BBC Archive

Curated extracts from the BBC's huge content archive.

Gems from the Archive

1974: The Wonderful Weed Woman. Video, 00:03:28
Jessie Wainwright is a determined resident of Armston Northamptonshire who spends her days spreading weed seeds far and wide.
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
29 July 1974
1948: Broadcasting the first televised Olympic Games. Video, 00:05:26
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
29 July 1948
Archive quiz: What animal is Sir David Attenborough describing?
Attribution
BBC
1983: Could a woman play Doctor Who? Video, 00:03:39
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
29 July 1983
1995: US shuttle docks with Russian space station. Video, 00:02:07
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
29 July 1995

Understand more about one of the world’s oldest and largest multimedia archives.

BBC Archives Technology & Services

The Music Is Black

The Music Is Black Mixtape. Video, 60 minutes
Attribution
BBC Radio 1Xtra
Available for 8 months
1983: Musical Youth go back to school. Video, 00:01:44
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
22 March 1983
1979: Poly Styrene – Punk Pioneer. Video, 00:02:27
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
22 January 1979

Made of Manchester

1983: Riverside: The Hacienda. Video, 00:08:08
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
17 January 1983
1973: Sir Matt Busby interviewed. Video, 00:07:38
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
3 November 1973
1983: New Order on writing music. Video, 00:02:46
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
10 October 1983
1949: Manchester's 'last' tram. Video, 00:01:19
Attribution
BBC Archive
Posted
17 January 1949

BBC Archive from around the UK

Explore thousands of BBC archive films. This unique collection shows life and events across the UK since the 1940s.

Explore More

1975: The world's first shop for left-handers. Video, 00:04:05
Attribution
BBC
Posted
9 hours ago
1976: How to keep your plants alive in a heatwave. Video, 00:05:05
Attribution
BBC
Posted
1 day ago
1966: Bringing football home in 1966. Video, 00:06:26
Attribution
BBC
Posted
16 July
1990: The classic red phone box. Video, 00:03:12
Attribution
BBC
Posted
30 June
1985: Dame Penelope Keith on her much-loved television roles. Video, 00:04:39
Attribution
BBC
Posted
29 June
1981: Look inside pop-up book 'Haunted House' Video, 00:05:54
Attribution
BBC
Posted
29 June
1986: GCSEs – a new qualification for school students. Video, 00:03:45
Attribution
BBC
Posted
15 June
1976: David Hockney on his early life and influences. Video, 00:04:33
Attribution
BBC
Posted
12 June
1979: Poly Styrene – Punk Pioneer. Video, 00:02:27
Attribution
BBC
Posted
29 May
1979: Muhammad Ali's Farewell Tour reaches Birmingham. Video, 00:04:09
Attribution
BBC
Posted
27 May
1966: This is what England footballers are made of. Video, 00:02:55
Attribution
BBC
Posted
26 May
1982: Aswad on reflecting their experience through music. Video, 00:03:11
Attribution
BBC
Posted
22 May
1983: Musical Youth go back to school. Video, 00:01:44
Attribution
BBC
Posted
21 May
1985: Courtney Pine, a talented young jazz musician. Video, 00:04:39
Attribution
BBC
Posted
20 May
1980: A new salon for black hair. Video, 00:02:31
Attribution
BBC
Posted
14 May
1980: How to make a classic English cricket bat. Video, 00:06:01
Attribution
BBC
Posted
12 May
1991: Introducing The Red Barrows! Video, 00:03:10
Attribution
BBC
Posted
11 May
1974: The man who talks to his bees. Video, 00:03:36
Attribution
BBC
Posted
8 May
1986: Suckling Airways - putting Ipswich on the map. Video, 00:01:59
Attribution
BBC
Posted
7 May
1980: Sir David Attenborough answers children's questions. Video, 00:05:50
Attribution
BBC
Posted
6 May
1994: What is the future of football in America? Video, 00:06:07
Attribution
BBC
Posted
28 April
2001: Teenage Susie Wolff on her driving ambitions. Video, 00:02:02
Attribution
BBC
Posted
16 April
1971: Calypso comes to Carnaby Street. Video, 00:03:07
Attribution
BBC
Posted
15 April
1981: Blue Peter shows off the tech behind the first London Marathon. Video, 00:03:32
Attribution
BBC
Posted
14 April

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