Telegram from Mary Whitehouse to British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, January 1967, Catalogue ref: HO 256/719
In telegrams the word “STOP” was frequently used instead of a full stop to end a sentence as each punctuation character cost the same as an entire word. However, its use helped to avoid confusion about the meaning of a message which lacked punctuation.
Transcript
Post Office Telegram
A240 9.8PM Claverley, BM 92
Overnight
The Prime Minister 10 Downing St London
Someone somewhere has to take responsibility for standards of BBC programmes STOP In spite of the governors accepted obligation to exclude from the earlier part of the evening programmes which might be unsuitable for children Till Death Us Do Part at 7.30 this evening was dirty blasphemous and full of bad language STOP The Postmaster General seems powerless to take action STOP The Director General seems determined to provoke and insult the viewing public STOP Will you take whatever action seems necessary
Mary Whitehouse
- Why has Mary Whitehouse sent this telegram?
- Find out more about Mary Whitehouse founder of the National Viewers and Listener’s Association in the 1960s
- What does this source reveal about television engaging with and reflecting, social issues and prejudices?
- What is the value of this telegram to historians?
- What was the role of the Postmaster General at the time?
- Find out about the role of the BBC Board of Governors and its Charter.