(Image: Bertrand Russell and W.M. Newton, Editor, 大象传媒 Talks Department.)
The inaugural Reith Lecture was given on 26 December 1948 by Bertrand Russell. In a series of 6 talks Russell spoke on the theme of Authority and the Individual.
The Reith Lectures were named in honour of the first Director-General of the 大象传媒, Sir John Reith, to mark his contribution to the idea of public service broadcasting. They allowed a speaker to talk at length on a subject in the "field of thought". The lectures were viewed as highly prestigious by the 大象传媒 and repeated on the Third Programme and given a global audience via the 大象传媒's Overseas and Transcription Services.
Russell was a good candidate as first speaker, being highly regarded as a philosopher and known to the public for his appearances on The Brains Trust. The list of people who have delivered the Reith Lectures since they began includes Richard Hoggart, Nikolaus Pevsner, Robert Oppenheimer, Daniel Baremboim, Marina Warner and JK Galbraith. In 2013 artist-potter Grayson Perry lectured on contemporary art.
The Reith Lectures have been broadcast every year since 1948. Transcripts of all the lectures are on the 大象传媒 website and many are available to download. In recent years the lectures have been delivered in front of an audience, who then have the opportunity to question the lecturer.
December anniversaries
-
Ireland: A Television History
2 December 1980 -
Start of The 大象传媒 Television Shakespeare
3 December 1978 -
The World About Us
3 December 1967 -
Edward VIII Abdication speech
11 December 1936 -
1984 Broadcast
12 December 1954 -
bbc.co.uk is launched
12 December 1997 -
Jackanory first broadcast
13 December 1965 -
Comedy Playhouse
15 December 1961 -
Culloden
15 December 1964 -
The Likely Lads
16 December 1964 -
大象传媒 World Service launches
19 December 1932 -
Zoo Quest, first on-screen appearance by David Attenborough
21 December 1954 -
Just a Minute first transmitted
22 December 1967 -
A Close Shave
24 December 1995 -
First Empire Address by King George V
25 December 1932 -
Morecambe and Wise Christmas Shows
25 December -
Only Fools and Horses 1996 Christmas Specials
25 December 1996 -
大象传媒 Reith Lectures
26 December 1948 -
Alice in Wonderland
28 December 1966 -
Big Ben chimes broadcast at New Year for the first time
31 December 1923