The Brains Trust
- For other uses, see Brain Trust (disambiguation).
The Brains Trust was a popular informational BBC radio and later television programme in the United Kingdom during the 1940s and 50s.
History
The series was created by BBC producers Howard Thomas and Douglas Cleverdon.[1] The first series started on the Forces radio service in January 1941. The Brains Trust continued for 84 weeks continuously from its initial broadcast and became one of the most popular informational programmes ever. Due to its popularity, it was moved to the peak time on Sunday afternoons. It was typically heard by around 29% of the UK population and generated four to five thousand letters each week from the general public. During the early war years it helped raise morale on the Home Front, and the verbal sparring between its three original panel members, especially Julian Huxley and Cyril Joad, made one of the most popular programmes with listeners.(2)
The radio programme ended in May 1949 and transferred to BBC television in the 1950s. The soundtrack was broadcast on the Home Service during the week following the television broadcast.
Revival in the early 2000s
The programme enjoyed a brief revival in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when it was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. It was then presented by Joan Bakewell. It featured a variety of guests, including Theodore Zeldin, Ian Stewart [disambiguation needed], A.S. Byatt, Richard Dawkins and Angela Tilby.
Members
The original three members of the broadcasting team were C. E. M. Joad (a philosopher and psychologist), Julian Huxley (a biologist) and Commander A. B. Campbell (a retired naval officer). The chairman was Donald McCullough. Later participants included: Noel Annan, Alfred Ayer, Michael Ayrton, Isaiah Berlin, Jacob Bronowski, Collin Brooks, Violet Bonham Carter, Kenneth Clark, Commander Rupert Gould, Will Hay, Bishop Joost de Blank, John Maud, Herbert Hart, Malcolm Muggeridge (chairman), Anna Neagle, Egon Ronay, Bertrand Russell, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Hannen Swaffer, Geoffrey Crowther (as chairman) and Barbara Ward.
Format
The concept was simple. Viewers would send in questions on subjects ranging from practical conundrums to moral dilemmas and the panel members would answer them. The questions chosen for any given show were precisely that kind of mix and the panellists were chosen for the unique contributions each could bring to the subject matter - from the most erudite and serious to the most irreverent and comedic. One question which has become a classic example of its kind was 'How does a fly land on a ceiling? Does it loop the loop, or what?'. Although questions on religion and politics were initially included, these were banned as the programme progressed, following complaints from the Church and Government. It appeared that the typical intellectual appearing on the Brains Trust was likely to be both agnostic and socialist[citation needed].
The conversation was free wheeling and totally unscripted or rehearsed, relying on the skills of the presenters to fashion a cogent response in the time available. This produced an 'edge-of-the-seat' feel to the performance which did much to add to its popularity.
American version
An American version of this programme, devised and produced by then television producer/director Jeff Smith, aired on WTTW Channel 11, the PBS television outlet in Chicago in the early sixties with an original revolving "cast" of Alec Sutherland, Director of Continuing Education at the University of Chicago; Paul Haggerty, a former vaudevillian, musician and raconteur; Robin Pearce, an artist, film maker, lecturer on the fine arts and a world traveller; Paul Schilpp, a professor of philosophy at Northwestern University; Dick Applegate, foreign correspondent, TV newsman and commentator; Dan Q Posin, DePaul University Professor and host of his own television programme on WTTW, "Dr. Posin’s Universe"; Nathan Schwartz, philanthropist and raconteur; Ralph Eisendrath, lawyer and civic leader; and moderator Don Bruckner, at that time a labour writer for the Chicago Sun Times and for many years after that, a theater critic for the New York Times. Only four panellists plus the moderator appeared on each programme.
In contrast to the British programme, the questions for the American spin-off were revealed to the team beforehand so that they could have some time to think about them.
See also
References
- ^ Thomas, Howard With An Independent Air London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1977 ISBN 0-297-77278-3
- The Brains Trust information
- Judge,Tony, Radio Philosopher, The Radical Life of Cyril Joad: Charleston NC, Alpha House 2012 ISBN 97814669957128