The Computer Programme

The Computer Programme
Logo from The Computer Programme
Format	Computing
Presented by	Ian McNaught-Davis Chris Serle
Country of origin	UK
No. of episodes	10
Production
Running time	25 minutes (approx.)
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC 2
Picture format	PAL (4:3)
Original run	11th January 1982 – 15th March 1982
Chronology
Followed by	Making the Most of the Micro

The Computer Programme was a TV series, produced by Paul Kriwaczek, originally broadcast by the BBC (on BBC2) in 1982. The idea behind the series was to introduce people to computers and show them what they were capable of. The BBC wanted to use their own computer, so the BBC Micro was developed as part of the BBC Computer Literacy Project, and was featured in this series. The series was successful enough for two series to follow it, namely Making the Most of the Micro in 1983 and Micro Live from 1984 until 1987.

Presenters

The two studio presenters were Ian McNaught-Davis (known as 'Mac') and Chris Serle, the former showing the latter some of the rudimentary basics of computer operation and BASIC programming. The 'on location' reporter was Gill Nevill.

Format

Each programme would normally start with either Serle or McNaught-Davis introducing a real life situation where computers are being (or could be) applied - examples included the office, a car factory and the British Library. This would form the theme which would underpin the demonstrations shown on the programme.

Programmes

The series was split into 10 programmes, each about 25 minutes long and dealing with a particular subject area. They were as follows (original airdates in brackets):

1. It's Happening Now - (11 January 1982)
2. Just One Thing After Another - (18 January 1982)
3. Talking to a Machine - (25 January 1982)
4. It's On the Computer - (1 February 1982)
5. The New Media - (8 February 1982)
6. Moving Pictures - (15 February 1982)
7. Let's Pretend - (22 February 1982)
8. The Thinking Machine - (1 March 1982)
9. In Control - (8 March 1982)
10. Things to Come - (15 March 1982)

Theme Music & Opening Titles

The theme music to the programme was Kraftwerk's Computer World, taken from their 1981 album of the same name. The opening titles was an animation of an owl - the mascot (and logo) of the BBC Microcomputer system - flying into a domestic living room. The "owl" theme would be used on the two successor shows. The ending was Computer World 2, taken from the same album.

External links

• The Computer Programme on YouTube