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The BBC at War

Season 1
Hailed and derided in equal measure, in 1939 the BBC had yet to establish its reputation. In this enthralling history documentary on BBC Select, Jonathan Dimbleby reveals how the BBC fought not only Hitler during World War II, but also the British government to become the institution it is today. What impact did the BBC's wartime broadcasts have on the British public and on the Nazi hordes abroad?
20152 episodesTV-PG
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Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - Episode 1
    June 13, 2015
    53min
    TV-PG
    As World War II began, the BBC was forced to fend off a complete government takeover and eventually emerged as a trusted global news source. But it was a difficult transition. In this intriguing history documentary on BBC Select, Jonathan Dimbleby reveals the BBC's faltering first steps into war including disastrous frontline reports, acute censorship and hours of unappreciated organ music.
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  2. S1 E2 - Episode 2
    June 20, 2015
    53min
    TV-PG
    The BBC's clumsy efforts at the start of the Second World War were soon replaced by sophisticated counterpoints to Nazi propaganda and a source of coded information for resistance groups. In this illuminating history documentary on BBC Select, Jonathan Dimbleby looks at how the BBC used technical improvisation to report on seismic events such as the liberation of Belsen and the fall of Berlin.
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Details

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Subtitles
None available
Directors
Robin Barnwell
Producers
Robin BarnwellPeter Grimsdale
Cast
Jonathan Dimbleby
Studio
Fresh One Productions
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