About this season
An enthralling series exploring how the BBC fought not only Hitler but also the British government to become the institution it is today.
Episodes (2)
1. The War of Words
Aired 14 June 2015 • 60 min
Wholly unprepared for what was the world's first broadcast war, the BBC fended off complete government takeover and emerged a trusted global news source, transmitting in 47 languages. Using a wealth of preserved recordings and previously unseen documents, Jonathan Dimbleby uncovers the compelling story of how the BBC went into battle - against Hitler and Whitehall's ministers - and its part in the social revolution the war provoked.
2. Into Battle
Aired 21 June 2015 • 60 min
The conclusion of the two-part documentary examines the impact the BBC's broadcasts had on the war zone. Jonathan Dimbleby looks at how it provided a counterpoint to Nazi propaganda and a source of coded information for resistance groups. He also discusses how BBC correspondents were embedded with military units during D-Day, and recalls his own father's reporting on the liberation of Belsen and the fall of Berlin.