#118 The General Strike at 100, part 1: Reith, Churchill and the Birth of BBC News

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa · May 2, 2026 · 40m

100 years ago to the day (at time of podcast release), Britain began to grind to a halt. Our first and only General Strike.

But while it was a time of national crisis, it was also an opportunity for the BBC - and particularly John Reith.

With most newspapers ceasing publication, the BBC gained a news division, and a reputation, for independence and impartiality - at least, that's what Reith hoped. But it meant opponents and critics at every turn - from strikers believing they were being unfairly ignored, to Winston Churchill thinking the BBC were too generous to the strikers. Surely, thought…