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Bertrand Russell: The First Media Academic?

Robin Ince explores the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ broadcasts of one of the 20th century’s greatest minds, philosopher Bertrand Russell. From 2012.

Bertrand Russell was one of the greatest thinkers of the last century.

His contributions to the field of mathematics and philosophy are still widely acknowledged as some of the most important of their kind.

But, as Robin Ince discovers, he was also arguably one of the first great media academic stars, who brought his own brand of rationalism and intellect to an audience far beyond the academic and political circles he routinely mixed with.

His relationship with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ goes back almost to the beginning of its own history, and his many broadcasts and appearances on radio, in particular, brought his ideas to a whole new audience.

He delivered the very first Reith Lectures back in 1948, and was a regular panellist on the hugely popular "The Brains Trust". His thoughts on themes ranging from education, through to nuclear armament and religion, were regularly broadcast on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, right up to the end of his life.

Robin takes a listen back to some of Russell's great contributions to broadcasting and looks at the life of arguably the first great media academic.

Producer: Alexandra Feachem

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in January 2012.

Available now

1 hour

Last on

Sun 22 May 2022 01:00

Broadcasts

  • Sat 14 Jan 2012 20:00
  • Sat 21 Feb 2015 08:00
  • Sat 21 Feb 2015 15:00
  • Sun 22 Feb 2015 01:00
  • Tue 17 May 2022 11:00
  • Tue 17 May 2022 21:00
  • Sat 21 May 2022 13:00
  • Sun 22 May 2022 01:00