The enjoyment I have derived from writing this book is as much about the people it has brought me into contact with as the treasure trove of sources and fascinating stories that have come to life during the course of its research. To these people I owe a debt of gratitude for their help, guidance and invaluable insight. Chief among these is Peter Hennessy, my doctoral supervisor and the person who showed me what joy and excitement there was to be had in explaining history. This is also true of Jean Seaton, the official historian of the BBC and great chronicler of modern media, whose infectious appetite for understanding is a constant source of stimulation. Much of the primary research for the book was conducted as part of a PhD funded by a scholarship from the BBC and administered by the University of London through Queen Mary College. I am grateful to the family of Austen Kark (former Managing Director of BBC External Services) and his wife Nina Bawden for the honour the title of Austen Kark Memorial Scholar bestowed on me. Although facilitated by the BBC in its funding of the PhD, this work is academically independent and at no point have I, or the work, been subject to any external editorial influences.
It was at Queen Mary that I came alive to the possibilities of researching history and I would particularly like to thank James Ellison for his support and guidance in this, as well as John Smele, John Ramsden, Gary Magee, Philip Ogden, Virginia Davis, Matthew Grant, Catherine Haddon, and Gabriella Gera. My subsequent work at the Open University in the Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change has greatly benefited from collaboration and friendship with colleagues such as Marie Gillespie, Francis Dodsworth, Kath Woodward and Sophie Watson. A number of others in academic and related fields require special mention for the significant part they have played in supporting and enhancing my work. I am particularly grateful to Asa Briggs, David Cannadine, Nicholas Cull, Daniel Day, Anne Deighton, Michael (M.R.D.) Foot, Robert Fox, Suzanne Franks, David Hendy, Keith Kyle, Anthony McNicholas, Martin Moore, Michael Nelson, Barbara Parry, Lowell Schwartz, Tony Shaw, Heather Sutherland, and Bela Szombati. In addition, I am obliged to those whose tireless work behind the scenes in vital archives has made my research possible. In this regard, I would especially like to thank Jacquie Kavanagh, James Codd and Erin O’Neil at the BBC Written Archive Centre, and Sarah Tyacke and Stephen Twigge at the Public Record Office of The National Archives of the United Kingdom. I also want to thank Robert Seatter, Robin Reynolds, Katherine Schopflin, and John Escolme of the BBC Heritage department for their considerable assistance in facilitating the research project and supporting it through to publication.
In the course of researching this book it has been the greatest pleasure to encounter a wide range of programme and policy makers who made the BBC World Service what it is today. Their generosity of time and spirit has been invaluable, offering insight, understanding, and vital context. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to, Marie Anthony, David Wedgwood Benn, Noel Clark, Christopher Cviic, Dimiter Dimitrov, Leonid Finklestein, Christopher Graham, John Gray, Brian Hanrahan, Viola Huggins, Peter Johnson, Laszlo Jotischky, Tania Kelim, Dora Lavrencic, Hugh Lunghi, Jessica Macfarlane, Malcolm Mackintosh, Zdenka Mastnik, Graham Mytton, Antoni Pospieszalski, Hugh Saxby, Efim Slavinsky, Vania Smith, Dianko Sotirov, Andrew Taussig, Peter Udell, John (J.G.) Weightman, Wilf Weston, Charles Wheeler. They, among others, have illuminated and enriched my research. Any errors or mistakes in the book, however, are my own. Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank Willow Grylls for her support at all stages in the preparation of this book. Her penetrating eye for detail, sharp wit and companionship have made its completion possible.