Three Documents

Historian Robert Seatter selects three objects from the BBC’s archive store and tells the stories behind their creation

What do they tell us about the changing history of the organisation and the expansion of the media and the nation at large?

Robert’s choices are unexpected, revelatory and sometimes, with the cruel benefit of hindsight, funny.

In this opening episode, Robert reveals the contents of three key documents from the archive.

1) LORD REITH’S JOB APPLICATION:

John Reith, the BBC's founder, applied to become the first General Manager of the British Broadcasting Company (later Corporation) after seeing an advertisement for the role in The Morning Post newspaper.

There is no application form as such, simply a covering letter and CV, which is entitled 'Attachment'.

2) DESERT ISLAND DISCS

The series proposal letter written by Roy Plomley in his pyjamas apparently, on the evening of 3rd November 1941.

3) DAVID BOWIE

The legendary singer’s audition rejection letter. David Bowie and the Lower Third band came before the BBC selection panel in November 1965 and performed seven numbers, only two of which met any level of approval. The panel did not hold back.

He was "devoid of personality”, and “amateur sounding”. His sound was “not particularly exciting” and he would "not improve with practice”.

Robert explores themes of language and protocol of the early BBC, the formats that endure and the power of the industry gatekeepers of the time.

Robert is joined by Bowie biographer Kevin Cann.

Reader: Roger Ringrose.

Producer: Mohini Patel

Made to mark the BBC Centenary, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2022.