Monitor (arts programme)

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Monitor was a BBC arts programme that was launched on 1 September 1958 and ran until 1965.

Huw Weldon was the first editor from 1958 to 1964. He was also the principal interviewer and anchor. Whelson set about moulding a team of talents, including John Schlesinger, Ken Russell, Patrick Garland, David Jones, Humphrey Burton, John Berger, Peter Newington, Melvyn Bragg, Nancy Thomas and Alan Tyrer. Monitor ranged in subject over all the arts. The hundredth show was a film directed by Ken Russell and written by Wheldon, the celebrated Elgar. The Elgar film was innovative because it was the first time that an arts programme showed one long film about an artistic figure instead of short items, and also it was the first time that re-enactments were used. Russell though, still met resistance from Wheldon in allowing actors to play the subjects of his films. The Elgar film includes sequences of the young composer riding his bicycle on the Malvern Hills accompanied by Elgar's Introduction & Allegro for Strings. Russell has said that he had a particular empathy with Elgar's music because, like the composer, he is a Catholic.^[1]

Monitor was ground-breaking because it featured films, sometimes just one full-length item, using actors to re-enact the subjects' lives. Prior to this, only photos or location shots had been used in programmes.

Wheldon's Monitor lasted until he had "interviewed everyone I am interested in interviewing", and he was succeeded by Jonathan Miller for the series' last season.

The theme tune was "Marcia" from Serenade for String Orchestra (Op. 11,1937) by Dag Wirén.^[2]