BBC APPEALS TO UPDATE ARCHIVE

A NATION-WIDE treasure hunt to unearth programme ‘gems’ which are missing from the vaults has being launched by BBC Information & Archives.
They are asking anyone who has recordings of pre-1980 television or radio programmes that might not be held by the BBC to contact them, so that they can have them back and they can be preserved for the enjoyment of generations to come.
Advances in digital technology mean any programme can now be easily preserved and made available for repeat or historical purposes. The BBC is investing in transferring all their programme archives - nearly a million hours of television and radio - on to digital formats.
To kick off the treasure hunt, a long-lost episode of hit 1960s comedy ‘The Likely Lads’ is being shown for the first time in 35 years on May 30 on BBC-2. It was recently turned up by Kaleidoscope, a team of keen amateur collectors who have kindly donated it back to the BBC archive.
Star Rodney Bewes said: "I am chuffed to bits that this has turned up and will be shown again. It will be a bit of nostalgia for some and a new experience for a whole new generation. I wish we could find some of the other programmes that are lost, but this is a start."
Films or tapes of lost programmes may be held by private collectors or former BBC producers. They may be copies that were licensed to be shown abroad and never returned. Or they could even be good quality home recordings from the television or radio of national events. The BBC will offer a modern format copy in return.
Anyone who wants more details about this treasure hunt or to offer any programmes should contact the BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/treasurehunt or call 0208 576 9501.
(GB)