''Not So Much A Programme'', consisting of sketches, news-related satire, songs, stand-up comedy, and chat segments.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nostalgia"/> For example, one sketch saw performer Bird impersonate then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson.<ref name="bbc"/> Airing on late-night timeslots, the show featured a rotating cast of performers, including Bill Oddie, who would later star in ''The Goodies''.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nostalgia"/> The first episode aired on 2nd October 1965.<ref name="comedy">[https:// | Featuring Robert Robinson, Lynda Baron and John Bird as presenters, ''BBC-3'' followed a similar format to ''Not So Much A Programme'', consisting of sketches, news-related satire, songs, stand-up comedy, and chat segments.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nostalgia"/> For example, one sketch saw performer Bird impersonate then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson.<ref name="bbc"/> Airing on late-night timeslots, the show featured a rotating cast of performers, including Bill Oddie, who would later star in ''The Goodies''.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nostalgia"/> The first episode aired on 2nd October 1965.<ref name="comedy">[https://comedy.co.uk/tv/bbc_3/ ''British Comedy Guide'' summarising the show.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref name="radiofirst"/> Despite featuring a strong cast of performers, and a writing team boasting the likes of David Frost and Alan Bennett, the show struggled to attract a significant audience.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nostalgia"/> Not helping the show was its lack of an original format, with the show cited as a sign the satire genre, popularised in the early-1960s, was in dire need of revitalisation.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nostalgia"/><ref name="comedy"/> This came with the introduction of shows like ''[[Not Only... But Also (partially found BBC sketch comedy show; 1965-1966; 1970)|Not Only... But Also]]'', whose refreshing approach to satire further drove viewers away from ''BBC-3''.<ref name="bbc"/> Ultimately, following its final airing on 16th April 1966, the decision was made to drop the programme after a single series consisting of 24 episodes.<ref>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/1966-04-16#at-22.40 Issue 2,214 of ''Radio Times'' summarising the final episode of ''BBC-3''.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref name="bbc"/><ref name="comedy"/> | ||
==Kenneth Tynan Interview== | ==Kenneth Tynan Interview== | ||
On the 13th November 1965 edition, Robinson was set to interview Kenneth Tynan as part of a live debate.<ref name="armchair">[https:// | On the 13th November 1965 edition, Robinson was set to interview Kenneth Tynan as part of a live debate.<ref name="armchair">[https://google.co.uk/books/edition/Armchair_Nation/sfZEAAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA6&printsec=frontcover ''Armchair Nation'' providing extensive detail of the incident and its aftermath, and summarising earlier utterances of the word "fuck" on British television.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref name="fix">[http://web.archive.org/web/20201101081642/https://www.thedigitalfix.com/television/feature/this-article-contains-strong-language-a-look-back-at-the-history-of-swearing-on-british-tv/ Archived ''The Digital Fix'' documenting various early instances of "fuck" being uttered on British television and noting none survive today.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref name="nostalgia"/> Tynan was a prominent theatre critic and writer, who in 1963 became the literary manager for the National Theatre.<ref name="nyt">[https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/98/05/10/specials/tynan-gadfly.html ''The New York Times'' biography on Tynan and the impact of the ''BBC-3'' controversy.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref name="armchair"/> He campaigned greatly for the freedom of expression and speech within this performing art, seeing censorship of it imposed by the 1843 Theatres Act as damaging its future within the United Kingdom.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="armchair"/><ref name="nostalgia"/> He additionally demanded freedom of sexuality among consenting adults, declaring that sexual matters should be morally objective.<ref name="nyt"/> He went as far as suggesting that a nation which imposes sexual censorship will in time also heavily restrict the political sphere.<ref name="nyt"/> Despite living with a stammer that was subsequently mocked by publications like ''Private Eye'', Tynan remained vocal regarding his then-controversial opinions.<ref name="armchair"/> Tynan's appearance in the show is notably not listed on the episode summary by Issue 2,192 of ''Radio Times''.<ref>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/1965-11-13#at-22.25 Issue 2,192 of ''Radio Times'' summarising the episode Tynan featured in, strangely not including him on the list of contributors.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref> | ||
During the interview, Robinson challenged Tynan on his views regarding censorship.<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/><ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nostalgia"/><ref name="nyt"/> One question involved whether Tynan would create a play featuring sexual intercourse, then a taboo subject matter in British culture.<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="nostalgia"/> Tynan responded with the following: "Oh, I think so certainly. I mean I doubt if there are very many rational people in this world to whom the word 'fuck' is particularly diabolical or revolting or totally forbidden."<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/><ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="nostalgia"/> While the usage of the expletive stunned the audience present at the ''BBC-3'' studio, it was seemingly not shocking enough to warrant the debate's premature end.<ref name="armchair"/> | During the interview, Robinson challenged Tynan on his views regarding censorship.<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/><ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nostalgia"/><ref name="nyt"/> One question involved whether Tynan would create a play featuring sexual intercourse, then a taboo subject matter in British culture.<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="nostalgia"/> Tynan responded with the following: "Oh, I think so certainly. I mean I doubt if there are very many rational people in this world to whom the word 'fuck' is particularly diabolical or revolting or totally forbidden."<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/><ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="nostalgia"/> While the usage of the expletive stunned the audience present at the ''BBC-3'' studio, it was seemingly not shocking enough to warrant the debate's premature end.<ref name="armchair"/> | ||
The utterance of the word "fuck" outraged numerous media publications and politicians, who indeed found it diabolical, revolting and totally forbidden.<ref name="guardian">[https:// | The utterance of the word "fuck" outraged numerous media publications and politicians, who indeed found it diabolical, revolting and totally forbidden.<ref name="guardian">[https://theguardian.com/media/2004/feb/05/broadcasting.britishidentityandsociety ''The Guardian'' summarising the negative reactions over Tynan's interview.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/><ref name="bbc"/> ''The Daily Express''' William Barkley lambasted the incident as "the bloodiest outrage I have ever known", claiming it was the first utterance from "an adult male in the presence of women."<ref name="armchair"/> Another vocal critic was Mary Whitehouse, who had founded the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, a pressure group campaigning against the growth of what it deemed to be tasteless media content, especially on BBC television.<ref>[https://historyhit.com/facts-about-mary-whitehouse/ ''History Hit'' summarising the life and career of Whitehouse.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref><ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/><ref name="guardian"/> Whitehouse was especially angered by Tynan's interview, claiming in a letter to the Queen that he "ought to have his bottom smacked" for the incident.<ref name="guardian"/><ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/> Tynan received numerous hate mail in the following weeks, at least one of which threatened physical harm against him.<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/> The subsequent controversy forced the BBC to apologise, emphasising that offensive language could very well be uttered during an intense live television debate.<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="guardian"/> It was reported that 133 Labour and Conservative MPs had supported four House of Commons motions condemning the incident, with then-Director General of the BBC, Sir Hugh Carleton Greene, also urged to resign.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="guardian"/> | ||
It should be noted Tynan also had his supporters, some praising his "four-letter courage".<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/> Particularly, the Cosmo Group was soon established, combatting the censorship campaigns led primarily by Whitehouse.<ref name="armchair"/> It would soon grow to around 500 members, even including clergymen, councillors, and RAF personnel.<ref name="armchair"/> Tynan would later give evidence contributing to the repelling of theatre censorship in 1968, as part of the Joint Committee on Theatre Censorship held from 1966 to 1967.<ref>[https:// | It should be noted Tynan also had his supporters, some praising his "four-letter courage".<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/> Particularly, the Cosmo Group was soon established, combatting the censorship campaigns led primarily by Whitehouse.<ref name="armchair"/> It would soon grow to around 500 members, even including clergymen, councillors, and RAF personnel.<ref name="armchair"/> Tynan would later give evidence contributing to the repelling of theatre censorship in 1968, as part of the Joint Committee on Theatre Censorship held from 1966 to 1967.<ref>[https://parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/relationships/collections1/parliament-and-the-1960s/joint-committee-theatre-censorship/ Summary of the Joint Committee on Theatre Censorship, which contributed to theatre censorship being repelled in 1968.] Retrieved 21st May '23</ref> ''BBC-3'' itself received an influx of new viewers following the incident, though this would not be enough to warrant a second series.<ref name="bbc"/> By January 1966, outrage had considerably died down, with the incident cited as an example of Tynan stirring strong reactions.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="armchair"/> | ||
Some sources claim this was the first instance of the word "fuck" being uttered on British television.<ref name="fix"/><ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nostalgia"/><ref name="guardian"/><ref name="comedy"/> In actuality, three earlier incidents were documented by ''Armchair Nation''; this included the 1956 ''Panorama'' interview [[Brendan Behan's 1956 Panorama interview (lost interview footage of Irish playwright; 1956)|featuring an inebriated Brendan Behan]]; a 1959 interview on ''Roundabout'' where a rail painter responded "of course it's fucking boring" when asked if his work was dull; and Miriam Margolyes admitted she swore during a 1963 episode of ''[[University Challenge (partially lost episodes of British quiz show; 1962-1987)|University Challenge]]''.<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/> Tynan's utterance was, however, the first to garner significant controversy.<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/><ref name="bbc"/> | Some sources claim this was the first instance of the word "fuck" being uttered on British television.<ref name="fix"/><ref name="bbc"/><ref name="nostalgia"/><ref name="guardian"/><ref name="comedy"/> In actuality, three earlier incidents were documented by ''Armchair Nation''; this included the 1956 ''Panorama'' interview [[Brendan Behan's 1956 Panorama interview (lost interview footage of Irish playwright; 1956)|featuring an inebriated Brendan Behan]]; a 1959 interview on ''Roundabout'' where a rail painter responded "of course it's fucking boring" when asked if his work was dull; and Miriam Margolyes admitted she swore during a 1963 episode of ''[[University Challenge (partially lost episodes of British quiz show; 1962-1987)|University Challenge]]''.<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/> Tynan's utterance was, however, the first to garner significant controversy.<ref name="armchair"/><ref name="fix"/><ref name="bbc"/> | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*[https:// | *[https://imdb.com/title/tt0179006/ IMDB page for ''BBC-3''.] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 18:28, 21 May 2023
BBC-3 logo.
Status: Partially Found
BBC-3 (also titled simply BBC3) was a BBC One satire and chat show broadcast from 1965 to 1966. Hosted by Robert Robinson, Lynda Baron and John Bird, it ran for 24 episodes and was a short-lived successor of the programme Not So Much A Programme... More A Way Of Life. The show is perhaps most famous for Kenneth Tynan's utterance of the word "fuck" during a live debate on the 13th November 1965 episode, triggering numerous complaints. However, this episode among many others are believed to no longer exist within any known archives.
Background
Conceptualised by Ned Sherrin, the show originally was to be called It's All Been Done Before, reflecting that it was the third weekend satire series written by and starring individuals featuring in Not So Much A Programme... More A Way Of Life, which in itself was a successor of the more successful 1962-1964 program That Was The Week That Was.[1][2][3][4] Instead, the show utilised BBC-3 to reflect the creation of BBC 2 in 1964 (a channel titled BBC Three would not exist until 2003).[5][6] Radio Times would humorously state that the show had "No connection with any other enterprise trading under a similar name".[7]
Featuring Robert Robinson, Lynda Baron and John Bird as presenters, BBC-3 followed a similar format to Not So Much A Programme, consisting of sketches, news-related satire, songs, stand-up comedy, and chat segments.[1][2] For example, one sketch saw performer Bird impersonate then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson.[1] Airing on late-night timeslots, the show featured a rotating cast of performers, including Bill Oddie, who would later star in The Goodies.[1][2] The first episode aired on 2nd October 1965.[8][7] Despite featuring a strong cast of performers, and a writing team boasting the likes of David Frost and Alan Bennett, the show struggled to attract a significant audience.[1][2] Not helping the show was its lack of an original format, with the show cited as a sign the satire genre, popularised in the early-1960s, was in dire need of revitalisation.[1][2][8] This came with the introduction of shows like Not Only... But Also, whose refreshing approach to satire further drove viewers away from BBC-3.[1] Ultimately, following its final airing on 16th April 1966, the decision was made to drop the programme after a single series consisting of 24 episodes.[9][1][8]
Kenneth Tynan Interview
On the 13th November 1965 edition, Robinson was set to interview Kenneth Tynan as part of a live debate.[10][11][2] Tynan was a prominent theatre critic and writer, who in 1963 became the literary manager for the National Theatre.[12][10] He campaigned greatly for the freedom of expression and speech within this performing art, seeing censorship of it imposed by the 1843 Theatres Act as damaging its future within the United Kingdom.[12][10][2] He additionally demanded freedom of sexuality among consenting adults, declaring that sexual matters should be morally objective.[12] He went as far as suggesting that a nation which imposes sexual censorship will in time also heavily restrict the political sphere.[12] Despite living with a stammer that was subsequently mocked by publications like Private Eye, Tynan remained vocal regarding his then-controversial opinions.[10] Tynan's appearance in the show is notably not listed on the episode summary by Issue 2,192 of Radio Times.[13]
During the interview, Robinson challenged Tynan on his views regarding censorship.[10][11][1][2][12] One question involved whether Tynan would create a play featuring sexual intercourse, then a taboo subject matter in British culture.[10][11][12][2] Tynan responded with the following: "Oh, I think so certainly. I mean I doubt if there are very many rational people in this world to whom the word 'fuck' is particularly diabolical or revolting or totally forbidden."[10][11][1][12][2] While the usage of the expletive stunned the audience present at the BBC-3 studio, it was seemingly not shocking enough to warrant the debate's premature end.[10]
The utterance of the word "fuck" outraged numerous media publications and politicians, who indeed found it diabolical, revolting and totally forbidden.[14][10][11][1] The Daily Express' William Barkley lambasted the incident as "the bloodiest outrage I have ever known", claiming it was the first utterance from "an adult male in the presence of women."[10] Another vocal critic was Mary Whitehouse, who had founded the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, a pressure group campaigning against the growth of what it deemed to be tasteless media content, especially on BBC television.[15][10][11][14] Whitehouse was especially angered by Tynan's interview, claiming in a letter to the Queen that he "ought to have his bottom smacked" for the incident.[14][10][11] Tynan received numerous hate mail in the following weeks, at least one of which threatened physical harm against him.[10][11] The subsequent controversy forced the BBC to apologise, emphasising that offensive language could very well be uttered during an intense live television debate.[10][14] It was reported that 133 Labour and Conservative MPs had supported four House of Commons motions condemning the incident, with then-Director General of the BBC, Sir Hugh Carleton Greene, also urged to resign.[12][14]
It should be noted Tynan also had his supporters, some praising his "four-letter courage".[10][11] Particularly, the Cosmo Group was soon established, combatting the censorship campaigns led primarily by Whitehouse.[10] It would soon grow to around 500 members, even including clergymen, councillors, and RAF personnel.[10] Tynan would later give evidence contributing to the repelling of theatre censorship in 1968, as part of the Joint Committee on Theatre Censorship held from 1966 to 1967.[16] BBC-3 itself received an influx of new viewers following the incident, though this would not be enough to warrant a second series.[1] By January 1966, outrage had considerably died down, with the incident cited as an example of Tynan stirring strong reactions.[12][10]
Some sources claim this was the first instance of the word "fuck" being uttered on British television.[11][1][2][14][8] In actuality, three earlier incidents were documented by Armchair Nation; this included the 1956 Panorama interview featuring an inebriated Brendan Behan; a 1959 interview on Roundabout where a rail painter responded "of course it's fucking boring" when asked if his work was dull; and Miriam Margolyes admitted she swore during a 1963 episode of University Challenge.[10][11] Tynan's utterance was, however, the first to garner significant controversy.[10][11][1]
Availability
BBC-3, along with rival show Not Only... But Also, was no exception to the BBC's tape-wiping practices, which saw recordings be erased so that the the-expensive master video tapes could be reused and thus provide the BBC significant cost savings.[17] The episode featuring the Tynan interview was among those wiped, with the other earliest instances of "fuck" being uttered on British television also declared missing.[11] A few segments, including a parody titled "The Power Game", have survived and can be viewed on YouTube.
Gallery
Videos
External Links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 BBC documenting the show and its stale nature. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Nostalgia Central detailing the show, its claim to fame, and how it never really replicated the success of its predecessors. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ Nostalgia Central summarising Not So Much A Programme... More A Way Of Life. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ Nostalgia Central summarising That Was The Week That Was. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ BBC summarising the launch of BBC 2 on 20th April 1964, which inspired BBC-3's name. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ BBC summarising the launch of an actual BBC Three channel on 9th February 2003. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Issue 2,186 of Radio Times summarising the first episode of BBC-3. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 British Comedy Guide summarising the show. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ Issue 2,214 of Radio Times summarising the final episode of BBC-3. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 Armchair Nation providing extensive detail of the incident and its aftermath, and summarising earlier utterances of the word "fuck" on British television. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 Archived The Digital Fix documenting various early instances of "fuck" being uttered on British television and noting none survive today. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 The New York Times biography on Tynan and the impact of the BBC-3 controversy. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ Issue 2,192 of Radio Times summarising the episode Tynan featured in, strangely not including him on the list of contributors. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 The Guardian summarising the negative reactions over Tynan's interview. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ History Hit summarising the life and career of Whitehouse. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ Summary of the Joint Committee on Theatre Censorship, which contributed to theatre censorship being repelled in 1968. Retrieved 21st May '23
- ↑ The Sundae detailing the BBC's tape wiping practices. Retrieved 21st May '23