The Computer Programme


The Computer Programme was a TV series, produced by Paul Kriwaczek, originally broadcast by the BBC in 1982. The idea behind the series was to introduce people to computers and show them what they were capable of. The BBC wanted to use their own computer, so the BBC Micro was developed as part of the BBC Computer Literacy Project, and was featured in this series. The series was successful enough for two series to follow it, namely Making the Most of the Micro in 1983 and Micro Live from 1984 until 1987.

Presenters

The two studio presenters were Ian McNaught-Davis and Chris Serle, the former showing the latter some of the rudimentary basics of computer operation and BASIC programming. The 'on location' reporter was Gill Nevill.

Format

Each programme would normally start with either Serle or McNaught-Davis introducing a real-life situation where computers are being applied - examples included the office, a car factory and the British Library. This would form the theme which would underpin the demonstrations shown on the programme.

Distribution

The programme was broadcast in the United States in 1983 by PBS.
In addition, stock footage from The Computer Programme was incorporated into the 2009 BBC one-off drama Micro Men, which focused on the early fortunes of British computer manufacturers Sinclair Research and Acorn Computers, which both featured heavily on the show during its original run.
The show was aired as Connecta el micro, pica l'start on the Catalan channel TV3. This adapted version included the original 30 minutes taken from the BBC's show plus 15 minutes with original footage. In this original footage the BBC Micro computers were substituted by Dragon 200 computers, which were made in Spain.

Programmes

The series was split into 10 programmes, each about 25 minutes long and dealing with a particular subject area. They were as follows :
  1. It's Happening Now -
  2. Just One Thing After Another -
  3. Talking to a Machine -
  4. It's On the Computer -
  5. The New Media -
  6. Moving Pictures -
  7. Let's Pretend -
  8. The Thinking Machine -
  9. In Control -
  10. Things to Come -

    Theme music and opening titles

The theme music to the programme was Kraftwerk's Computer World, taken from their 1981 album of the same name. The opening titles was an animation of an owl - the mascot of the BBC Microcomputer system - flying into a domestic living room. The "owl" theme would be used on the two successor shows. The ending was Computer World 2, taken from the same album.