In The Media

The background and history of the WTBS has featured in a number of online and television appearances. 

Here are links to see and hear them.

The Cold War Conversations Podcast

This  award-winning oral history project aims to preserve the stories of the Cold War before they are lost.  The WTBS featured on Episode 297 of the podcast. 

You can listen to it for free via this link: Cold War Conversations - Episode 297

BBC Newsline - Northern Ireland

This news piece, from BBC Northern Ireland's Newsline programme, is about the Ballymena SRHQ bunker and was recorded when the bunker was up for sale. 

The section on the WTBS studio starts at 1'42" in the embedded video.

The Independent

An overblown piece about the BBC bunker at Wood Norton. The inference is the BBC have something to hide in there, such as captive Cybermen.

It's ok if you want to waste 5 minutes of your life reading it.

NOTE: The bunker is not 10 storeys deep! 

BBC Prospero Magazine

This article appeared in the December 2016 edition of Prospero, the magazine for retired BBC staff.

It's an interview with Micheal Hodder, the last head of the Cold War era WTBS.

Micheal also features in the BBC Radio 4 Document programme on the WTBS called "Broadcasts From The Bunker", see below. 

BBC Radio 4 Document

Part of the Radio 4 Document strand, this 2008 programme is the BBC's own take on its Cold War era broadcasting role.

In all honsety it starts well but goes off into slight fantasy about the Corporation providing the equipment to allow the headquarters staff of the Royal Navy to validate the Prime Minister's directive to launch Britain's nuclear deterent.

Find it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b008wf68

 

How to Survive a Nuclear Attack

First shown on  the ITV network on 12th Nopvember 1981, this TV Eye programme focuses on Exercise Hot Seat, the training exercise  delivered at the  Home Office Defense College at Easingwold in the 1970 and 80s.

Those attending  are the chief officers from local authorities around the country. Over a two day period they learned and planned how to run their part of the country after a nuclear attack on the UK. 

Scenes depicting  fictional WTBS broadcasts are shown during the game-play.

Link here: https://youtu.be/wVFDcIM7K5g?si=7qIIXg7jLbyhQS28

"For years, the main house provided a magnificent entertaining space and was used for BBC board meetings. It also provided the location for several episodes of Doctor Who."

Independent Article  - "The BBC Bunker they don't want you to know about"