Television Talks were loosely defined by the BBC as educational or instructive programmes, with an emphasis on the spoken word. The term ‘Talk’ was an extension of that which had previously been used to define radio talks, which took the form of a speech or lecture and were a key component of early radio broadcasts. The television equivalent soon developed on this format to include political commentaries, documentaries, quiz shows, culture review shows, magazine programmes, interviews, and debates; in fact any television programme outside of music, entertainment, drama and news bulletins.
The papers in this series relate to programming produced by the television Talks department. The vast majority of the papers consist of production files for specific Talks programmes. The files cover all stages of the production process, including initial proposals, casting, filming, technical arrangements and audience feedback. The documents mainly consist of correspondence, contracts, scripts, Programmes-as-Broadcast, Audience Research Reports, plans, designs, newspaper clippings and photographs. There are also papers relating to specific subjects on which programmes were to be based, including proposals for new programmes. The amount of detailed correspondence varies depending on the nature of the programme.
The papers include documentation from the following sources: producers; directors; writers; editors; design managers, studio managers; Head of Talks, Television; Head of Television Programmes; Controller of Programmes, Television; Director of Television; Head of Public Affairs Programmes, Television; Chief of Programmes (BBC-2); Women’s Programmes Organiser; Head of Children’s Programmes, Television; Head of Programme Planning, Television; Head of Publicity; Head of School Broadcasting, Television, and contributors to programmes.