The South Bank Show 1978
What is The South Bank Show?
The South Bank Show is a television arts magazine show that was produced by ITV between 1978 and 2010. A new series began on Sky Arts from 27 May 2012.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1978
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 776
- Runtime
- 60 minutes
- First aired
- Jan 14, 1978
- Last aired
- Aug 29, 2023
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- GB
- Networks
- ITV1, Sky Arts
- Genres
- Documentary, Talk
- Updated
Where to watch
Stream
Sky Go
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 776 episodes and an average 60-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
The South Bank Show is a television arts magazine show that was produced by ITV between 1978 and 2010. A new series began on Sky Arts from 27 May 2012. The show is presented by Melvyn Bragg and aims to bring both high art and popular culture to a mass audience. The series was originally produced by London Weekend Television and broadcast on ITV. Melvyn Bragg is the show's presenter and also conceived and wrote it. The show features interviews with various guests, including artists and musicians. The South Bank Show has been a long-running arts series, with a new version starting on Sky Arts in 2012. The show's format allows it to cover a wide range of topics and guests, making it a unique and informative program. The South Bank Show has had a notable run, with its start in 1978 and continuation into later years.
Should you watch it?
“A long-running arts magazine exploring culture with Melvyn Bragg.”
- Bragg's engaging interview style
- mixes high art with popular culture
- longevity shows consistent quality
- may seem dated to newer viewers
- focus on British culture limits scope
you're curious about arts and culture discussions.
Suitable for general audiences interested in cultural programming.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 24 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Paul McCartney/surrealist exhibition Jan 14, 1978
- E2 Paganini Superstar Jan 21, 1978
- E3 Roy Minton Jan 28, 1978
- E4 David Hockney Feb 4, 1978
- E5 Dennis Potter Feb 11, 1978
- E6 John Peel/Jane Glover Feb 18, 1978
- E7 Arabian Days (Edna O'Brien)/Quentin Crisp Feb 25, 1978
- E8 Jacques Loussier Mar 4, 1978
- E9 Ken Dodd Mar 11, 1978
- E10 Georges Simenon Mar 18, 1978
- E11 Horowitz at the White House Mar 25, 1978
- E12 Carl Perkins/Morgan horses Apr 1, 1978
- E13 Carry On with Paul Morissey (Carry On ... films) Apr 8, 1978
- E14 Search for Shaw Apr 15, 1978
- E15 Harold Pinter Apr 22, 1978
- E16 Satyajit Ray/John Williams/Ralph McTell Apr 30, 1978
- E17 Portrait of a Conductor: Herbert Von Karajan May 6, 1978
- E18 Freddie Young May 13, 1978
- E19 Frank Auerbach May 20, 1978
- E20 Mayerling Ballet Jun 17, 1978
- E21 John Osborne on Wardle's book on Devine/Pearl (radio play) Jul 1, 1978
- E22 Ingmar Bergman at 60 Jul 8, 1978
- E23 Hullabaloo over George and Bonnie's Pictures (1) Jul 15, 1978
- E24 Hullabaloo over George and Bonnie's Pictures (2) Jul 22, 1978
Season 2 · 24 episodes
- E1 Tom Stoppard Nov 26, 1978
- E2 Grace Under Pressure (Anthony Burgess on Hemingway) Dec 3, 1978
- E3 Woody Allen Dec 10, 1978
- E4 Anatomy of an Opera: Jonathan Miller's Figaro Dec 17, 1978
- E5 Rhythm of Resistance (South African music) Jan 14, 1979
- E6 Harmony of the Spheres (Neil Ardley) Jan 21, 1979
- E7 Circus Clowns/Schubert recital by Richter Jan 28, 1979
- E8 Royal Shakespeare Company on tour Feb 4, 1979
- E9 Brimstone & Treacle (Dennis Potter) / John McLaughlin, a Musical Journey Feb 11, 1979
- E10 The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith / Edward Gorey / Gunter Grass Feb 18, 1979
- E11 Michael Cimino / Alan Bennett, Stephen Frears Feb 25, 1979
- E12 Gordon Williams, Alan Sharp, Eddie Boyd Mar 4, 1979
- E13 Derek Boshier / Ingrid Bergman, Ingmar Bergman Mar 11, 1979
- E14 Neil Simon Mar 18, 1979
- E15 Beryl Cook / Cloud Nine rehearsals Mar 25, 1979
- E16 Graham Sutherland Apr 1, 1979
- E17 Darryl Way / Howard Brenton Apr 22, 1979
- E18 The Europeans (film) / Joseph Heller Apr 29, 1979
- E19 Asian Arts festival May 6, 1979
- E20 Billy Connolly May 13, 1979
- E21 Jessye Norman May 20, 1979
- E22 Rough Trade (record label) / Allen Jones May 27, 1979
- E23 Scum (film) / Keith Jarrett Jun 17, 1979
- E24 Michael Tippett (90 min.) Jun 24, 1979
Season 3 · 19 episodes
- E1 Francis Ford Coppola Dec 2, 1979
- E2 Royal Shakespeare Company masterclass (1) Dec 9, 1979
- E3 Royal Shakespeare Company masterclass (2) Dec 16, 1979
- E4 Talking Heads Dec 23, 1979
- E5 Love and the Ice-Cream Vendor Feb 17, 1980
- E6 Fay Weldon / Richard Hogart on Northern Ireland in drama Feb 24, 1980
- E7 Merce Cunningham Mar 2, 1980
- E8 Elegies for the Deaths of Three Spanish Poets Mar 9, 1980
- E9 A Time There was ... (Benjamin Britten) Apr 6, 1980
- E10 The Greene Adaptations (Graham Greene films) Apr 13, 1980
- E11 Salsa (Puerto Rican music) Apr 27, 1980
- E12 The Worlds of Edward Bond May 4, 1980
- E13 Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane Grappelli / Kinglsey Amis May 11, 1980
- E14 new British rock films / The Tin Drum (film) May 18, 1980
- E15 Roman Polanski May 25, 1980
- E16 Tom Wolfe Jun 1, 1980
- E17 Andrew Wyeth Jun 8, 1980
- E18 Angus Wilson Jun 29, 1980
- E19 Jane Austen (film) Jul 6, 1980
Season 4 · 26 episodes
- E1 Arthur Miller Nov 9, 1980
- E2 William Golding Nov 16, 1980
- E3 Akira Kurosawa Nov 23, 1980
- E4 Stravinsky's The Firebird Nov 30, 1980
- E5 No Need to Lie Dec 7, 1980
- E6 The Passion (National Theatre's updating of medieval plays) Dec 14, 1980
- E7 Toni Morrison Jan 18, 1981
- E8 The Trespasser (film) Jan 25, 1981
- E9 Don Juan in Hell Feb 8, 1981
- E10 poetry workshop Feb 15, 1981
- E11 Martin Scorsese Feb 22, 1981
- E12 Elizabeth Taylor / John Hubbard Mar 1, 1981
- E13 Bob Fosse Mar 8, 1981
- E14 Robert Redford / Martin Amis Mar 15, 1981
- E15 Verity Bargate / Howard Hodgkin Mar 29, 1981
- E16 At the Haunted End of the Day: the Life of Sir William Walton Apr 19, 1981
- E17 Gore Vidal Apr 26, 1981
- E18 The Roots of the Tree (Ermanno Olmi) May 3, 1981
- E19 Colin Welland May 10, 1981
- E20 Christopher Logue / Phillip King May 17, 1981
- E21 Lulu's Last Act (Berg opera) May 24, 1981
- E22 Dame Ninette De Valois / David Hockney on Picasso May 31, 1981
- E23 Clive James / Craig Raine Jun 7, 1981
- E24 Soviet Art Jun 14, 1981
- E25 Rhythm and Blues (The Blues Band, Dr. Feelgood, Nine Below Zero, Paul Jones) Jun 21, 1981
- E26 Music for a City: Venice Jun 28, 1981
Season 5 · 27 episodes
- E1 The French Lieutenant's Woman Nov 1, 1981
- E2 Elvis Costello Nov 8, 1981
- E3 Old Glory: the Journey and the Book Nov 15, 1981
- E4 Ian McKellan / Ian McEwan Nov 22, 1981
- E5 Brian Moore / Patrick Caulfield Nov 29, 1981
- E6 A Talent to Vex: John Osborne Dec 6, 1981
- E7 Mama Lu Parks Jan 17, 1982
- E8 Bernard D'Ascoli / Theatre of the 8th Day Jan 24, 1982
- E9 Milos Forman Jan 31, 1982
- E10 Germaine Greer Feb 7, 1982
- E11 Pauline Kael / George Steiner's The Portage to San Cristobal of AH Feb 14, 1982
- E12 Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller Feb 21, 1982
- E13 Blacck Theatre Cooperative / Laurie Anderson Feb 28, 1982
- E14 Guys and Dolls (at the National Theatre) Mar 7, 1982
- E15 Richard Alston's Bellezza Flash Mar 14, 1982
- E16 Peter Maxwell-Davies Mar 21, 1982
- E17 Saul Bellow Mar 28, 1982
- E18 Indian wallpainting Apr 4, 1982
- E19 Stravinski (1) Apr 9, 1982
- E20 Stravinski (2) Apr 10, 1982
- E21 Julian Lloyd-Webber Apr 18, 1982
- E22 Miles Davis / Robert Nye Apr 25, 1982
- E23 Caught in the Act (Pillar to Post at Wormwood Scrubs) May 2, 1982
- E24 Joseph Papp / James Galway May 9, 1982
- E25 Werner Herzog May 16, 1982
- E26 Why Don't I Love Opera Anymore (by Stephen Oliver) May 23, 1982
- E27 Phillip Larkin May 30, 1982
Frequently asked questions
Who presents The South Bank Show?
Melvyn Bragg presents the show throughout its run.
What kind of topics does it cover?
The show covers both high art and popular culture topics.
When did the show originally start?
It began in 1978 and ran for many years.
Is it still being made?
A new series began in 2012 on Sky Arts.
What network originally aired it?
ITV originally produced and aired the show.