There are more than 1,000 boxes in the BBC Scripts (2019 Donation), including around 250,000 television and radio scripts in, spanning 80 years from 1931 onwards. I think it is safe to say there is something in there that would interest everyone. There are scripts that cover a variety of genres such as sport, arts and music, drama, stories, news features, general features, talk features, appeals, religion, schools, stories, variety and children. They are perfect for taking a trip down memory lane. What were your favourite radio and television shows when you were younger? Were they the Children’s Hour plays broadcast daily over the wireless, or perhaps you enjoyed watching Jackanory?
Magical stories about sandcastles, princesses and princes, pirates, retellings of the Mabinogion, King Arthur, and there are early Grange Hill scripts and various dramas and plays. There is a rehearsal script written by Gwenlyn Parry for Pentrefelin which would be renamed as Pobol y Cwm, the longest running Welsh language soap which has been on display in the Library’s Treasures exhibition, and most recently in a special exhibition celebrating 50 years of the programme. However, some scripts can be an upsetting read, like the running news commentary about Aberfan.
They are a rich resource of history with a day by date account of the news broadcast during World War Two.
With news stories from 1939 until 1997, perhaps you could discover what was in the news the day you were born? Or with sports scripts from 1953 to 1997, perhaps you will find a script from a football game, rugby match or another tournament you watched on television or listened to on the wireless. Perhaps you were there?
The scripts can be used alongside other collections in the Library such as T. H. Parry-Williams and Amy Parry-Williams, Emyr Humphreys, the Political and Music Archives. Some scripts are accompanied by written annotations and doodles which add to their worth and interest. These annotations offer an insight to the script writing process. Layers are added to the original script until it becomes the finished piece that would be used in production. Some scripts are camera scripts which give an interesting behind-the-scenes feel to how the programme was made. These make the scripts a good resource to those studying film or television. It is also possible to watch or listen to some of these scripts in the National Broadcast Archive of Wales, and in various clip corners dotted around the country.
A large number of the scripts are in the catalogue already, and more are being added each day. The BBC manifests detailing the entire collection can also be found in the catalogue here. If you need additional help, do get in touch with us at enquiry@llgc.org.uk and we will be happy to help you.
Written by Emma Towner.
Category: Article