BBC Archive

Curated extracts from the BBC's huge content archive.

Gems from the Archive

1991: Helen Sharman becomes first Briton in space. Video, 00:00:46
Helen Sharman, the UK’s first astronaut, blasted into orbit on 18 May 1991.
Attribution
On This Day
Posted
18 May 1991
1971: A car with no driver. Video, 00:03:30
Attribution
On This Day
Posted
18 May 1971
Archive Quiz: Empty sitcom sets
Attribution
BBC
1965: Fyfe Robertson on miners' safety lamps. Video, 00:07:15
Attribution
On This Day
Posted
18 May 1965
1940: Churchill's First Broadcast as PM. Audio, 00:01:55
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
19 May 1940

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The Music Is Black

1971: Calypso comes to Carnaby Street. Video, 00:03:07
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
6 May 1971
1981: The carnival sound of steel pan drums. Video, 00:03:12
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
24 June 1981
1987: Scratch DJing with vinyl records. Video, 00:01:40
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
5 August 1987
1981: Eddy Grant on struggles as black musician. Video, 00:04:16
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
24 June 1981

Made of Birmingham

1950: The world's first gas turbine car. Video, 00:02:40
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
13 March 1950
1969: Birmingham nightclubs. Video, 00:03:08
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
1 October 1969
1995: The Great Brummie Balti. Video, 00:03:43
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
19 May 1995

BBC Archive from around the UK

Explore thousands of BBC archive films. This unique collection shows life and events across the UK since the 1940s.

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1980: A new salon for black hair. Video, 00:02:31
Attribution
BBC
Posted
4 days ago
1980: How to make a classic English cricket bat. Video, 00:06:01
Attribution
BBC
Posted
6 days ago
1991: Introducing The Red Barrows! Video, 00:03:10
Attribution
BBC
Posted
7 days ago
1974: The man who talks to his bees. Video, 00:03:36
Attribution
BBC
Posted
8 May
1986: Suckling Airways - putting Ipswich on the map. Video, 00:01:59
Attribution
BBC
Posted
7 May
1980: Sir David Attenborough answers children's questions. Video, 00:05:50
Attribution
BBC
Posted
6 May
1994: What is the future of football in America? Video, 00:06:07
Attribution
BBC
Posted
28 April
2001: Teenage Susie Wolff on her driving ambitions. Video, 00:02:02
Attribution
BBC
Posted
16 April
1971: Calypso comes to Carnaby Street. Video, 00:03:07
Attribution
BBC
Posted
15 April
1981: Blue Peter shows off the tech behind the first London Marathon. Video, 00:03:32
Attribution
BBC
Posted
14 April
1980: Which books do kids love reading most? Video, 00:03:18
Attribution
BBC
Posted
9 April
1995: The day when nearly every UK phone number changed. Video, 00:02:03
Attribution
BBC
Posted
8 April
1976: Operation Hot Cross Bun gets underway. Video, 00:02:32
Attribution
BBC
Posted
26 March
2006: Steve Wozniak on building the first Apple computer. Video, 00:07:23
Attribution
BBC
Posted
25 March
1993: Dame Jenni Murray discusses Woman's Hour. Video, 00:08:06
Attribution
BBC
Posted
20 March
1973: Shoppers rush to bag bargains before VAT is introduced. Video, 00:02:25
Attribution
BBC
Posted
19 March
1970: The village with one loo. Video, 00:03:56
Attribution
BBC
Posted
17 March
1984: All Aboard the Fashion Bus! Video, 00:04:24
Attribution
BBC
Posted
9 March
1970: The secrets of the romantic fiction writer. Video, 00:05:22
Attribution
BBC
Posted
6 March
2016: Cillian Murphy on the success of Peaky Blinders. Video, 00:01:26
Attribution
BBC
Posted
5 March
1982: Training for the women's Oxford v Cambridge boat race. Video, 00:07:46
Attribution
BBC
Posted
4 March
1973: The Office goes open plan. Video, 00:05:17
Attribution
BBC
Posted
3 March
1996: Eating a raw leek for St David's Day! Video, 00:03:02
Attribution
BBC
Posted
26 February
1985: How tasty are British Army ration packs? Video, 00:06:10
Attribution
BBC
Posted
10 February

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