But there IS a programme about Russell's life and thought to be made - and it should be on R3, except, of course, that R3 seems to have abandoned serious debate / searching intellectual enquiry programmes. Why should there not be a return of The Brains Trust? Lot cheaper as radio than quite a lot we hear, I would have thought.
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I rather liked the clipped formality of personal exchanges, the way Russell addressed Moore as 'Moore' - no first names - and the way the Brains Trust chairman rapped out 'Russell' when he wanted a comment, as if he were a teacher picking out a pupil in class.Comment
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Russell's was far the easier to listen to, though. His speech was like a clear translucent stream, whereas Berlin's was more like a foaming cataract, the words tumbling over themselves in torrents.Originally posted by vinteuil View PostComment
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I remember the Brains Trust as comprising Campbell, Huxley, Joad, Sargent and Russell. Did the line-up ever vary? Even I was very young when it was broadcastComment
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According to wiki, the line-up varied quite a lot, over time. Interesting that the programme was co-created by Douglas Cleverdon, one of the best of radio producers (producing David Jones' In Parenthesis and the premier broadcast of Under Milk Wood, inter al).Comment
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Aside from you as listener, salymap were any of these chaps women?!Originally posted by salymap View Post
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From Wikipaedia:Originally posted by amateur51 View PostAside from you as listener, salymap were any of these chaps women?!
I have a little bird telling me that Sir Mortimer Wheeler and Jacquetta Hawkes appeared, probably not together. They both had their office in an annexe to the Library where I worked in the 60s. Did Lady Isobel Barnett and Gilbert Harding have a go or were they only on What's My Line?The original three members of the broadcasting team were C. E. M. Joad (a philosopher and psychologist), Julian Huxley (a biologist) and Commander A. B. Campbell (a retired naval officer). The chairman was Donald McCullough.
Later participants included: Noel Annan, Alfred Ayer, Michael Ayrton, Isaiah Berlin, Jacob Bronowski, Collin Brooks, Violet Bonham Carter, Kenneth Clark, Commander Rupert Gould, Will Hay, Bishop Joost de Blank, John Maud, Herbert Hart, Malcolm Muggeridge (chairman), Anna Neagle, Egon Ronay, Bertrand Russell, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Hannen Swaffer, Geoffrey Crowther (as chairman) and Barbara Ward.Comment
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Gilbert Harding was a regular, as far as I recall from my childhood viewing. I remember because my father considered him exceptionally rude at the time, which, presumably was the case?Originally posted by amateur51 View PostMany thanks for this, Chris
Yes yes, it would be good to have The Brains Trust back on TV... so much preferable to the bish-bash clamour of this morning's The Big Questions on BBC 1, with its patronising git of a presenter.Comment
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Which 'brains' would you include on the panel, S_A?Comment
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Good question, hmmm. Ms Charkrabati, for intelligent contributions on human rights; the Iranian-born lady whose name I always forget who runs Kids' Company just down the road in Camberwell; The Archbish of Canterbury; an articulate Immam to thoroughly explain Sharia Law; Jonathan Meades; John Pilger; the Dalai Lama (huh!); Oliver James.......... a start, anyway.Originally posted by aeolium View Post
Oh yes, and the marvellous Kate somebody who represents some gay women's organisation, and is a regular on The Big Questions.Comment
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It was in the days of Dr Sargent, not 'Sir; the men wouldn't have welcomed a woman. It was like chat at a London Club, I understand and they all had lunch at the Beefsteak or another club, either before or after the recording was made, with the question-master.Comment
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S-A Yes
A little bird told me of course.
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Thank you so much S_A, I love that Harry Enfield sketch, you have made my day and given me a laugh!Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View PostComment
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