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Dr Jacob Bronowski

The mathematician and broadcaster discusses his career in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Service's pioneering interview series. From 1964.

Dr Jacob Bronowski discusses his career as a mathematician, scientist, writer and broadcaster.

Mary Stocks and John Maddox fire their questions at him.

Recorded in January 1964, shortly before he left England to take up a new research post in California.

Launched in 1952 on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Service, Frankly Speaking was a novel, ground breaking series. Unrehearsed and unscripted, the traditional interviewee/interviewer pairing was initially jettisoned for three interviewers firing direct questions - straight to the point.

Early critics described it as 'unkempt', 'an inquisition' and described the guest as prey being cornered, quarry being pursued - with calls to axe the unscripted interview. But the format won out and eventually won over its detractors.

Unknown or very inexperienced broadcasters were employed as interviewers, notably John Freeman, John Betjeman, Malcolm Muggeridge, Harold Hobson, Penelope Mortimer, Elizabeth Beresford and Katherine Whitehorn.

Only about 40 of the original 100 programmes survive in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ archive.

First broadcast on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Service in February 1964.

30 minutes

Last on

Tue 20 Aug 2024 00:00

Broadcasts

  • Tue 7 Apr 2015 18:30
  • Wed 8 Apr 2015 00:30
  • Sat 24 Aug 2019 14:15
  • Sun 25 Aug 2019 02:15
  • Mon 19 Aug 2024 10:00
  • Mon 19 Aug 2024 16:00
  • Tue 20 Aug 2024 00:00