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  • Alistair Cooke's Typewriter

    From 1946, Alistair Cooke began his famous BBC radio series Letter from America, and this is the typewriter he used to compile the programmes.

  • All You Need Is Love - 45 rpm single

    Released in many versions the world over, The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love was commissioned by the BBC for its contribution to the international satellite show Our World.

  • AXBT Microphone

    The microphone that became a symbol for something more than just a device for broadcasting radio programmes.

  • Baird Televisor

    The early mechanical television as invented by John Logie Baird.

  • BBC Micro

    The BBC was quick to help the UK’s education sector when it developed one of the first affordable computers to use in the classroom. It also became popular in the home too.

  • BBC Two Ident

    For the early 90’s a new on-screen image was devised for the BBC’s second TV channel BBC Two. The everchanging iconic '2’s' were the result.

  • Bill and Ben – the Flowerpot Men

    The children’s puppets that charmed a generation of children, and returned in later life in two further colour series.

  • Blattnerphone

    The recording of radio programmes became possible with this extraordinary looking device, which used steel tape to record sound.

  • Blue Peter Badge

    Awarded for exceptional achievement, the Blue Peter badge is still a much sought after prize and provides the winner an exciting range of benefits.

  • Breathing sculpture

    The landmark that memorialises the news reporters and crew who died at times of war.

  • Broadcasting House

    The first purpose-built radio centre in the UK which changed the way in which the BBC produced and broadcast its programmes.

  • Captain Tom's Walker

    Captain Tom Moore, the 100-year-old World War II veteran set out to raise £1000 for the NHS by walking one hundred laps around his garden with his walker. Without it, the eventual total raised of £40m would not have been possible.

  • Casualty Scrubs Costume

    The nurse’s ‘scrubs’ gear that belonged to Charlie Fairhead, played by Derek Thompson in the long running medical drama Casualty - first seen in 1986.

  • Ceefax

    Some of the earliest pages from Ceefax - news and information in text form on your TV launched by the BBC in the 1970s.

  • Colour Camera, Philips PC 60

    The camera used to televise Wimbledon ’67, one of the earliest events broadcast in colour in Europe.

  • Coronation Map

    Published in the Radio Times, this map showedthe points at which the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953 would be televised.

  • Covid Tracker & World Map

    During the first wave of the COVID 19 virus, BBC News devised this useful online tracker to visualise the spread of the virus.

  • Crystal Radio set for blind listeners

    Radio was of great interest to the blind community from the earliest days of radio in the 1920s. The British Wireless for the Blind Fund was established as early as 1929.

  • Dalek mould

    The shape of the Dalek, Doctor Who’s most well-known monster, was created in the scenery workshops of BBC TV Centre, using a specially designed mould.

  • David Attenborough’s Job Application

    The first job David Attenborough applied for in the BBC was as a radio Talks Producer in the Home Service. Handwritten and accompanied with a stamped addressed envelope, his application was rejected.

  • David Bowie's Audition Panel Report

    Rock legend David Bowie was auditioned for the BBC Talent Selection Group, his report was less than complimentary!

  • Desert Island Discs - proposal letter

    The creator of Desert Island Discs proposes the legendary series to senior figures in the BBC – outlined in a letter in 1941.

  • Douglas Byng LP

    A collection of songs and sketches by Douglas Byng - the first drag act to appear on television in the UK.

  • Edward VIII microphone

    These microphones were used to deliver one of the most sensational royal messages ever - the abdication of Edward VIII.

  • Emitron Camera

    The camera used in the early days of all-electronic television, in service at the BBC from 1936.

  • Empire Road Trilby Hat

    The trilby that said so much about the life and times of Norman Beaton and his generation, living on the fictional Empire Road.

  • Evelyn Dove – Scrapbook

    The personal scrapbook of Evelyn Dove, the first black female singer to perform on BBC Radio in the 1920s.

  • Ever So Lonely Single

    British Asian singer Sheila Chandra tops the charts with her memorable hit - played extensively on BBC Radio 1.

  • Football commentary grid

    A diagram of a football pitch, published in the Radio Times to help listeners understand the action during the first broadcast football commentary in 1927.

  • Gordon the Gopher puppet

    In 1985 Children’s BBC recruited a new presenter – a puppet! It was the loveable Gordon the Gopher.

  • Hey Duggee Badge

    A badge that celebrates what parents have done to encourage children during the Covid 19 pandemic, created for the hit children’s television series Hey Duggee.

  • Intermediate film camera

    The device used to deliver ‘as-live’ television pictures to the transmitter as used during the early days of mechanical television.

  • Isa Benzie portrait

    A portrait from 1939 of Isa Benzie, the pioneering radio producer and BBC Foreign Director.

  • John Simpson - Flak Jacket

    The BBC's World Affairs Editor wore this jacket when accompanying a convoy of US special forces in Iraq, (2003).

  • John Motson’s Coat

    The famous sheepskin coat - just one of many, worn by John Motson during a very long career as the leading BBC Television football commentator.

  • John Piper Mosaic, Television Centre

    The mosaic wall that greets visitors entering the original reception at Television Centre, West London.

  • Ken Hom’s Wok

    No Chinese chef could be without a wok, and Ken Hom showed the UK why.

  • Kennedy Assassination - BBC Reporter's Diary

    The fascinating diary of BBC reporter Peter Watson, documenting the American President’s assassination.

  • Killing Eve dress

    The pink costume dress that caused a television sensation.

  • Lamp Standard Radio

    A free-standing mahogany lamp standard with radio incorporated - one of the many novelty radios for sale in the pre-war heyday of radio.

  • Le Poète Tapestry

    In 1949 the French government presented the BBC with a large tapestry, Le Poète (The Poet). It was given in gratitude to the BBC for its efforts in broadcasting to occupied France during World War Two.

  • Lisnagarvey Transmitter

    A major broadcasting moment in Northern Ireland was the opening of this major radio transmitter in 1936.

  • Lip microphone

    Commentating on live sports matches or noisy environments was very difficult before the advent of a specialist microphone. The now-familiar 'lip mic' was devised to solve the problem.

  • Live Aid Pass

    This pass provided access to all areas for the crew working behind the scenes on the biggest live TV event of its time – Live Aid.

  • Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cookery book

    Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cookery Course on BBC Two was arguably in large part responsible for the British people’s appreciation of Indian cuisine, and her book became the curry bible for many.

  • Mastermind Chair

    The black and chrome chair that symbolised the terror of one of television’s toughest quiz programmes.

  • MCR21 - Television Outside Broadcasts Truck

    Mobile Control Room 21 - the third OB of ten to be built by the BBC in 1963.

  • Meatsafe microphone

    One of the earliest microphones used by the BBC in the 1920s looked like a meatsafe!

  • Midget recorder

    One of the first means of recording commentary and actuality in the field - developed by the BBC.

  • Mirror Globe Ident

    From the early 1960s a rotating globe symbolised the BBC’s primary TV channel, BBC One. Behind the electronic processing which added colour, it was a motorised mechanical device with a mirror.

  • Monty Python’s Flying Circus graphics

    The zany opening titles and graphics used in Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

  • Moon Landing Radio Times Special

    The biggest space event of the 20th century marked by the Radio Times.

  • Morph

    The loveable stop-motion animated character made famous by Tony Hart in the early 1980s.

  • Mr Darcy Shirt

    The famous white shirt worn by Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

  • Object of the Future

    An object that may play a part in our lives in 10, 20, and 30 years, as seen through the eyes of young people today in conversation with BBC Research and Development.

  • One Foot in the Grave Frozen Cat

    This 'cat' - infact a prop - was found in Victor Meldrew's freezer, in the classic episode of One Foot in the Grave.

  • Only Fools & Horses - Reliant Regal Supervan III

    Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses toured the streets of south London in this clapped out yellow three-wheeler. He used it with often hilarious consequences throughout the long-running series.

  • Orwell statue

    George Orwell worked briefly at the BBC, but left a permanent mark on a broadcasting landmark.

  • Peaky Blinders Cap

    The cap that became so popular because of the Peaky Blinders series.

  • Play School Toys

    The famous toys as seen from episode one in the long-running BBC TV series Play School.

  • Pobol y Cwm Pub Sign

    Right from the start, the BBC’s longest-running soap opera Pobol y Cwm featured storylines from a pub - the Deri Arms. From the latest gossip to declarations of marriage - the Deri has seen it all and the pub’s sign has shown the way.

  • Poison-tipped Umbrella

    Journalist and broadcaster Georgi Markov, a regular voice on the BBC Bulgarian Service, was murdered with this poison tipped umbrella.

  • Proms Poster

    The Promenade Concerts were given wide appeal by the BBC - this poster seen widely, was typical of the pre-war years.

  • Pudsey Bear

    The loveable bear was adopted for the BBC’s main fundraising programme Children in Need as its mascot, in 1985.

  • Puppet on a String – Score

    The 1967 Eurovision Song Contest winner was the UK. Puppet on a String was the song - this is Sandie Shaw’s score.

  • Radio Foyle Anniversary Animations

    Radio Foyle’s Gerry Anderson, remembered fondly in animation.

  • Radio Licence

    An early BBC licence fee from the 1920s, which only covered radio and cost 10 shillings. The BBC was deluged with applications, and revenue rapidly increased, allowing the BBC to expand broadcasting hours.

  • Radio Times, the 1st Edition

    The listings magazine hit the news stands in the Autumn of 1923, and was published as a response to newspapers who felt threatened by the rise of radio.

  • Radiophonic Workshop – ‘Instruments’

    The creator of electronic and experimental music for the BBC used all manner of everyday objects to build up musical soundtracks for iconic series such as Doctor Who.

  • Reith's job application

    The application letter of the BBC’s first Director-General, John Reith.

  • Royal Charter

    The legal footing on which the BBC operates.

  • Sherlock’s coat

    The iconic Belstaff Milford coat worn by Benedict Cumberbatch.

  • Radio Spot Effects

    No radio drama would be complete without sound effects - click to see why.

  • Sports Personality of the Century – Trophy

    Aged 57, boxer Muhammad Ali wins the much coveted BBC Sports Personality awards, 1999.

  • Stig’s helmet

    Stig’s helmet is synonymous with the mysterious driver from the top rated motoring show Top Gear. The white helmet accompanies Stig on all his test drive and exploits.

  • Strictly Come Dancing glitter ball

    The revolving glitter ball is one of the features of the opening titles of Strictly Come Dancing, as well as its end of show trophy.

  • Teletubbies Costume

    Loveable and surreal in equal measure the Teletubbies made their mark on children’s television from the late 1990s.

  • Television Centre

    The building, shaped like a question mark, became the UK’s 'television Hollywood', and saw the production of thousands of BBC television programmes during its lifetime as a BBC building.

  • Testcard F

    A testcard has appeared on BBC TV in various forms since the television service began in 1936, Testcard F is one of the best remembered examples.

  • The Archers 1st script

    The Archers began its national run on the BBC Home Service on 1 January 1951,and here is the very first script.

  • The Pips

    The machine used to create the Greenwich Time Signal.

  • The Reverend Jolly’s Chair

    BBC Scotland’s best-loved and gloomiest comedy characters, The Rev I M Jolly, sat in this chair from 1978 until 1999, dispensing words of wisdom in the only way he knew how!

  • The Shipping Forecast Map

    One of the earliest Shipping Forecast Maps in the BBC Archives from 1925.

  • The Stripper - Score from Morecambe & Wise

    The music for the famous ‘Stripper’ sketch, mapped out in a musical score from 1976.

  • This Country Dress

    The dress worn at BAFTA with a special footballing feel.

  • Una Marson - Appointment Memo

    Una Marson was the first producer on BBC radio of Caribbean heritage - this is a memo recommending her appointment to the BBC.

  • Under Milk Wood Script

    The script of Dylan Thomas’s famous ‘play for voices’, broadcast on BBC Radio on 25 January 1954.

  • Variety Programmes Policy Guide

    An early guidebook for BBC producers that warned them against broadcasting vulgarity and jokes about certain members of the audience.

  • V.E.R.A.

    An early video recorder developed by the BBC - and demonstrated with great pride on Panorama in 1957.

  • Wartime broadcasting – manual

    The ‘War Book’ of plans drawn up by the BBC during the Cold War for a Wartime Broadcasting System.

  • Wilfred Pickles – Autobiography

    Wilfred was the first BBC announcer to speak in a regional accent on radio, this is his autobiography.

  • Woman's Hour – Quilt

    A patchwork quilt was made by the listeners of Woman’s Hour, to mark 75 years of suffrage, in 1993.

  • Women TV Announcer Press Cutting

    Prior to the opening of the BBC Television Service (1936), the BBC advertised for women announcers - they were looking for special talents, but turned down those with red hair!

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