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The BBC attempted to upstage ITV at its launch with a dramatic death in The Archers, newly released documents have revealed.
The corporation's archives were opened for the first time today. Among the documents newly made public was a 1955 memo from the controller of the Home Service radio station about its flagship soap.
"The more I think about it, the more I believe that a death of a violent kind in The Archers, timed, if possible, to diminish interest in the opening of commercial television in London, is a good idea," wrote H Rooney Pelletier.
The plan was put into action. On the night that ITV began broadcasting Grace Archer - having just married Phil - was killed off in a house fire.
Other items from the archive, dating back to 1922 when the BBC was founded, are available through its website.
The corporation's archives were opened for the first time today. Among the documents newly made public was a 1955 memo from the controller of the Home Service radio station about its flagship soap.
"The more I think about it, the more I believe that a death of a violent kind in The Archers, timed, if possible, to diminish interest in the opening of commercial television in London, is a good idea," wrote H Rooney Pelletier.
The plan was put into action. On the night that ITV began broadcasting Grace Archer - having just married Phil - was killed off in a house fire.
Other items from the archive, dating back to 1922 when the BBC was founded, are available through its website.
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