The BBC has been at the heart of British national life for 100 years. Throughout 2022 we’ve delivered a huge amount for audiences. In January, we launched a new BBC History website, with dedicated BBC 100 collections around 100 Objects, 100 Voices and 100 Faces and we’ve given the public a chance to look into our archive with the BBC Rewind website. We’re visiting 400,000 school children as part of our Share Your Story education initiative and we opened up our digitised archive to students.

In October there will be a special week of programming for audiences to enjoy.

James Stirling, BBC 100 Executive Editor, says: “For 100 years the BBC has been informing, educating and entertaining the nation and our centenary year has been no different. From an incredible summer of sport, to the epic return of Glastonbury, we’ve seen audiences come to the BBC in record numbers.

“Alongside this brilliant programming, we’ve been visiting hundreds of schools up and down the UK with our ambitious education initiative, BBC 100 Share Your Story, and audiences are continuing to uncover the story of the nation through our most extensive digital archive collection ever, BBC Rewind.

“Our centenary celebrations are at the forefront of our October schedule. During our special week of BBC 100 content, audiences can look forward to a mix of exciting new commissions alongside some of our best-loved shows, as they mark a century of broadcasting in their own unique way. There really is something for everyone and we’re looking forward to sharing this moment with audiences across the UK and beyond.”

BBC Press Office

The BBC by decade

1920s
1922 BBC starts
1924 Pips begin, transforming national time-keeping

1930s
1932 George V address Empire/launches Empire Service (later World Service)
1936 1st TV service in world
1938 1st foreign language service, Arabic/48 lang services by end of WW2

1940s
1940 Churchill on air in WW2, 1st broadcast war
1942 Desert Island Discs launches, recently voted top radio show
1946 Woman’s Hour, giving women voice
1948 1st TV News
1948 1st Olympic Games on TV, transforming its global impact
1949 1st TV weather

1950s
1950 The Archers, longest running soap in the world
1953 Coronation of Elizabeth II, transforming TV take up, 1st capture of crowning moment
1958 Radiophonic Workshop, cult innovation
1958 Blue Peter, longest running children’s show in world

1960s
1963 Doctor Who, longest running sci-fi tv show in world1967 Our World, 1st live international TV link up: Beatles sing all you need is love
1967 BBC Two in colour, 1st in Europe
1967 Radio 1 launches, 1st BBC service for teenagers
1969 Moon landing, global watch

1970s
1977 Morecambe & Wise, 28 million watch their Christmas show
1977 Top Gear, now top global brand for BBC
1979 Life on Earth, 1st Attenborough blockbuster

1980s
1981 Charles and Diana wedding, 750 million watch
1983 Breakfast Time, changing routines forever
1985 EastEnders, top UK soap
1985 Live Aid, the global power of music, 1.9 billion

1990s
1995 Pride & Prejudice, transforming costume drama
1997 News 24
1997 bbc.co.uk launches, on air becomes online

2000s
2004 Strictly becomes global hit
2007 iPlayer, timeshifting content

2010s
2012 London Olympics, 3.6 billion viewers globally
2018 BBC Sounds, redefining audio

2020s
2022 BBC is the 1st major public service broadcaster to mark 100 years of continuous broadcasting

Learn more: 100 fascinating facts about the BBC below.

Timeline of the last 100 years

Our online BBC timeline brings together a selection of the BBC's best-known programmes and an overview of some of the many milestones that have shaped the Corporation over the years.

The technology that changed our lives, the moments that brought us together, and diverse and iconic British programmes all feature.