On 17 June 1971 a documentary called Yesterday's Men was broadcast, featuring several Labour ex-Ministers, which examined how they were adjusting to life a year after their defeat in the 1970 General Election. The programme caused a fierce row with the Labour party for the way the participants were seen to have been ridiculed, and with Harold Wilson in particular for the way direct questions were posed about his business affairs. It damaged relations between the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and the Labour party, and led to a re-examination of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ editorial guidelines.
Yesterday's Men featured several interviews that revealed the stoicism of rejected politicians, but the tone of the programme was set by its title, which appropriated a slogan used by Labour in 1970 to describe the Conservatives. In addition, the documentary was punctuated by a comic song specially written by The Scaffold, which featured lyrics such as "yesterday's men, and it's no fun at all, getting sacked and put out to graze".
In the row preceding the transmission of the broadcast, parts of the Wilson interview were cut, and David Dimbleby insisted his name be taken off the credits. After the event, in July 1971, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Report on the programme admitted errors, but the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ended by concluding "We shall do nothing that could put at risk the independence of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ".
Further reading
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Editorial Independence: Yesterday's Men
Examines the programme in the context of other editorial controversies 1926-2004.
June anniversaries
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Juke Box Jury
1 June 1959 -
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
2 June 1953 -
Mock the Week
5 June 2005 -
Real Lives
5 June 1984 -
D-Day broadcasts
6 June 1944 -
Till Death Us Do Part
6 June 1966 -
First broadcast of Crimewatch UK
7 June 1984 -
Steptoe and Son
7 June 1962 -
Driving School
10 June 1997 -
Last programme from Lime Grove Studios
13 June 1991 -
The Basil Brush Show
14 June 1968 -
Blackadder
15 June 1983 -
Yesterday's Men
17 June 1971 -
De Gaulle's first broadcast to France
18 June 1940 -
Parkinson first broadcast
19 June 1971 -
First female newsreader in vision
20 June 1960 -
Wimbledon first televised
21 June 1937 -
Royal Family first transmitted
21 June 1969 -
Music While You Work
23 June 1940 -
Our World
25 June 1967 -
Opening of Television Centre
29 June 1960