Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennultimate | 20051028 BT= 1130 (BBC7) 20051028 BT= 1830 (BBC7) | ||||
| Penultimate | 20051029 BT= 0030 (BBC7) | ||||
| 01 | 01 | Wilson's Resignation | 19930721 | 20040505 (BBC7) 20040506 (BBC7) 20051010 BT= 0030 (BBC7) 20051010 (BBC7) 20051011 (BBC7) 20060925 (BBC7) 20060926 (BBC7) 20071001 (BBC7) 20090223 (BBC7) 20100702 (BBC7) | Political heavyweight Tony Benn shares private audio diaries from the frontline of history. March 1976 - Harold Wilson resigns. Tony Benn's unique recordings recall the events of 16th March 1976 - the date of Harold Wilson's surprise resignation. In the first of eight programmes drawing on unique private recordings and diary tapes never before broadcast, the former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn reveals what really goes on behind the scenes in government and opposition. Producer Keith Jones SEE PREVIEW page 5 |
| 01 | 02 | International Monetary Fund | 19930728 | 20040506 (BBC7) 20040507 (BBC7) 20051011 (BBC7) 20051012 (BBC7) 20060926 (BBC7) 20060927 (BBC7) 20071002 (BBC7) 20090224 (BBC7) 20100705 (BBC7) | Tony Benn recalls the sterling crisis of 1976 and the involvement of the International Monetary Fund. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private audio diaries from the frontline of history. A crisis for the pound? Plus ca change! Tony Benn shares private audio diaries. In the second of eight programmes former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn recalls life in government. Producer Keith Jones |
| 01 | 03 | The Windscale Crisis | 19930804 | 20040507 (BBC7) 20040508 (BBC7) 20051012 (BBC7) 20051013 (BBC7) 20060927 (BBC7) 20060928 (BBC7) 20071003 (BBC7) 20090225 (BBC7) 20100706 (BBC7) | Political veteran Tony Benn shares diary recordings from history's frontline. Industrial relations and nuclear power don't mix. Tony Benn shares his diary recordings. In the nuclear power strike of 1977, Tony Benn tries to solve the dispute without bringing troops in. Former Secretary of State for Energy Tony Benn draws on his private diary tapes, never broadcast until now, to recall how in 1977 the Windscale nuclear complex was brought to the edge of catastrophe. Producer Keith Jones |
| 01 | 04 | Jim Callaghan | 19930811 | 20040510 (BBC7) 20040511 (BBC7) 20051013 (BBC7) 20051014 (BBC7) 20060928 (BBC7) 20060929 (BBC7) 20071004 (BBC7) 20090226 (BBC7) 20100707 (BBC7) | Political heavyweight Tony Benn shares private audio diaries from the frontline of history. The Prime Minister weathers a storm. Tony Benn shares private audio diaries. Tony Benn remembers the Prime Minister James Callaghan, particularly when his guard was down and he would, on occasion, sing. Tony Benn remembers serving with the Prime Minister James Callaghan, who appointed him Energy Secretary. Tony Benn recalls iife at the heart of government with his unique personal recordings and original diary tapes. Producer Keith Jones |
| 01 | 05 | The Royal Family | 19930818 | 20040511 (BBC7) 20040512 (BBC7) 20051014 (BBC7) 20051015 (BBC7) 20060929 (BBC7) 20060930 (BBC7) 20071005 (BBC7) 20090227 (BBC7) 20100708 (BBC7) | Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. An insight into the attitude of the monarchy. Tony Benn shares private recordings. Tony Benn recalls his meetings with the royals, in particular the thoughtful and intelligent Duke of Edinburgh. Tony Benn recalls his meetings with the royals. Especially the Duke of Edinburgh who turns out to be thoughtful and intelligent. Tony Benn recalls his meetings with the Royals, especially the Duke of Edinburgh who he finds a thoughtful and intelligent man. Using private recordings and original diary tapes which have never before been broadcast, former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn continues his revelations about what really goes on behind the scenes in government. Producer Keith Jones |
| 01 | 06 | The Miners' Strike Of 1984 | 19930825 | 20040512 (BBC7) 20040513 (BBC7) 20051017 (BBC7) 20051018 (BBC7) 20061002 (BBC7) 20061003 (BBC7) 20071008 (BBC7) 20090302 (BBC7) 20100709 (BBC7) | Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Police and picketers clash fiercely. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. Police and picket liners clash fiercely. When over 60 miners are arrested during the 1984 strike, Benn wonders to what extent the police are just state tools. A supporter of the miners Benn finds himself at a police station with his tape recorder where over 60 miners have been arrested. Former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn continues to reveal what goes on behind the scenes in government. Producer Keith Jones |
| 01 | 07 | The Security Services | 19930901 | 19950908 20040513 (BBC7) 20040514 (BBC7) 20051018 (BBC7) 20051019 (BBC7) 20061003 (BBC7) 20061004 (BBC7) 20071009 (BBC7) 20090303 (BBC7) 20100712 (BBC7) | Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Bumbling spooks can't manage surveillance. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. Benn finds that his actions are being monitored by security forces, and his son Joshua is perturbed by events. Producer: K. JONES Next in series: 8 Previous in series: 6 Broadcast history 08 Sep 1995 23:45-23:59 (RADIO 4) Recorded on 1995-07-26. Benn discovers that his actions are being monitored by security forces. Benn finds that his actions are being monitored by security forces. The former Labour Cabinet minister Tony Benn continues his revelations about what really goes on behind the scenes in government. Producer Keith Jones |
| 01 | 08 LAST | The Election Of 1992 | 19930908 | 19950915 20040514 (BBC7) 20040515 (BBC7) 20051019 (BBC7) 20051020 (BBC7) 20061004 (BBC7) 20061005 (BBC7) 20071010 (BBC7) 20090304 (BBC7) 20100713 (BBC7) | Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. It's election time, but the outlook is gloomy. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. Tony Benn recollects the election campaign of 1992, the defeat for Labour and a fourth term in office for the Tories. In the final programme, former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn draws on his diary tapes to recall the General Election campaign of 1992. Producer Keith Jones Producer: K. JONES Previous in series: 7 Broadcast history 15 Sep 1995 23:45-23:59 (RADIO 4) Recorded on 1995-07-26. |
| 02 | 01 | No Minister! | 19941017 | 20051020 (BBC7) 20051021 (BBC7) 20061005 (BBC7) 20061006 (BBC7) 20071011 (BBC7) 20090305 (BBC7) 20100714 (BBC7) | It is 1974 and Tony Benn is Industry Secretary. Based on the taped diary he dictates nightly. Drawing from his private diary tapes of 1974, Tony Benn recalls his battles as Industry Secretary with Whitehall mandarins. It is 1974. Tony Benn is Industry Secretary and battling with the Civil Service. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. His support for trade unions makes him enemies. Tony Benn's support for trade unions makes him enemies. Featuring his original 'diary tapes'. "to Minister! A series based on tapes from the diary he dictates each night. Tony Benn reveals what went on behind the scenes in Britain's last Labour government. He recalls his battles in Whitehall as Industry Secretary in 1974. Producer Keith Jones |
| 02 | 02 | Monetarism | 19941024 | 20051021 (BBC7) 20051022 (BBC7) 20061006 (BBC7) 20061007 (BBC7) 20071012 (BBC7) 20090306 (BBC7) 20100715 (BBC7) | Tony Benn fails to stop the rise of the ideology he believes is wrong for Britain - and meets Sir Keith Joseph on a train. Based on the taped diaries he dictated nightly, Benn recalls early predictions of ideas which dominated politics during the 80s. Drawing from his private diary tapes, Tony Benn recalls early predictions of ideas which dominated politics during the 1980s. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Keynesian economics gives way to monetarism. Tony Benn's private recordings recall Keynesian economics giving way to monetarism. Former minister Tony Benn reveals what really went on behind the scenes in Britain's last Labour government. Producer Keith Jones |
| 02 | 03 | Nuclear Safety | 19941031 | 20051024 (BBC7) 20051025 (BBC7) 20061009 (BBC7) 20061010 (BBC7) 20071015 (BBC7) 20090309 (BBC7) 20100716 (BBC7) | Tony Benn reveals what he discovered behind the scenes in the nuclear industry. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Was Britain just a big American bomb factory? Tony Benn shares his private recordings. Using recordings from the diary he dictated each night, former Energy Minister Tony Benn reveals what he discovered behind the scenes in the nuclear industry. Producer Keith Jones |
| 02 | 04 | Constituency Life | 19941107 | 20051025 (BBC7) 20051026 (BBC7) 20061010 (BBC7) 20061011 (BBC7) 20071016 (BBC7) 20090310 (BBC7) 20100719 (BBC7) | Tony Benn records the tribulations of constituency life. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Parliament pales in comparison with a surgery. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Parliament pales in comparison with a surgery. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. Parliament pales in comparison with a surgery. |
| 02 | 05 | Prime Ministers | 19941114 | 20051026 (BBC7) 20051027 (BBC7) 20061011 (BBC7) 20061012 (BBC7) 20071017 (BBC7) 20090311 (BBC7) 20100720 (BBC7) | Based on the diary he tapes nightly, Tony Benn talks about what really went on behind the scenes during Cabinet reshuffles. Based on the diary he taped nightly, Tony Benn talks about what really went on behind the scenes during cabinet reshuffles. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Prime ministerial power up close and personal. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Prime ministerial power, up close and personal. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. Prime ministerial power, up close and personal. |
| 02 | 06 | The Winter Of Discontent | 19941121 | 19950901 20051027 (BBC7) 20051028 (BBC7) 20061012 (BBC7) 20061013 (BBC7) 20071018 (BBC7) 20090312 (BBC7) 20100721 (BBC7) | 1979 was the notorious Winter of Discontent. Tony Benn reveals his unique insight into the mood of the Cabinet at the time. Recorded on 1995-07-26. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. The infamous Winter of Discontent, from the inside. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. The Winter of Discontent, from the inside. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. The Winter of Discontent, from the inside. |
| 02 | 07 | Europe | 19941128 | 20051028 (BBC7) 20051029 (BBC7) 20061013 (BBC7) 20061014 (BBC7) 20071019 (BBC7) 20090313 (BBC7) 20100722 (BBC7) | Tony Benn examines Europe and its implications, through archive news footage and his own illicit recording. Tony Benn examines Europe and its implications. The first-ever recorded Parliamentary debate on whether Britain should enter the Common Market. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. The advantages (and otherwise) of Brussels. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Pros and cons of the UK's links with Brussels. Tony Benn's recordings reveal the pros and cons of the UK's links with Brussels. |
| 02 | 08 LAST | The Labour Party | 19941205 | 20051031 (BBC7) 20051101 (BBC7) 20061016 (BBC7) 20061017 (BBC7) 20071022 (BBC7) 20090316 (BBC7) 20100723 (BBC7) | Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. When the SDP forms, some MPs decide to defect. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. The formation of the SDP and the hostile media reaction, as told by the man who was there, Tony Benn. Tony Benn talks about the formation of the Social Democrat Party and the hostile media reaction. Political veteran Tony Benn shares private recordings from history's frontline. Tony Benn shares his private recordings. |