Horizon at 60 - Sarah Carr

Peter Goodchild

After having trained in studio direction Peter Goodchild (the longest surviving editor of the programme) was asked by Aubrey Singer, then Head of BBC Science and Features, to make a choice. Did he want to be an educationalist or an entertainer for the rest of his BBC career?

Alec Nisbett

Alec Nisbett, has been described by fellow programme makers as ‘the quintessential Horizon producer’, never shying away from putting hard science on TV.

Deborah Cadbury

The first programme Deborah worked on for the BBC was on a series which was something of a training ground for many a Horizon producer, Tomorrow's World (BBC: 1965-2003). She won many awards for her work on Horizon including Emmys and BAFTAS.

Simon Campbell-Jones

Simon’s first film for Horizon was broadcast in January 1969, and was called The Miraculous Wonder: the Human Eye. Narrated by Christopher Chataway, the programme asked if human eyes “were windows to your soul, the receiver of irrelevant information, respectable substitutes for sex, something like footballs? Or a piece of the brain looking out at the world?”

Peter Jones

Peter Jones had been watching Horizon from the very early days, soon after the studio based magazine format was phased out, and just knew he had to be part of the programme.

Sarah Carr

With a large team of directors, producers, production assistants, and researchers, keeping Horizon on schedule and within budget was no mean feat. Unit Manager Sarah Carr had the mammoth task of keeping the Horizon ship afloat, which she did with wit, charm and firmness!

David Dugan

David Dugan ed Horizon in 1976 as a researcher, having only contributed science articles to the national press before. He heard about his appointment to the programme by what today would be considered antiquated means – telegram!

Andrew Cohen

Arguably the rise through the world of TV science, of the hugely popular and highly successful physicist and communicator Professor Brian Cox, was down to Andrew Cohen.

Maggie Bebbington

By 1992 Director General Michael Checkland had seen through the introduction of the inital phase of the BBC’s internal market called Producer Choice. For a Unit Manager like Maggie Bebbington there were a few surprises in store.

Edward Goldwyn

Ed Goldwyn ed the BBC in 1962 first as a researcher, then producer in schools, education, and Open University programmes. He was anxious to move to Horizon which had impressed him since it first began in 1964.

Tessa Livingstone

Horizon is known for its specialist and engaging science films, but occasionally the production team finds itself in a breaking news situation when on location.

Martin Freeth

The pressures of the multi-channel world were not a concern for earlier Horizon film makers. Although Martin Freeth experienced some of the changes brought about by digital TV, his Horizon career (1971–1997) rarely encountered pressure to deliver anything other than ‘a good programme’.

Rebuild Page

Useful links

Theme toggler