About this season
Omnibus was an arts-based BBC television documentary series, broadcast mainly on BBC1 in the United Kingdom. The programme was the successor to the long-running arts-based series 'Monitor'. It ran from 1967 until 2003, usually being transmitted on Sunday evenings. During its 35-year history, the programme won 12 Bafta awards. Among the series' best remembered documentaries are Cracked Actor, a profile of David Bowie, and Rene Magritte, a graduate film by David Wheatley, 'Madonna: Behind the American dream', a film produced by Nadia Hagger, and a profile of the British film director Ridley Scott. For a season in 1982, the series was in a magazine format presented by Barry Norman. The series was replaced by 'Imagine' hosted by Alan Yentob.
Episodes (31)
1. Omnibus at the Proms
Aired 23 August 1970
2. Ustinov's Expo
Aired 13 September 1970
3. Heart of Britain
Aired 20 September 1970
An examination of the life and work of Humphrey Jennings, scholar, writer painter but, above all, filmmaker.
4. Art Therapy-Shapes in the Wilderness
Aired 27 September 1970
5. Everything in the Garden 1
Aired 11 October 1970
The first part of this special documentary film traces the tempestuous history of the Royal Opera House from the time the first building opened its doors in 1732 up to the present day, 26 years after Sir David Webster 's appointment.
6. Everything in the Garden 2
Aired 18 October 1970
A programme in two parts on the past, present and future of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
7. It'll Be All Live on the Night
Aired 1 November 1970
An investigation of regional theatre in Britain. Amongst the Theatres - and their Artistic Directors - discussed are the Northcott Theeatre, Exeter; Theatre Royal Windsor, Peter Cheeseman's Victoria Theatre Stoke on Trent and theatres in Nottingham and Hull.
8. Robert Shaw: The Actor as Novelist
Aired 15 November 1970
9. A Requiem for Modigliani
Aired 22 November 1970
10. Rambert Remembers
Aired 29 November 1970
11. Eisenstein 1
Aired 6 December 1970
12. Eisenstein 2
Aired 13 December 1970
13. I Regret Nothing
Aired 27 December 1970
14. The Mysterious Mr Eliot
Aired 3 January 1971
15. George Orwell: The Road to the Left
Aired 10 January 1971
The film traces Orwell's life during 1936 when he spent time in the depressed north of England, married, set off for the Spanish Civil War and completed his book 'The Road to Wigan Pier', which marked his beginnings as a political author.
16. Chicago Blues
Aired 24 January 1971
17. In Prison: A World of Its Own
Aired 14 March 1971
18. The Making of Husbands
Aired 28 March 1971
19. Brendan Behan
Aired 4 April 1971
20. Henri Cartier Bresson
Aired 11 April 1971
21. In Search of Lost Time
Aired 2 May 1971
An Omnibus Arts documentary made to celebrate the centenary of the birth of author Marcel Proust. The film examines the creation of his autobiographical novel "A La Recherche du temps perdu".
22. This Was Richard Tauber
Aired 9 May 1971
23. The Passionate Hunter
Aired 23 May 1971
24. Ingrid Bergman Remembers
Aired 30 May 1971
25. Three Looms Waiting
Aired 6 June 1971
26. James Mossman: To Be a Witness
Aired 20 June 1971
27. TheTchaikovsky Competition
Aired 27 June 1971
28. Bream at Stratford
Aired 4 July 1971
29. Solzhenitsyn
Aired 11 July 1971
30. Hail and Farewell-George Moore
Aired 18 July 1971
31. Russell's Progress
Aired 25 July 1971
Portrait of the filmmaker Ken Russell.