South Bank Show Production Archive
Contains records with digital mediaDetails
Type of record: Archive
Title: South Bank Show Production Archive
Classmark: MS 1959
Date(s): 1978-2010
Language: English
Size and medium: 8390 units, multiple media formats
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/397575
Collection group(s): South Bank Show Production Archive | Performing Arts Collections
Description
The South Bank Show Production Archive (SBSP, 1978-2010) is a nationally valuable audio-visual collection. First aired in 1978, the South Bank Show is a longstanding, popular British arts television show broadcast on the ITV network for over 30 years before its cancellation in 2010 (and subsequent revivification on Sky Arts in 2012). The collection offers insight into British arts programming over three decades, as the Show sought to celebrate and interrogate both 'high' and popular art forms, and the classical and the new in culture, both home-grown and from across the globe. The programmes covered a diverse spectrum of talented people, productions and events from stage to film and TV screens, ballet and poetry to popular music and haute couture. The first episode featured Paul McCartney (1978) and subsequent programmes went on to cover the Royal Shakespeare Company (1979; 1982; 2009) alongside Brookside (1986), profiled the likes of Satyajit Ray (1978), Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane
Grappelli (1980), Al Jolson (1986), Paula Rego (1992), Thora Hird (1994), Wayne Sleep (1998), Amos Oz (2001), Jeanette Winterson (2004), and Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2009), plus Yorkshire's own David Hockney (1978; 1981; 1983; 1988; 2010), the Phoenix Dance Theatre (1984) and Tony Harrison (1999). Melvyn Bragg's name is synonymous with the South Bank Show as its long-serving presenter and editor, while documentaries also came from Ken Russell (on classical music and musicians) and Tony Palmer with Isolde films. Comprising approximately 9000 items, the SBSP archive includes c.760 episodes and specials, and unseen rushes, spanning 33 years. The collection reflects the rapid changes in broadcast media technologies with holdings including 16mm film and 2” reel to reel audio tapes, through to digibeta and more recent formats, like DVCAM.
The SBSP Archive was acquired by the University of Leeds in January 2015 with the aim of both preserving and digitising the collection for use in research and teaching. The physical formats are not accessible but over 650 items have been digitised and are available through the catalogue.
Attached to this record is a complete list of all South Bank Show episodes identifying those which the university does and does not hold material for.
Enquiries about the production archive should be directed to Special Collections.
Access and re-use requests concerning broadcast episodes of the South Bank Show should be directed to the ITV Archive Press Centre directly (https://www.itv.com/presscentre/content/itv-archive).
Biography or history
The South Bank Show is a television arts magazine show, produced by ITV between 1978 and 2010 which brought both high art and popular culture to a mass audience. The South Bank Show was conceived, written and presented by former BBC arts broadcaster Lord Melvyn Bragg, Chancellor of the University of Leeds.
Provenance
The collection was managed by ITV archives until physical transfer to the University of Leeds in January 2015. Ownership remains with ITV.
Access and usage
Reproduction
Access
Parts of the South Bank Show Production Archive (SBSPA), have been digitised and are available to view online or in the Special Collections Research Centre. Items that have been digitised are marked with a blue bar describing the extent of digitisation.
Equipment is not available to view the master physical recordings.
Digitisation can be facilitated through an external agency. Please be aware that digitisation can be a lengthy and costly process. Costs are calculated on a case by case basis.
On our website
Profile: Lord Bragg of Wigton (born 1939)
A playwright, biographer and novelist, Oxford-educated Melvyn Bragg is best known for his 50-some years as an educational broadcaster. He also works with charities and cultural organisations, and is a Labour life peer. In 2009 he gave Leeds University Library his massive literary archive.