• 1922: 2LO

    Four radio drama producers sit behind a 1920s sound mixing desk
    The first BBC radio station is launched.

  • 1923: Radio Times

    The very first Radio Times, complete with advertisements for the latest cat's whiskers radios from 1923
    The first Radio Times is published.

  • 1924: The 'pips'

    The original machine used to create the famous 'pips' as heard on BBC radio
    The time signal is heard for the first time.

  • 1925: Daventry transmitter

    The Daventry transmitter as seen soon after opening in open fields
    The first long distance radio transmitter opens.

  • 1926: General strike

    Military vehicles moving up a London street during the General Strike of 1926
    The BBC's first major news story.

  • 1927: Football commentary

    A paper grid divided into squares as published in the Radio Times, to be used by radio listeners to aid understanding of a football match. The position of the ball in relation to the grid was mentioned by the football commentator
    A unique way of making sport popular on radio.

  • 1928: BBC Dance Orchestra

    The entire BBC Dance Orchestra pose for a publicity photograph in 1928
    The first performance goes live.

  • 1929: The Week in Westminster

    The Houses of Parliament represented with coloured graphics, suggesting impact and excitement
    A round-up aimed at women, with Hilda Matheson.

  • 1930: The first television play

    An actress with an anxious face during rehearsals for The Man with the Flower in his Mouth, BBC Television's first drama
    The Man with the Flower in his Mouth.

  • 1931: The Blattnerphone

    Enormous reels of steel tape being used on the BBC's first audio recorder, the Blattnerphone in 1931
    Recording radio programmes for the first time.

  • 1931: In Your Garden

    The radio and television gardener C.H. Middleton looking at a flower outside the former BBC studios at Alexandra Palace in 1931
    The BBC’s first gardening programme.

  • 1932: Broadcasting House

    The modernist facade of Broadcasting House, soon after opening in 1932
    The BBC’s first purpose built radio centre.

  • 1933: First woman announcer

    Sheila Borrett side profile, taken before she went on air for the first time in 1933
    Sheila Borrett presents her first programme.

  • 1934: Type A Microphone

    A classic BBC microphone, called the Type A, constructed in a shiny copper coloured casing
    The microphone that revolutionises broadcasting.

  • 1935: American Half Hour

    Alistair Cooke in later life when he had already started his 'Letter from America' series
    Alistair Cooke begins his legendary radio career.

  • 1936: BBC Television

    A contemporary image of the former BBC television studios at Alexandra Palace, with transmitter mast in full view
    The world’s first regularly scheduled TV service.

  • 1937: First TV outside broadcast

    King George the sixth's coronation carriage with a BBC television camera televising the moment
    The Coronation of King George VI.

  • 1938: BBC Arabic

    Egyptian announcer Ahmad Kamal Sourour Effendi gets ready for his first broadcast on the BBC Arabic Service in 1938
    The BBC's first foreign language radio service.

  • 1939: Douglas Byng

    Douglas Byng appears in a dress during a performance of his pre-war BBC Television variety show By Way of A Change
    First female impersonator on the BBC.

  • 1940: De Gaulle's broadcast to France

    General Charles de Gaulle, reads his message to the Free French behind a large BBC Type A microphone in a BBC radio studio in 1940
    Vital programmes beamed into occupied France.

  • 1941: V for victory

    Prime Minister Winston Churchill poses to give the famous V for Victory symbol in 1941
    The wartime interval signal that goes viral.

  • 1941: Una Marson

    Una Marson the BBC's first black producer poses for a publicity image before her appointment to the BBC in 1941
    The first black female BBC producer.

  • 1942: Desert Island Discs

    Roy Plomley invents the series Desert Island Discs
    Roy Plomley dreams up a winning formula.

  • 1943: Raid on Berlin

    A graphic image of searchlights seen from the cockpit of an RAF plane during a raid over Berlin, in 1943
    An epic broadcast during a raid over enemy territory.

  • 1944: The Man Who Went to War

    The all black cast of radio drama The Man Who Went to War gather to record a song for the drama in 1944
    Breakthrough drama about racially segregated America.

  • 1944: D Day

    A BBC radio war reporter records a dispatch during D Day, against a backdrop of a destroyed building
    The landings are broadcast on 6 June.

  • 1945: VE Day

    A group of happy women waving flags in army uniform standing in an open topped vehicle as it moves through London
    King George VI speaks to the nation.

  • 1946: Woman's Hour

    A male presenter and two women guests sit behind a large BBC microphone in a BBC radio studio
    A dedicated space on radio for women, by women.

  • 1947: Last Night of the Proms

    Sir Malcolm Sergeant appears at the Royal Albert Hall with a musical score under his arm
    Sir Malcolm Sergeant conducts at the first television Proms.

  • 1948: Olympics

    The opening parade of the 1948 Olympic Games
    Viewers watch on tiny sets, but the BBC breaks new ground.

  • 1949: Weather forecast

    One of the earliest weather charts as seen on BBC TV in 1949
    Weather forecasts on television.

  • 1950: The Archers

    The original cast of The Archers sitting around a farmhouse table eating a meal, pictured in 1950
    Ambridge lets listeners in to hear about village life for the first time.

  • 1951: The General Election

    Two presenters sit with a map of the UK, with television monitors and other staff on the studio floor during the General Election coverage of 1950
    Truly comprehensive analysis and results for the first time.

  • 1952: VERA

    Large reels of videotape seen in play mode on the large VERA machine, the BBC's own designed video recording machine
    The UK's only home-grown video recorder, created by the BBC.

  • 1953: The Coronation

    Queen Elizabeth seen with crown and sceptre on her coronation day
    The broadcast that changed the way we watch television.

  • 1953: Watch with Mother

    The puppet Andy Pandy and his friend Teddy sit in a basket
    The safe world of 50s children's television.

  • 1954: News and Newsreel

    The Alexandra Palace transmitter mast with the BBC News titles wrapped around it, for the opening of BBC Newsreel in 1954
    The first daily news programme is launched on BBC TV.

  • 1955: For Deaf Children

    The artist and presenter Tony Hart poses with a home movie camera
    The BBC’s first television programme for deaf children.

  • 1956: Eurovision

    The Eurovision logo, consisting of blue stars on a white background in a circle alternating with letters spelling out Eurovision
    A new word enters the English language.

  • 1957: Today

    Jack de Manio sits behind two BBC microphones during an early edition of the Today programme
    Informing the nation for over 65 years.

  • 1958: Blue Peter

    The original Blue Peter logo - a ship at sea with waves lapping at its base
    The iconic children's magazine show.

  • 1959: Juke Box Jury

    The title graphics used at the beginning of each Juke Box Jury programme, seen on the front of a juke box
    The panel game that launched many pop music careers.

  • 1960: BBC Television Centre

    The BBC Television Centre, main courtyard, pictured in the late 1990s
    The BBC's first dedicated centre for television production.

  • 1960: Focus on Africa

    A listener holds a portable radio whilst listening to Focus on Africa on the BBC World Service
    A must-listen across Africa.

  • 1961: Songs of Praise

    A line-up of presenters from Songs of Praise
    The longest running religious television programme in the world.

  • 1962: That Was the Week that Was

    Seven of the original team of presenters take a rest during rehursals for That Was the Week that Was in 1962
    Satire that broke down barriers, in the spirit of the 1960s.

  • 1963: Doctor Who

    William Hartnell the first Doctor, wearing his Victorian style long coat and bow tie
    The adventures in time and space begin.

  • 1964: Top of the Pops

    Sandy Shaw appears behind a microphone on the set of an early edition of Top of the Pops
    The BBC meets the demand for more pop music on TV.

  • 1965: Paul Danquah

    The Play School logo - the words Play School written inside the shape of a simple house
    The UK’s first black children’s television presenter.

  • 1965: Tomorrow’s World

    Presenter Raymond Baxter demonstrates a red plastic telephone during an edition of Tomorrow's World
    Raymond Baxter becomes synonymous with TV science.

  • 1966: World Cup

    Victorious players congratulate each other on England's victory at the end of World Cup 1966
    World Cup victory for England is televised.

  • 1967: Colour television

    The BBC Two Colour logo, used on screen from 1967. A large number 2 with a circle at its centre
    BBC Two is the first colour channel in Europe.

  • 1967: BBC Radio Leicester

    The BBC local radio logo consisting of names of major UK cities in an interlocking design
    The first BBC local radio station is launched.

  • 1968: The Morecambe and Wise Show

    Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise stand at the front of the stage of the Television Theatre in west London
    Eric and Ernie, the start of a legend.

  • 1969: Apollo 11

    Patrick Moore points to stars on a large star chart, practising for his appearance on the Apollo landings broadcasts in 1969
    The first man on the moon is seen live on the BBC.

  • 1970: Edward II

    Actors Ian McKellen and James Laurenson kiss in Edward the Second, the first same sex kiss on British television in 1970
    First same-sex kiss on British television.

  • 1970: Play for Today

    The 1970 Play for Today logo. The words Play for Today written in a modern font on a yellow background
    A launchpad for UK writers including Mike Leigh and Dennis Potter.

  • 1971: The Open University

    The Open University shield shaped logo as seen on BBC TV until the early 1990s
    A unique distance learning collaboration is launched.

  • 1972: Newsround

    John Craven sits on a desk in the BBC newsroom after an edition of Newsround
    The special news service for young people.

  • 1973: That’s Life

    Three of the original That's Life presenters standing together
    Consumer items and funny sketches, That’s Life!

  • 1974: CEEFAX

    A very early Ceefax page showing an index of the pages available
    The first teletext service in the world.

  • 1974: Pobol y Cwm

    The current Pobol y Cwm titles logo. A wing shape with the title beneath
    The BBC's longest-running television soap.

  • 1975: Fawlty Towers

    Andrew Sachs, Prunella Scales, John Cleese, and Connie Booth pose together to publicise Fawlty Towers
    'I know nothing!'

  • 1976: I Claudius

    Derek Jacobi dressed in Roman costume
    The iconic adaptation from the novel by Robert Graves.

  • 1976: The Big Time

    Celebrity chef Fanny Cradock appears in her television kitchen wearing a long flowing evening gown
    A Devon farmer prepares a banquet and gets a hostile reaction.

  • 1977: Does He Take Sugar?

    A cup of tea, with a spoonful of sugar poised over it
    A lifeline for the disabled community.

  • 1978: Grange Hill

    A group of the earliest cast from Grange Hill, from 1978
    The school soap met with shock and praise in equal measure.

  • 1978: Delia Smith's Cookery Course

    Delia Smith pictured in 1978 sitting in a field of flowers
    The rigorous approach to practical cookery.

  • 1979: Life on Earth

    A graphic image of planet Earth as a green sphere with animals walking across it
    The natural history series that launches a legend.

  • 1980: Children in Need

    Terry Wogan and Sue Cook with another presenter getting ready for an early TV edition of Children in Need
    The annual charity appeal moves to TV.

  • 1981: Royal Wedding

    Crowds cheer as the wedding carriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana pass on royal wedding day, 1981
    A global audience of 750 million tune in to the event of the decade.

  • 1981: See Hear

    The See Hear logo in three colours
    A fixture for the deaf community across the UK.

  • 1982: Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cookery

    Celebrity chef Madhur Jaffrey seen in a two colour contrasting sari
    The programme that helped create a nation of curry lovers.

  • 1982: The Computer Programme

    Ian McNought-Davis stands next to a BBC Model A home computer in 1982
    The home computer revolution explained.

  • 1983: Breakfast Time

    The logo of the original Breakfast Time series - a styalised sun symbol
    The UK's first regular breakfast TV show.

  • 1984: Crimewatch UK

    Sue Cook and Nick Ross with police cars behind them
    The programme that helped the police with nearly 5,000 crimes.

  • 1985: EastEnders

    An aerial image of the River Thames as seen in the title sequence of EastEnders
    The first popular TV soap for 20 years on BBC One.

  • 1985: Live Aid

    Bob Geldoff casually dressed in 1985 pirior to the Live Aid broadcast
    A never-to-be-forgotten television event that links the world.

  • 1986: Casualty

    The character Charlie Fairhead hands a large bunch of fowers to a policeman, with other members of the Casualty cast behind them, on a hospital ward
    The A&E drama unafraid to confront difficult issues.

  • 1987: French and Saunders

    Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders dressed as modern day pirates. Both hold swords
    Sketches and parodies, a fresh female take on comedy.

  • 1988: Talking Heads

    Alan Bennett wearing a heavy knit, dark brown jumper for his character in the first Talking Heads episodes from 1988
    Alan Bennett makes monologues mainstream.

  • 1989: Televising the House of Commons

    A remote controlled TV camera as seen in the House of Commons in 1989
    Producer Suzanne Franks brings TV to the Commons.

  • 1990: Oranges are Not the Only Fruit

    A pile of oranges in close up
    The drama that explodes assumptions and wins a BAFTA.

  • 1991: Comic Relief

    Lenny Henry stands in the centre of the picture pulling a face, with four other comedians behind him, two either side
    The first fundraising spin-off is launched.

  • 1992: Truly, Madly, Deeply

    Juliet Stevenson on the left and Alan Rickman, right in an embrace in Truly Madly Deeply
    A profoundly moving portrayal of grief.

  • 1993: Live and Kicking

    Andi Peters, Emma Forbes and John Barrowman sitting on a swing
    Saturday mornings will never be the same again.

  • 1994: The Fast Show

    Paul Whitehouse stands in the countryside with a woolly hat on, and his arms wide
    The name of the show says it all!

  • 1995: Pride & Prejudice

    Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet and Colin Firth as Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy standing in the open countryside in costume for Pride and Prejudice
    The adaptation remembered by a generation.

  • 1995: DAB radio

    A Pure Tempus DAB radio in a light wood case
    Digital Audio Broadcasting promises crystal clear audio.

  • 1996: Changing Rooms

    Carol Smillie and "Handy" Andy Kane with four other presenters from Changing Rooms
    The home makeover show that runs for 17 series over eight years!

  • 1997: Teletubbies

    The four Teletubbies standing in Teletubby land
    "Eh-Oh!"

  • 1997: BBC Online

    The original BBC Online logo, consisting of the letters BBC in sloping blocks and the word online in italics beneath it
    The BBC goes online, inspired by Director-General John Birt.

  • 1998: Goodness Gracious Me

    Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syall in character, sitting in a car for an episode of Goodness Gracious Me
    Classic sketches from Sanjeev and Meera.

  • 1999: The Murder of Jill Dando

    A portrait of Jill Dando
    The tragic death of one of the UK's best loved personalities.

  • 2000: 2000 Today

    Numerous personalities from the world of British entertainment at the time of the millennium celebrations
    Twenty eight hours of broadcasting sees in the new millenium.

  • 2001: The Office

    The regular cast from The Office, with Ricky Gervais on the far left
    Never did office life seem so funny.

  • 2002: River City

    Two of the main characters kiss in an episode of River City
    Showcasing life in the fictional district of Sheildinch for 20 years.

  • 2003: Launch of BBC Three

    The BBC Three logo, consisting of the letters BBC in square blocks, with the word Three written beneath it
    BBC Three launches as a real TV alternative for younger people.

  • 2004: Strictly Come Dancing

    Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly smiling for a publicity photo, at the start the 2004 series of Strictly Come Dancing
    Bruce and Tess take ballroom dancing to a whole new level.

  • 2005: Doctor Who

    Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper look eagerly to their left in front of the Tardis
    The Doctor returns to our screens after 16 years.

  • 2006: The One Show

    The opening title sequence of the BBC One series The One Show
    Guests, celebs and stories from around the UK.

  • 2007: BBC iPlayer

    The BBC iPlayer in its earliest form, showing a run down of programmes for a week
    A new way to catch up on your favourite TV.

  • 2008: BBC Arabic, BBC Persian

    The BBC Arabic television logo, with a styalised image of the globe on the left, with the BBC Arabic logo next to it, written in Arabic
    Two new channels serve a highly appreciative audience.

  • 2009: Cerrie Burnell

    An portrait of Cerrie Burnell
    The presenter who becomes the BBC's first Disability Ambassador.

  • 2009: Miranda

    Miranda and her friends sit on a sofa on the set of Miranda in 2009
    The RTS award-winning sitcom with plenty of surprises.

  • 2010: The Great British Bake Off

    Sue Perkins on the left holds a mixing bowl, and Mel Giedroyc holds a finished cake with strawberries on top
    On your marks, get set, bake!

  • 2010: Luther

    DCI John Luther played by Idris Elba, stands slightly to the right of the screen on a plane background
    Obsessed, determined, focussed - that's DCI John Luther.

  • 2011: Mrs. Brown's Boys

    Mrs Brown stands centre screen wearing a woollen knitted cardigan, surrounded by family and friends
    You eejit!

  • 2011: MediaCityUK becomes operational

    The Media City UK studios shown in relation to the water of the former dockyard where it stands in Salford
    Young people are first to broadcast from Salford.

  • 2012: Olympics

    Three British 2012 Olympic winners celebrate
    The first all-digital Olympic Games.

  • 2013: The 100 Women debate

    100 faces of women, framed in cirlces as a graphic device used to introduce the 100 Women Debate programme
    What it means to be a woman in the 21st Century.

  • 2013: New Broadcasting House

    An image of New Broadcasting House in London seen at night
    The Queen opens the new broadcasting headquarters.

  • 2014: Detectorists

    A head and shoulders image of a one of the Detectorists wearing headphones dressed ready for metal detecting
    Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones make metal detecting funny.

  • 2015: Poldark

    Aiden Turner in a flowing costume and hat sitting on horseback in Poldark
    All the romance and drama of the original.

  • 2015: Car Share

    Peter Kay and Sian Gibson in positive mood during a film shoot for Car Share
    Car sharing never was so funny!

  • 2016: Fleabag

    A tearful Phoebe Waller-Bridge stars in Fleabag
    Emmy award winning, and simply off-the-wall-comedy.

  • 2017: Gay Britannia

    Ben Wishaw, wearing army uniform in a pub, stars in Queers - part of Gay Britannia
    Star names, such as Ben Whishaw, launch a landmark season.

  • 2018: Killing Eve

    Villanelle and Eve Polastri the main characters in Killing Eve wearing red flowing dresses next to each other
    Seductive... and surprising.

  • 2019: RuPaul's Drag Race UK

    Drag queen RuPaul with blond hair and a shimmering dress
    The search is on for the United Kingdom's next drag superstar.

  • 2019: Years and Years

    Emma Thompson stars as Vivienne Rook, pictured on a podium political campaigning
    For 15 years the Lyons family navigate a highly volatile world.

  • 2020: I May Destroy You

    Arabella faces the camera face on, against a bright background
    "The perfect show for an anxious world" - New York Times.

  • 2020: Bitesize home learning

    The BBC Bitesize logo
    One of the biggest education offers in the BBC's history.

  • 2021: English league football

    The Premier League Trophy
    Finally - the league is back!

  • 2022: The Green Planet

    A modern city surrounded by exotic greenery and trees
    Stunning photography and surprising stories.