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Omnibus (British TV programme)

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Omnibus
GenreDocumentary
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of seasons37
Original release
NetworkBBC1 (1967-2001) BBC2 (2001-2003)
Release13 October 1967 (1967-10-13) –
8 January 2003 (2003-01-08)

Omnibus is an arts-based British documentary series, broadcast mainly on BBC1 in the United Kingdom. The programme was the successor to the long-running arts-based series Monitor.

It ran from 1967 until 2003, usually being transmitted on Sunday evenings. During its 35-year history, the programme won 12 Bafta awards.

Among the series' best remembered documentaries are Cracked Actor (1975), a profile of David Bowie; Rene Magritte (1979), a graduate film by David Wheatley;[1] “Madonna: Behind the American dream” (1990), a film produced by Nadia Hagger; and a profile of British film director Ridley Scott (1992).

For one season in 1982, the series was in a magazine format presented by Barry Norman.[2]

In 2001, the BBC announced that the programme was being switched to BBC2, prompting accusations that the Corporation was further marginalising its arts programming.[3] BBC controller of arts commissioning Roly Keating defended the move, saying "the documentary strand will be able to tackle a wider range of subjects."[3] Regarded as its "flagship arts programme", Omnibus was one of only two regular arts platforms broadcast at the time by the BBC.

In late 2002, the BBC announced that Omnibus would be cancelled the following year,[4] to be replaced by the arts series Imagine, hosted by Alan Yentob.

References

  1. ^ Obituary: David Wheatley by Leslie Megahey, The Guardian, 13 April 2009
  2. ^ Barry Norman bio, the Curtis Brown Literary and Talent Agency
  3. ^ a b "BBC arts chief defends Omnibus switch" by Jason Deans, The Guardian, 6 February 2001
  4. ^ "BBC to axe Omnibus, its arts flagship" by Catherine Milner, The Daily Telegraph, 3 November 2002


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