BBC Releases Nuclear Attack Guidelines...For 1970

Floyd · 10-03-2008, 07:41 AM

This is a BBC script just released that was to be sent out in the event of a nuclear attack on the UK in the 1970's. Interesting reading.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7648042.stm

Antaletriangle · 10-03-2008, 08:09 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7648042.stm
This can be interpreted in quite a disconcerting way-why suddenly this has been released?Is a nuke attack expected??The reason i say this is because it's on todays headlines page and why make headlines?.He points out that a recorded announcement by an unfamiliar voice, or one that had not been heard for some years might suggest that the BBC was no longer "still there".

"Indeed, if an unfamiliar voice repeats the same announcement hour after hour for 12 hours listeners may begin to suspect that they are listening to a machine set to switch on every hour (or even that it has got stuck) and that perhaps after all the BBC has been obliterated," he warned.

He advises that a more obvious "Voice of the BBC" might emerge during the days and weeks of crisis leading up to any attack.

BBC nuclear bomb script released

Scripts were written to reassure the public the BBC was "still there"
A script written by the BBC and the government to be broadcast in the event of a nuclear attack has been published.

The script, written in the 1970s and released by the National Archives, included instructions to "stay calm and stay in your own homes".

It said communications had been disrupted, and the number of casualties and extent of damage were not known.

Other papers reveal debates about how to ensure the person reading the script was authoritative and comforting.

The script was discussed from 1973 to 1975, during the Cold War.

'Voice of the BBC'

It was released along with letters between government departments and BBC executives.

Average Joe · 10-03-2008, 03:17 PM

It hasn't just been released.

I remember reading an article about it on the BBC two or three years ago.

Average Joe · 10-03-2008, 03:24 PM

Here you go...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4565880.stm

This article was from 2005, and features the "actual" script being read, as is, in 1975.

This was all prepared in 1975, and was highly classified, and as such was simply released in 2005, 30 years later, under the FOI act.

smat · 10-03-2008, 04:48 PM

what I think the OP meant was that maybe this was shown today for a reason.
I have been watching BBC news and I seen it too and I also felt that this was shown today for a reason.

10-03-2008, 07:41 AM	#1
Floyd Retired Avalon Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 65	BBC Releases Nuclear Attack Guidelines...For 1970 This is a BBC script just released that was to be sent out in the event of a nuclear attack on the UK in the 1970's. Interesting reading. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7648042.stm

10-03-2008, 08:09 AM	#2
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Re: BBC Releases Nuclear Attack Guidelines...For 1970 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7648042.stm This can be interpreted in quite a disconcerting way-why suddenly this has been released?Is a nuke attack expected??The reason i say this is because it's on todays headlines page and why make headlines?.He points out that a recorded announcement by an unfamiliar voice, or one that had not been heard for some years might suggest that the BBC was no longer "still there". "Indeed, if an unfamiliar voice repeats the same announcement hour after hour for 12 hours listeners may begin to suspect that they are listening to a machine set to switch on every hour (or even that it has got stuck) and that perhaps after all the BBC has been obliterated," he warned. He advises that a more obvious "Voice of the BBC" might emerge during the days and weeks of crisis leading up to any attack. BBC nuclear bomb script released Scripts were written to reassure the public the BBC was "still there" A script written by the BBC and the government to be broadcast in the event of a nuclear attack has been published. The script, written in the 1970s and released by the National Archives, included instructions to "stay calm and stay in your own homes". It said communications had been disrupted, and the number of casualties and extent of damage were not known. Other papers reveal debates about how to ensure the person reading the script was authoritative and comforting. The script was discussed from 1973 to 1975, during the Cold War. 'Voice of the BBC' It was released along with letters between government departments and BBC executives.

10-03-2008, 03:17 PM	#3
Average Joe Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 377	Re: BBC Releases Nuclear Attack Guidelines...For 1970 It hasn't just been released. I remember reading an article about it on the BBC two or three years ago.

10-03-2008, 03:24 PM	#4
Average Joe Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 377	Re: BBC Releases Nuclear Attack Guidelines...For 1970 Here you go... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4565880.stm This article was from 2005, and features the "actual" script being read, as is, in 1975. This was all prepared in 1975, and was highly classified, and as such was simply released in 2005, 30 years later, under the FOI act.

10-03-2008, 04:48 PM	#5
smat Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Posts: 128	Re: BBC Releases Nuclear Attack Guidelines...For 1970 what I think the OP meant was that maybe this was shown today for a reason. I have been watching BBC news and I seen it too and I also felt that this was shown today for a reason.