Series synopsis
Panorama is a British documentary news television series that premiered on BBC One on November 11, 1953. It stars Richard Dimbleby and Max Robertson.
Current affairs programme, featuring interviews and investigative reports on a wide variety of subjects.
Premise
Current affairs programme, featuring interviews and investigative reports on a wide variety of subjects.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Richard Dimbleby as Self - Presenter
- Max Robertson as Self - Presenter
Guest cast
- Veronika Hyks as Herself
- Nicky Campbell as Himself - Presenter: New York
- Nisha Pillai as Herself - Presenter: Islamabad
- John Sweeney as Himself - Presenter
- L. Ron Hubbard as Himself - Founder, Church of Scientology (archive footage)
- John Travolta as Himself (archive footage)
- Kirstie Alley as Herself (archive footage)
- David Miscavige as Himself - Leader, Church of Scientology (archive footage)
- Kevin Miles
- François-Xavier de Donnea
- Baron Bassam of Brighton
- Ghislaine Maxwell as Self
Episodes
This series spans 20 seasons with 482 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 19 | November 11, 1953 | August 4, 1954 |
| Season 2 | 22 | October 20, 1954 | August 10, 1955 |
| Season 3 | 43 | September 19, 1955 | July 30, 1956 |
| Season 4 | 42 | September 17, 1956 | July 22, 1957 |
| Season 5 | 41 | September 23, 1957 | July 14, 1958 |
| Season 6 | 2 | September 22, 1958 | January 26, 1959 |
| Season 7 | 45 | August 31, 1959 | July 18, 1960 |
| Season 8 | 46 | September 5, 1960 | July 31, 1961 |
| Season 9 | 1 | September 25, 1961 | September 25, 1961 |
| Season 10 | 5 | October 1, 1962 | October 29, 1962 |
| Season 11 | 2 | September 23, 1963 | April 6, 1964 |
| Season 12 | 1 | September 21, 1964 | September 21, 1964 |
| Season 13 | 38 | September 27, 1965 | August 18, 1966 |
| Season 14 | 1 | September 5, 1966 | September 5, 1966 |
| Season 15 | 14 | September 25, 1967 | April 1, 1968 |
| Season 16 | 44 | September 9, 1968 | July 28, 1969 |
| Season 17 | 48 | September 8, 1969 | August 24, 1970 |
| Season 18 | 10 | September 14, 1970 | August 23, 1971 |
| Season 19 | 49 | September 6, 1971 | August 21, 1972 |
| Season 20 | 9 | January 24, 1972 | December 18, 1972 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Inaugural edition. Leads with a report on the "brainwashing" of British spy Edgar Sanders after he was captured by the Soviets. Other items include a National Coal Board representative answering complaints about the quality of coal, a discussion about the state of the fishing industry and an art review section. |
November 11, 1953 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 A fortnightly magazine reflecting the contemporary scene. Guide and interviewer, Max Robertson Topic for Today - Background to important news. Worth Notice - Theatre: Lionel Hale; Books: Nancy Spain; Art: Denis Mathews Under Fire - Experts answer your grievances. Personal Appearance - People in the news. At Random - Reflections by Sir Stephen Tallents. Striptease - A telecartoon of passing events. |
December 9, 1953 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 A fortnightly magazine reflecting the contemporary scene. Guide and interviewer, Max Robertson Topic for Today Background to the news. Worth Notice A review of current plays, books, and art exhibitions. Under Fire Experts answer your grievances. Personal Appearance People in the news. At Random Striptease A telecartoon of passing events. |
December 23, 1953 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | October 20, 1954 |
| 2 |
W Somerset Maugham W Somerset Maugham has written a book about his favourite novels. In this interview, Malcolm Muggeridge questions him about his choices, beginning with one of the authors who didn't make it into his top ten. In selecting his personal favourites, and with some provocation from Muggeridge, Maugham reveals something of his own philosophy on the character of a good novelist.Please note, the original recording includes a brief dip in sound quality during this interview. |
November 2, 1954 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | November 17, 1954 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | September 19, 1955 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | September 26, 1955 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | October 3, 1955 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Tonight's edition is the first in a new series and includes a special holiday report from Richard Dimbleby on the Jerez Wine Festival in Spain, which this year was dedicated to Great Britain |
September 17, 1956 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | September 24, 1956 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | October 1, 1956 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Richard Dimbleby re-opens Television's Window on the World. |
September 23, 1957 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | September 30, 1957 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 This week's edition includes a Report from Syria: Woodrow Wyatt and the 'Panorama' cameras have penetrated into Syria, Russia's foothold in the Middle East, to bring you an exclusive film report on the present situation there. |
October 7, 1957 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 The return of Panorama, The Weekly Window on the World. Each Monday Panorama cameras bring home the challenge of Places - People - Problems that make news. Introduced by Richard Dimbleby and the team of Panorama commentators including Woodrow Wyatt, Christopher Chataway, George Scott, Robert Kee, John Freeman |
September 22, 1958 |
| 4 | Episode 4 | January 26, 1959 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | August 31, 1959 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | September 7, 1959 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | September 14, 1959 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | September 5, 1960 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | September 12, 1960 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | September 19, 1960 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | September 25, 1961 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | October 1, 1962 |
| 2 |
Panorama Goes to Italy Panorama cameras look at People-Places-Problems that make news in Italy on the eve of the Vatican Council with reports from Panorama's regular team of commentators Robin Day, Ludovic Kennedy, John Morgan, James Mossman. Directed in Rome by John Vernon In association with the Italian Television Service |
October 8, 1962 |
| 3 | Panorama: 500th Episode | October 15, 1962 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | September 23, 1963 |
| 2 |
Mods and Rockers John Morgan interviews groups of mods and rockers about their lifestyles. |
April 6, 1964 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | September 21, 1964 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | September 27, 1965 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 His Holiness Pope Paul VI visits the city of New York to speak at the United Nations. For tonight's Panorama, Richard Dimbleby reports live from New York by Early Bird satellite. |
October 4, 1965 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | October 11, 1965 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | September 5, 1966 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Including an interview with Harold Wilson in which prospect of devaluation of pound is discussed along with Vietnam War and unemployment. |
September 25, 1967 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | October 2, 1967 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | October 9, 1967 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | September 9, 1968 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | September 16, 1968 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | September 23, 1968 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | September 8, 1969 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | September 15, 1969 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | September 22, 1969 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | September 14, 1970 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | October 5, 1970 |
| 3 |
Ulster Alan Hart reports from Ulster and investigates how much support there is for the extremists active in the Roman Catholic community. |
November 9, 1970 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
B Specials Alan Hart reports from Ulster on efforts of disbanded B-Specials to campaign for a new force. |
September 6, 1971 |
| 2 |
The Cinderella Service The most important cause of death among the under-45s is accidental death. Need it be? Robert MacNeil examines the under-staffed and over-stretched accident and emergency facilities of the Health Service and asks: How safe is it to have an accident in Britain today? |
September 13, 1971 |
| 3 |
The Fight for the Wild Places Tonight Nicholas Harman reports from the edge of the Dartmoor Park on the opening shots being fired in a public enquiry which starts next week in Exeter about plans to expand mining operations which could affect this part of the Devon countryside for the next 50 years; shots whose echoes can be heard in other National Parks, as mining companies are being given permission to prospect for valuable minerals. |
September 20, 1971 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Two days ago, Britain was set on a new course when we signed the Treaty of Accession to the EEC. In Brussels, Panorama talks exclusively to the prime minister at this moment of personal triumph and asks him how he wants to shape and influence the Europe Britain is in the process of joining. |
January 24, 1972 |
| 2 |
Ulster Initiative Item on the Governments new initiative for a peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland; Alan Hart interviews SDLP leader Gerry Fitt in his Belfast constituency and Michael Charlton chairs discussion between Angus Maude & Norman St John-Stevas. |
March 13, 1972 |
| 3 |
Ulster: A Chance for Peace Michael Charlton and Richard Kershaw present programme, with report from Alan Hart on the Heath initiative on N Ireland, bringing direct rule over Ulster, and reactions to it. |
March 27, 1972 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC One |
|---|---|
| First aired | November 11, 1953 |
| Last aired | April 27, 2026 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | Returning Series |
| Schedule | Monday at 20:00:00 |