Real Lives began on 5 June 1984. Described in the Radio Times as "a new series of filmed documentaries about the way people live now", the first episode looked at the gang culture of LA. Over two acclaimed series it examined a variety of subjects including the Liverpool drug squad; homeless people living in hotels; transvestites; the aftermath of the Bhopal disaster; hairdressing competitions, and NASA's attempts to retrieve lost satellites. However the episode At the Edge of the Union generated a political storm which threatened the 成人快手's independence and was described at the time as the worst crisis in the Corporation's history.
At the Edge of the Union dealt with two people at the extremes of the Northern Irish political divide, Martin McGuinness and Gregory Campbell. Hearing of the programme, 成人快手 Secretary Leon Brittan wrote to the 成人快手 Governors, urging them to withdraw it - as it gave 'the oxygen of publicity' to the IRA - which they did after viewing it. This was despite the opposition of 成人快手 management. 成人快手 and ITN journalists staged a one-day strike in protest at the Governors' response to government pressure. The amended film was eventually shown in October 1985.
However, longer term, it led to even more strained relations between the 成人快手 and government, fundamentally changing the rapport between the two. It also precipitated the subsequent dismissal of Alasdair Milne, the then Director-General, in 1987. He was the first 成人快手 Director-General ever to be dismissed.
Further reading
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Editorial Independence: Real Lives
Further analysis of the Real Lives incident in our series 'Editorial Independence'.
June anniversaries
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Juke Box Jury
1 June 1959 -
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
2 June 1953 -
Mock the Week
5 June 2005 -
Real Lives
5 June 1984 -
D-Day broadcasts
6 June 1944 -
Till Death Us Do Part
6 June 1966 -
First broadcast of Crimewatch UK
7 June 1984 -
Steptoe and Son
7 June 1962 -
Driving School
10 June 1997 -
Last programme from Lime Grove Studios
13 June 1991 -
The Basil Brush Show
14 June 1968 -
Blackadder
15 June 1983 -
Yesterday's Men
17 June 1971 -
De Gaulle's first broadcast to France
18 June 1940 -
Parkinson first broadcast
19 June 1971 -
First female newsreader in vision
20 June 1960 -
Wimbledon first televised
21 June 1937 -
Royal Family first transmitted
21 June 1969 -
Music While You Work
23 June 1940 -
Our World
25 June 1967 -
Opening of Television Centre
29 June 1960