1967: John REITH explains the 'BBC ACCENT' | Lord Reith Looks Back | BBC Archive

John Reith, the first ever Director General of the BBC, talks to Malcolm Muggeridge about his time at the corporation. He explains the thinking behind his decision to instruct BBC broadcasters to speak in the rather artificial manner - which became known as the 'BBC accent' - as opposed to their own local dialects.
Lord Reith also discusses the advent of television, and his subsequent departure from the BBC.
This clip is from Lord Reith Looks Back, originally broadcast 30 November, 1967.
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[@cazharris5581]

To see a conversation with two individuals with different opinions and views enabling each to have their say without talking over each other is very refreshing…

[@valmarsiglia]

0:23 There really should be a flourish of organ music when he turns around and arches those magnificent eyebrows.

[@garryleeks4848]

Great aren’t they , could do with them on my bay window

[@dabrupro]

This is just fantastic. What a history and meta-history lesson. This man Reith reminds me of my grandfather (born in 1898, I think): He said so much with his eyes and silence and glancing at others while rolling his eyes without their moving. Controlling through self-control.

[@ghostofgralton6859]

Reith had glorious eyebrows

[@garryleeks4848]

Like curtains

[@harbhajansingh5306]

A very cordial,lively and healthy conversation with the duo in the archives of BBC.👍🙏

[@Tmuk2]

How things have changed - I should think that received pronunciation is informally "banned" from the BBC these days.

[@BadgerBotherer1]

Sadly.

[@user-ce8ut8hr9k]

All these historic films need to be uploaded in full.

[@what-uc]

He departed the BBC in June 1938. It may be helpful to put that in the description

[@cooks37]

He was a huge Nazi sympathizer. That might also be helpful to put in the description.

[@andydixon2980]

This is great TV history. I loved the interview John freeman gave to Lord Reith and didn't think there was anymore footage of him explaining his departure. Interesting character, who obviously had some regrets. I wonder what he would make of the Beeb in recent years.....

[@matthewprince9705]

There is something about Lord Reith - the way he carries his responsibility on his broad shoulders! The pipsqueaks appointed to the Lords since the 2010s are a joke!

[@hellie_el]

absolutely brilliant. thank you.

[@damnft8218]

These two are having the original “bottle of water” chat 😂

[@jimjiminy5836]

The water in Majorca also springs to mind.

[@culttelevision]

Sounds like the old DG popped into the BBC Club for a few (dozen) drams before pompous old Muggeridge mugged him off here . Nowadays, you need subtitles for most BBC commissioned voiceovers these days whereas the BBC used to be the calling card for the clarity of the English language globally.

[@dhnyc7550]

This is one of the most important individuals in the history of broadcasting. When John Freeman interviewed Reith on the storied "Face to Face", it always felt as though Reith was trying to intimidate his questioner. Here he has more respect for Malcolm Muggeridge, but it's still hardly a warm conversation. Reith was tough as nails, and knew what he wanted. He created the most respected broadcast organisation in the world, one that many tried to emulate, but few succeeded. Yet he does not seem at all likeable; note how he rarely looks at Muggeridge when a question is being asked.

[@begbieyabass]

Brilliantly. Now I know who John Lawrie from Dads Army modelled Pvt James on. Did anyone else pick it up.?

[@jac9301]

Oh I truly miss this old traditional English accent. So much better than today.

[@davidlittle7182]

it was made up

[@Asaski09]

Bruv what

[@chrisleggatt3240]

Aye

[@-pyrosef-]

​@@Asaski09 lmao exactly..

[@dorothyjordan4355]

Eu concordo plenamente. Queen accent, cultivated australian accent , oxford accent, transatlantic accent, broad australian accent parece que estão desaparecendo e são os mais belos sotaques de inglês.

[@jimjiminy5836]

Wonderful.

[@1Soniccool]

This guy got his name to be used in a font that the BBC currently uses

[@hilaryepstein6013]

Radio newsreaders in Lord Reith's time had to wear dinner jackets which I think says everything about him.

[@jac9301]

It's was an alright lifestyle back then, visit your tailor, pick up a fresh jacket, do the 6 o'clock news then off to dine at a nice restaurant.

[@d46512]

Muggeridge later wrote that Reith was a devout Christian who felt it was absolutely his responsibility to exemplify the Christian moral code in everything the BBC did.

[@whiggles9203]

Both good Christians

[@-pyrosef-]

Why do I alway find myself combing through the BBC's archive at 3:00 am after a couple of drinks..ill probably never know..and im okay with that. Thank you

[@jasonayres]

(6:20) To be fair to the gentleman, he was actually sitting *next* to the world. No wonder he was surprised.

[@thrilhous]

Me?!

[@smadaf]

I had the same thought!

[@Bizarro69]

What accent is the interviewer speaking in, that's what I want to know!!! absolutely LOVELY!!!!

[@Buttlands]

RP accent. Quite rare these days.

[@pressureworks]

Malcom Muggeridge ---The Life of Brian debate guy!

[@carltrotter7622]

Lord Reith went to my school.

[@nigefal]

It seems like the final step of British colonisation of control, Reith forced to manufacture an upper class English accent of his own to progress. And feels that he should also force on the main medium of communication to whole of the British population. The only hint of his real Scottish accent breaking through where he did not consciously turn to it was @8:43 where he said "Oh oh no" When his true accent seemed to appear involuntarily.

[@13strange67]

John Reith was right ( as always )

[@jdm65]

9:25 We have heard the chimes at midnight.

[@billyruss]

Ironic that Muggeridge himself has that exact BBC accent that he's discussing 🙂

[@richardmattocks]

I miss the BBC RP accent, it was a great leveller for actors and presenters which was exactly why it was invented. Regional accents are a huge step down except for drama productions.

[@dorothyjordan4355]

Eu concordo plenamente. Ia aprender a falar inglês britânico(queen accent e oxford accent) Agora só tenho como opção o general american english

[@rebekahmayne221]

I find the people bemoaning the lack of the RP accent, it wasn’t real! Regional accents are always more interesting, why would we want everyone to speak the same? It is also, very clearly, rooted in snobbishness

[@Hal9000ize]

I remember the Beatles making fun of this accent

[@claudiaxander]

Rest is politics sent me here!

[@nickelmouse451]

I'm so, so sorry

[@markpalmar70]

Once you had to talk properly/ To secure a job at the BBC/ But consonants have now been banned/ At the end of words cos they're too grand. Marc Lemon

[@cliftonbowers6376]

The ol southern uses old English..example yall is off of Yee All..

[@andyb619]

Great point

[@cliftonbowers6376]

A bunch including Sir Elton called me yesterday ...made my day ..also herd from Harry and Meghan they are my helpers and I'm getting tired..

[@bm8725]

Bring back the BBC accent. Everyone now sounds like a generic Guy Ritchie film character...........innit.

[@garryleeks4848]

Are these 2 of the muppet show

[@user-td4do3op2d]

I don’t think he really understood accents. When he tried to go into detail it make no sense.

[@pressureworks]

Yes he DID make sense. His reasoning was right. Of course he understood regional accents. He has a distinct one himself.

[@jac9301]

Except he knew the trends, the attitudes towards accents and crafted a universal one that is always capable of making one rightly assume that someone had a good level of education and trustworthiness. Seems like he was one who perfected the art in my opinion

[@davidlittle7182]

@@pressureworks looking at his early life I'd say his claim of being able to speak as broad Glaswegian as anyone as a bit lofty

[@user-td4do3op2d]

@@pressureworks No he did not understand accents. He tried to talk about rhoticity but got it completely wrong.

[@hand587]

It's a pity his reasoning ended at "people might laugh at a regional accent". Why is a regional accent any more or less likely to make someone laugh than an RP accent? Interestingly, Wilfred Pickles' Yorkshire accent helped listeners distinguish an official BBC broadcast from German propaganda, as they were less rehearsed in regional accents (and many of their UK/Ireland-born broadcasters already spoke RP as standard).

[@danmayberry1185]

Barely literate presenters signal the downfall of broadcasting. How can you claim your authority on a matter when half the audience doesn't take you seriously?

[@cliftonbowers6376]

Same has happened to Chris Cuomo..sad but true..

[@kaferere]

Malcolm Muggeridge was so hateful, every interview I've seen of him he's so drippingly condescending to everyone. His opening here was not really a question, it was an insult to Lord Reith along the lines of "you may be a Lord, but you can't hide that accent". It is an absolute classist attack. What a vile and conceited man Muggeridge was.