The world of British television off and on the screen, as it was sixty years ago.

Doctor, Doctor…

The 14-day rule rumbles on and under the headline “BBC’s Opposition to 14-Day Rule” The Guardian quotes a BBC spokesman who said that “it was the corporation’s opposition to the ‘fortnight rule’ which led the Postmaster-General, Dr Charles Hill, to issue a prescription ordering the corporation to adhere to what had previously been an unofficial ban.”

“The corporation told the parliamentary leaders this year, in effect, that it could no longer be bound by the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ reach on this subject in 1947 and 1948 unless the obligation was issued as a formal directive by the Postmaster-General in accordance with the terms of the license.”

“The corporation had accepted the prescription unwillingly and regarded it and the earlier agreement with equal disfavour.” He added that, “the prescription would be apt to limit the BBC’s responsibilities to the nation under the terms of the charter and its freedom of action.”

(That’s enough doctor/prescription jokes – Ed.)

The Guardian’s “London Correspondence” column reports that “the grey and gritty facade” of Adastral House in Aldwych has been “transformed to a snowy white by a battalion of cleaners.” The building is soon to be renamed Television House and will house the staffs of Associated-Rediffusion, the Associated Broadcasting Company and Independent Television News.

Typical Thursday-night fare on the box tonight: at 7.45pm Disneyland presents “Story of Pluto” and this is followed, at 8.15pm, by another Down You Go! David Attenborough produces a half-hour on The Ascent of Kanchenjunga at 8.45pm and then the remainder of the evening is taken up with a repeat of the T. S. Eliot play The Confidential Clerk.

Roll on September 22.

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