1983 BBC Breakfast Time/BBC News

December 23rd 1983 and Breakfast Time from 8am With Mike Smith and Selina Scott. On the 17th of December an IRA bomb had killed 6 people and injured 90 outside Harrods then, on Christmas night a further bomb exploded in Oxford Street but, no-one was injured - Jan Leeming presents the news from that night

[@PaulTaylor1]

Debbie Rix had a voice I could listen to for ever! This just reminds me of eating breakfast in the kitchen with my mum and dad, getting ready for school... I'm not sure my dad really watched it, my memory is of him reading the paper but it was always on.

[@johnking5174]

BBC Breakfast Time of 1983/84 were truly thumping their rival TV-am over on ITV into the ground. The glory years of BBC Breakfast Time was from January 1983 until February 1985 in my opinion, as when they moved the start time to 6.50am in Feb 1985, it was the first sign they were losing their stability.

[@garrysimpson1395]

Indeed. Many happy memories. Bob Friend went on to be one of the first presenters of Sky News in 1989 I seem to remember.

[@johnking5174]

This edition aired on Friday 23rd December 1983, BBC Breakfast Time then took a short break (unlike TV-am who remained on air due to their seven day a week franchise contract on ITV). Breakfast Time returned on Wednesday 28th December 1983.

[@G7LWT]

Thanks for taking the time to upload and share - happy memories...

[@johnking5174]

15:28 - At this point all but one of the BBC One regions opted out for the regional news. However us poor lot in London/South East were left with the BBC Breakfast Time presenters, reading our local headlines with Francis Wilson giving the London/SE Weather, as they had no dedication regional news team for London/SE until autumn 1984.

[@ajs41]

What was the reason?

[@johnking5174]

@@ajs41 Hi Andrew - it was a very strange situation. BBC One in London/SE was always treated appalling by the BBC due to two reasons - first was the attitude at the BBC that if an important London based news story happened, it would be on the national news, as London is the captial. Second, the region is HUGE, and the BBC did not want to spend the money covering a region with a population close to 10 million people. This is why Nationwide were left to provide the early evening news for London/SE for all of the seventies and the start of the 80s. As Nationwide was a programme based all around using the regional newsrooms of the BBC, they felt Nationwide was perfect to bring London news, and save cash. Same attitude when Breakfast Time launched, save cash and get the main anchors give the headlines.

[@ajs41]

@@johnking5174 Thanks John.

[@benreadspoetry7958]

I find it quite cool that you got your local news from the national presenters - just like now when the London lunchtime news on ITV is presented by the ITN national presenter!

[@johnking5174]

@@benreadspoetry7958 It was strange, but that all ended in 1984 when London Plus launched, and got gradually better when Newsroom South East launched in 1989.

[@darrenwalsh354]

Wonderful memories 💖

[@johnking5174]

BBC One on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 1983 opened up at the later time of 8.35am. Programming on Boxing Day and 27th December started at 9.00am. BBC Breakfast Time team given a good rest, due to the extended Christmas Bank Holiday, as Christmas Day landed on a Saturday in 1983.

[@phillipgreer4875]

Surely it fell on a a Sunday in 1983, it was on a saturday in 1982!

[@johnking5174]

@@phillipgreer4875 Christmas Eve 1983 landed on a Saturday, with of course Christmas Day 1983 following on a Sunday. Apologies for any mistakes.

[@givemethevalium]

Frank Bough at the height of his career...even coming in on his day off !

[@demiurge1608]

time… flies..

[@Chillmax]

Totally brilliant Yuletide gift for us (me) David, many thanks!! On the proper red sofa & Selina looking lovely, can't wait to watch all 40 minutes. Thanks for going to the trouble of uploading. & A Very Happy Christmas to You & Yours.

[@bdavebaldwin]

Chillmax the look north opt out surprised me more for the fact that most of those that got a mention are dead

[@gillianbuchanan9620]

I seem to recall Russell Grant and Mystic Meg being on BBC breakfast around this time. Do you have any clips of them?

[@bdavebaldwin]

I will have a look but I can’t remember them that often on. The BBC only put Breakfast Time on to spite itv and couldn’t wait to get rid. Unfortunately tv-am was such a high brow mess they were there for a while

[@MichaelBennett1]

Ohhhh Selina.

[@jollyturnip]

Barry Chambers on Look North opt there - scared me as a kid

[@bdavebaldwin]

jollyturnip you should have gone for the fully blown nightmare and watched calendar or calendar lobby or calendar countdown or calendar catwalk (yes really)

[@ahmeddhagahofficial9034]

16th December 1983

[@joereddington9871]

Pp

[@ajs41]

Selina Scott looks very mid-80s even though it's only 1983.

[@noellegunning3301]

Yes, I agree. The hair style especially.

[@Chillmax]

I've just looked at the BBC Christmas schedules, for all channels... what a total disgrace, a joke, an oozing trifle of cartoons and, and, well nothing else of note at all. I definitely grew up in a 'golden age' & I've defended it for years as a pillar of society , but I think it's all over now & it's days are numbered, barring possibly the radio output & the news channel, Au Revior Auntie.

[@catherinechapman8715]

Hi! My Dad was on this episode! How can I obtain a full copy of this episode please?

[@catherinechapman8715]

Sorry in all my excitement - he was a singer in Men Only who performed requests viewers on BBC breakfast time. We lost our copy years ago of this and can’t find it anywhere. If you could help I’d be so grateful as searched archives and it’s not there!? Thank you it would really make our year.

[@bdavebaldwin]

There isn’t much more than what I’ve up loaded if you need any info drop an email

[@bdavebaldwin]

I’ve checked the tape and unfortunately all there is there is an introduction by Selina Scott and about 1 line of we three kings

[@CliveEvans-oj2nn]

They e were good Christmas times then

[@dominewimbury2039]

Who was that baby boy?

[@JHollowayNetwork]

All copyrights belong to the BBC and its respective holders, no copyright infringement is intended!

[@MarkGenner-xz4zu]

Friday 23rd December 1983

[@MarkGenner-xz4zu]

Christmas Eve.

[@MarkGenner-xz4zu]

Christmas Day.

[@MarkGenner-xz4zu]

Boxing Day.

[@MarkGenner-xz4zu]

New Year’s Eve.

[@MarkGenner-xz4zu]

New Year’s Day.

[@barbaraannecortina7899]

if Jan Leeming was presenting the news that night then how come the whoever was announcing said that the film was 'Better Late Than Never"...explain THAT one, Einstein? if you don't believe me then here's a link genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/1983-12-23