The award-winning investigative series returns, in which Mike Thomson takes a document as a starting-point to shed new light on past events.
Post-nuclear broadcasting
MondayÌý28 January 2008
For much of the last half of the twentieth centuryÌýthe ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ was preparing for post-Armageddon. Mike Thomson goes in search of the hidden bunkers, and the people told to staff them.
For much of the last half of the twentieth century Britain, along with many parts of the world, faced possible annihilation by nuclear weapons.
While the population at large were being advised to hide under the tables and cover their windows with sheets, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ was preparing for post-Armageddon.
A string of secret bunkers across the country, many of them used during war time days, were converted into subterranean studios.
Play lists were drawn up, presenters given scripted announcements and producers issued with sets of keys.
If anyone was still alive to listen ‘Auntie’ would be there to entertain and inform them.
Mike Thomson goes in search of the hidden bunkers, the people told to staff them and a secret safe said to contain the unreleased running orders for what was to be called ‘Radio 10’.
Further Reading
Dr. Kristan Stoddart (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow,Mountbatten Centre for International Studies,University of Southampton,) is the author of two books on nuclear weapons history due out with Palgrave Macmillan later this year.
They are part of a five volume collection under the series title Nuclear Weapons and International Security Since 1945' His books are titled :'Losing an Empire and Finding a Role' and 'The Sword and the Shield'. They cover the years 1964-1976.
