The Brains Trust

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See also the unrelated Brain Trust in the US.

The Brains Trust was a popular informational BBC radio and later television programme in the United Kingdom during the 1940s and 50s.

The first series of The Brains Trust started on radio in September 1942. It followed a radio programme called Any Questions first broadcast in January 1941. The Brains Trust continued for 84 weeks continuously from its initial broadcast and became one of the most popular informational programmes ever. Due to its popularity, it was moved to the peak time on Sunday afternoons. It was typically heard by around 29% of the UK population and generated four to five thousand letters each week from the general public.

The original three members of the broadcasting team were C. E. M. Joad (a philosopher and psychologist), Julian Huxley (a biologist) and Commander A. B. Campbell (a retired naval officer). The chairman was Donald McCullough. Other participants included: Noel Annan, Alfred Ayer, Michael Ayrton, Isaiah Berlin, Collin Brooks, Violet Bonham Carter, Kenneth Clark, Norman Fisher (as chairman), Commander Rupert Gould, Will Hay, John Maud, Anna Neagle, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Hannen Swaffer and Barbara Ward.

The radio programme ended in May 1949 and was transferred to BBC television in the 1950s. The soundtrack was broadcast the Home Service during the week following the television broadcast.