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 (25)
1. Leeds International Piano Competition
Aired 17 September 1972
2. The Last Samurai
Aired 24 September 1972
3. The Wit & World of George Bernard Shaw
Aired 1 October 1972
Christopher Plummer invites the audience into the world of great playwright, George Bernard Shaw, at his home with fellow actors and an actress playing St. Joan.
4. Vincent the Dutchman
Aired 15 October 1972
5. Who Needs a Conductor?
Aired 22 October 1972
6. The Performers-Goya
Aired 29 October 1972
7. Artists in Wartime
Aired 12 November 1972
8. Great Orchestras: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Aired 19 November 1972
9. Ned Kelly Country: The Paintings of Sidney Nolan
Aired 26 November 1972
A journey across Australia through the paintings of Sidney Nolan. Earlier this year Sidney Nolan revisited the country where he was born. He likes long journeys and cannot help painting pictures, and every picture tells a story. In this adventure through myth and imagery Nolan looks again at the Australia of Ned Kelly, Mrs Fraser and the convicts, Burke and Wills.
10. Max Beerbohm Remembers
Aired 10 December 1972
11. Judy: Impressions of Garland
Aired 24 December 1972
Memories of Judy Garland, from people who knew and worked with her.
12. The Savage Image
Aired 14 January 1973
13. Why Culture?
Aired 21 January 1973
14. But the People Are Beautiful: Andy Warhol
Aired 4 February 1973
15. Fools Rush In: Morecambe and Wise
Aired 18 February 1973 • 49 min
This film for Omnibus follows the two weeks of rehearsal that led up to the recording of a Morecambe and Wise Show that aired on 16 February 1973. 'Fools Rush In' was Eric and Ernie's billing in their early days. Thirty years later, they had become Britain's best-known comedians, with regular audiences of nearly 20 million people. Producer John Ammonds, writer Eddie Braben, as well as Eric and Ernie talk about the skill and sheer hard work of comedy.
16. The Name Grierson: The Word Documentary
Aired 25 February 1973
17. Master of the Cello
Aired 11 March 1973
18. It Must Be Something in the Water
Aired 18 March 1973
19. Sir Noel Coward
Aired 25 March 1973
20. Colette 1873-1954: A Window in the War
Aired 15 April 1973
21. That's My Little Masterpiece
Aired 6 May 1973
22. The Passing of the Year
Aired 13 May 1973
An Omnibus calendar of tribal England. This film traces how the passing of the seasons is still celebrated with folk song, dance and-ritual. For 12 months cameras have been recording the genuinely surviving ceremonies associated with May Day marches. Summer Dances, Harvest Festivals, Christmas, New Year and Easter.
23. British Jazz
Aired 3 June 1973
24. Leonardo-To Know How to See
Aired 8 July 1973
25. Ginger Baker in Africa
Aired 15 July 1973
The former Cream drummer travels to Nigeria to build a recording studio.