Any Questions - First Edition - 1948
Episode 869, Apr 25, 2014, 10:07 PM
Frank Gillard's name is often cited in the context of pioneering BBC ventures. Making his name as a war correspondent, he is credited too with pushing against the tide to ensure the safe arrival of BBC local radio. Any Answers on BBC Radio 4 is also one of his concepts, hatched during his time in office as head of programmes for the BBC in the West.
As a fan of programmes away from the 'artificial atmosphere' of the studio, this weekly political panel show outside broadcast was a natural idea. The first programme came from Winchester in 1948, hosted by Freddie Grisewood. After Grisewood moved on through ill-health, David Jacobs took the helm (1967 to 1984); followed by John Timpson (1984 to 1987) and then Jonathan Dimbleby. until 2019, when Chris Mason took over.
The programme went nationwide in 1950. Originally serving just the West of England on the BBC Home Service, it moved to the Light Programme/Radio 2 and then in 1970 to what appears to be its natural home, Radio 4.
TV eventually caught up with radio, and a bow-tied Robin Day gave his lop-sided smile into the BBC Question Time TV camera for the first time in 1979.