AJP Taylor on BBC Two

[johnb]

I've just stumbled across something that has left me in a state of shock.

BBC Two are broadcasting a series of lectures by AJP Taylor on WWII leaders at 13:20 every day this week. No background music, no dramatisations, no film clips, no photographs - just AJP Taylor.

[Dave2002]

Ah - could be interesting. I think he came to my school many years ago to give a talk. Seemed interesting at the time, but I remember virtually nothing of it.

[P. G. Tipps]

He obviously had a bad back ...

[gamba]

He was once seen riding down past the outside of my house in Muswell Hill many years ago, sitting on a child's toy trolley. Posibly cause of bad back ?

[Karafan]

I've just stumbled across something that has left me in a state of shock.

BBC Two are broadcasting a series of lectures by AJP Taylor on WWII leaders at 13:20 every day this week. No background music, no dramatisations, no film clips, no photographs - just AJP Taylor.

Thanks for the tip off Johnb - how long are these lectures please?

K

[johnb]

They seem to be 30 minutes each.

[Stillhomewardbound]

They seem to be 30 minutes each.

I've watched them and rewatched them for many years and yes, they were more or less off the cuff.

Brian Walden attempted to follow in his shadow some years later and I tried to watch one recently but his midlands accent and nasally twang was too strong for me.

[Richard Tarleton]

He was once seen riding down past the outside of my house in Muswell Hill many years ago, sitting on a child's toy trolley. Posibly cause of bad back ?

He was run over by a car in 1984, gamba, and later suffered from Parkinsons. Could it have been a mobility scooter?

Yes they were off the cuff.

He was very fashionable when I was an undergraduate. His feud with HT-R was good value.

[Conchis]

I've watched them and rewatched them for many years and yes, they were more or less off the cuff.

Brian Walden attempted to follow in his shadow some years later and I tried to watch one recently but his midlands accent and nasally twang was too strong for me.

I thought Walden's analysis of Labour leaders of the past was quite masterly, as was his clear-eyes assessment of Nelson Mandela. Even rather liked his accent. :)

[ardcarp]

Weally?

[P. G. Tipps]

Well I suppose there's 'off the cuff' and 'off the cuff' ...

Taylor did tend to lecture in a seemingly 'chatty' style but, periodically, he looks downwards where, I suspect, will have lain his prompts/notes out of view of the camera?

As others have mentioned, though, very refreshing to get a calmly-delivered history lesson without the usual hype and hyperbole.

[Karafan]

Weally?

[JimD]

Do the programmes have a title? Are they on iPlayer?

[mercia]

Taylor - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009bf3z/episodes/guide

Walden - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b051...pisodes/player

Gilbert - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b051...pisodes/player

Wheeler - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0524mrd/episodes/guide

[BBMmk2]

I sa these lectures when first broadcast. Very enjoyable.