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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| BBC nuclear bomb script released | BBC nuclear bomb script released |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A script written by the BBC and the government to be broadcast in the event of a nuclear attack has been published. | A script written by the BBC and the government to be broadcast in the event of a nuclear attack has been published. |
| The script, written in the 1970s and released by the National Archives, included instructions to "stay calm and stay in your own homes". | The script, written in the 1970s and released by the National Archives, included instructions to "stay calm and stay in your own homes". |
| It said communications had been disrupted, and the number of casualties and extent of damage were not known. | It said communications had been disrupted, and the number of casualties and extent of damage were not known. |
| Other papers reveal debates about how to ensure the person reading the script was authoritative and comforting. | Other papers reveal debates about how to ensure the person reading the script was authoritative and comforting. |
| The script was discussed from 1973 to 1975, during the Cold War. | The script was discussed from 1973 to 1975, during the Cold War. |
| 'Voice of the BBC' | 'Voice of the BBC' |
| It was released along with letters between government departments and BBC executives. | It was released along with letters between government departments and BBC executives. |
| The BBC had previously made some of the documents public under the Freedom of Information Act, but this is the first time they have been made widely available. | |
| The Simpsons actor reads nuclear warning | The Simpsons actor reads nuclear warning |
| In a letter from June 1974, Harold Greenwood from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications discussed who should read the announcement to give it an authoritative and comforting tone. | In a letter from June 1974, Harold Greenwood from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications discussed who should read the announcement to give it an authoritative and comforting tone. |
| "During the Second World War we came to recognise the voices of Stuart Hibberd, Alvar Lidell and other main news readers," he wrote. | "During the Second World War we came to recognise the voices of Stuart Hibberd, Alvar Lidell and other main news readers," he wrote. |
| "I would expect that in the period of crisis preceding an attack a similar association of particular voices with the authoritative 'voice of the BBC' would develop." | "I would expect that in the period of crisis preceding an attack a similar association of particular voices with the authoritative 'voice of the BBC' would develop." |
| Mr Greenwood said recorded announcements by an unfamiliar voice would not reassure listeners. | Mr Greenwood said recorded announcements by an unfamiliar voice would not reassure listeners. |
| "Indeed, if an unfamiliar voice repeats the same announcement hour after hour for 12 hours, listeners may begin to suspect that they are listening to a machine set to switch on every hour... and that perhaps after all the BBC has been obliterated," he said. | "Indeed, if an unfamiliar voice repeats the same announcement hour after hour for 12 hours, listeners may begin to suspect that they are listening to a machine set to switch on every hour... and that perhaps after all the BBC has been obliterated," he said. |
| Adding in live local commentary would reassure listeners they were not listening to a cassette recorder, the Cabinet Office said. | Adding in live local commentary would reassure listeners they were not listening to a cassette recorder, the Cabinet Office said. |
| 'Conserve water' | 'Conserve water' |
| The script said: "This country has been attacked with nuclear weapons. Communications have been severely disrupted, and the number of casualties and the extent of the damage are not yet known." | The script said: "This country has been attacked with nuclear weapons. Communications have been severely disrupted, and the number of casualties and the extent of the damage are not yet known." |
| It instructed the public to turn off fuel supplies, ration food to last 14 days, and conserve water - with a warning not to waste it by flushing the lavatory. | It instructed the public to turn off fuel supplies, ration food to last 14 days, and conserve water - with a warning not to waste it by flushing the lavatory. |
| READ BBC TRANSCRIPT BBC transcript to be used in wake of nuclear attack [12.17KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ BBC TRANSCRIPT BBC transcript to be used in wake of nuclear attack [12.17KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| There was nothing to be gained by trying to get away, it warned. | There was nothing to be gained by trying to get away, it warned. |
| "By leaving your homes you could be exposing yourselves to greater danger. If you leave, you may find yourself without food, without water, without accommodation and without protection." | "By leaving your homes you could be exposing yourselves to greater danger. If you leave, you may find yourself without food, without water, without accommodation and without protection." |
| Those in a radioactive fall-out area were told to wait in a fall-out room until a siren sounded or the "all clear" message was given over the airwaves. | Those in a radioactive fall-out area were told to wait in a fall-out room until a siren sounded or the "all clear" message was given over the airwaves. |
| The announcement was intended to be repeated every couple of hours. | The announcement was intended to be repeated every couple of hours. |
| It has previously been revealed the BBC stockpiled entertainment programmes to boost public morale in the event of a war. | It has previously been revealed the BBC stockpiled entertainment programmes to boost public morale in the event of a war. |
| In the event of a nuclear attack, staff were told to stay in hiding for 14 days, when it would be safe to leave. | In the event of a nuclear attack, staff were told to stay in hiding for 14 days, when it would be safe to leave. |