''Monitor'' is a British arts television programme that was launched on 2 February 1958 on BBC and ran until 1965. Huw Wheldon was the editor from 1958 to 1962. He was also the principal interviewer and anchor until 1964. Wheldon set about moulding a team of talents, including W. G. Archer,

Melvyn Bragg Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg, (born 6 October 1939), is an English broadcaster, author and parliamentarian. He is best known for his work with ITV as editor and presenter of ''The South Bank Show'' (1978–2010), and for the BBC Radio 4 documenta ...

, Humphrey Burton, John Berger, Patrick Garland, Peter Newington,

Ken Russell Henry Kenneth Alfred Russell (3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011) was a British film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. His films in the main were liberal adaptation ...

, John Schlesinger,

Nancy Thomas Nancy Thomas (23 August 1918 – 7 January 2015) was a British television producer known for her work within the Talks Department of BBC Television. Thomas was born in Ranikhet, British India, to Charles D'Arcy Bingham and Bertha (née Birkbeck) ...

, and

Alan Tyrer Alan Tyrer (8 December 1942 – January 2008) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Everton, Mansfield Town, Bury and Workington, and was on the books of Arsenal An arsenal is a p ...

. ''Monitor'' ranged in subject over all the arts. The role as editor of the series was passed to Humphrey Burton in July 1962, lasting a year. He was succeeded by David Jones who had worked on the series since the beginning. The hundredth programme, made in 1962, was a film directed by Ken Russell and written by Wheldon, the celebrated '' Elgar''. The ''Elgar'' film was innovative because it was the first time that an arts programme showed one long film about an artistic figure instead of short items, and it was the first time that re-enactments were used. Before this, only photos or location shots had been used in programmes. Russell, however, still met resistance from Wheldon in allowing actors to play the subjects of his films. The ''Elgar'' film includes sequences of the young composer riding his bicycle on the Malvern Hills accompanied by Elgar's ''Introduction & Allegro for Strings''. Russell had a particular empathy with Elgar's music because, like the composer, he was a Catholic. Wheldon's ''Monitor'' lasted until he had "interviewed everyone e wasinterested in interviewing", and he was succeeded by Jonathan Miller for the series' last season in 1964/65. Miller was both presenter and editor. The theme tune was "Marcia" from ''Serenade for String Orchestra'' (Op. 11, 1937) by Dag Wirén. The book ''Monitor: An Anthology'', edited by Huw Wheldon, was published by Macdonald in 1962.

References

External links

* {{BBC programme
Monitor
on IMDb
Britain in a Box: Art for Art's Sake
BBC television documentaries 1958 British television series debuts 1965 British television series endings 1950s British documentary television series 1960s British documentary television series