Bird's Eye View (TV series)

Bird's Eye View is a British television series produced by the BBC between 1969 and 1971, initially transmitted on BBC2. It was edited by Edward Mirzoeff, and was filmed entirely from a helicopter.

Bird's Eye View
Theme music composer	Johnny Dankworth
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	15
Release
Original network	BBC2
Original release	5 April 1969 (1969-04-05) – 26 December 1971 (1971-12-26)

An initial Bird's Eye View of Great Britain was shown on Christmas Eve 1967 and repeated a year later.[1] The full series contained the following editions:

• • The Englishman's Home by John Betjeman (5 April 1969; repeated 18 August 1971, 24 February 1974, 4 July 1983, 20 May 1987, 5 December 1992)
  • Man on the Move by Correlli Barnett, narrated by Leo McKern (25 May 1969; repeated 25 August 1971, 3 March 1974)
  • A Green and Pleasant Land by John Lloyd, narrated by Alan Dobie (22 June 1969; repeated 8 September 1971, 1 September 1972)
  • Portmeirion by Clough Williams-Ellis (28 June 1969)
  • The Island Fortress by John Terraine, narrated by Robert Lang (26 October 1969; repeated 31 August 1972, 10 March 1974, 24 May 1983, 6 June 1991)
  • John Bull's Workshop by Correlli Barnett, narrated by Alan Dobie (30 November 1969; repeated 30 August 1972)
  • Beside the Seaside by John Betjeman (25 December 1969; repeated 8 September 1972, 25 February 1973, 19 August 1977, 5 July 1983, 18 May 1987, 13 April 1989, 21 November 1992)
  • The Highlands and Islands of Scotland by William Carrocher (25 January 1970; repeated 11 August 1971, 25 March 1973, 25 May 1983)
  • What a Lovely Day by John Lloyd; main voice John le Mesurier (22 March 1970; repeated 3 April 1972)
  • Eastern Approach by Stuart Hood, narrated by Gordon Jackson (17 May 1970; repeated 1 September 1971, 26 May 1983, 6 June 1989, 17 August 1990, 28 November 1992)
  • From Bishop Rock to Muckle Flugga by William Carrocher (25 December 1970; repeated 5 September 1972, 20 January 1974, 10 October 1983, 12 May 1989, 12 December 1992)
  • Wales - the Western Stronghold by Rene Cutforth (28 February 1971; repeated 4 September 1972, 19 May 1987, 19 December 1992)
  • Inis Fáil (Isle of Destiny) by James Plunkett (17 March 1971; repeated 6 September 1972, 4 March 1973, 23 August 1992, 15 January 1993; co-produced with Raidió Teilifís Éireann)
  • A Land for All Seasons by John Betjeman (18 April 1971; repeated 22 May 1972, 11 March 1973, 7 July 1983 and 17 May 1989, although the last transmission was not under the Bird's Eye View title)
  • Switzerland by Herbert Meier (26 December 1971; co-produced with SRG SSR, RAI and Bayerischer Rundfunk)[2]

Some editions can be seen on the BBC's website[3] and the two 1969 editions narrated by John Betjeman are available on DVD.[4] Some further editions are available on YouTube.[5]

References

1. BBC Genome
2. BBC Genome
3. BBC Archive site
4. BBC Shop
5. YouTube channel containing four editions