The Brains Trust was a popular informational BBC radio and later television programme in the United Kingdom during the 1940s and 50s. Founded in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company Ltd (a privately owned company), subsequently Incorporated and nationalised in 1927 as The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC, also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world. ...

The first series of The Brains Trust started on radio in September 1942. It followed a radio programme called Any Questions first broadcast in January 1941. The Brains Trust continued for 84 weeks continuously from its initial broadcast and became one of the most popular informational programmes ever. Due to its popularity, it was moved to the peak time on Sunday afternoons. It was typically heard by around 29% of the UK population and generated four to five thousand letters each week from the general public.

The original three members of the broadcasting team were C. E. M. Joad (a philosopher and psychologist), Julian Huxley (a biologist) and Commander A. B. Campbell (a retired naval officer). The chairman was Donald McCullough. Other participants included: Noel Annan, Alfred Ayer, Michael Ayrton, Isaiah Berlin, Collin Brooks, Violet Bonham Carter, Kenneth Clark, Norman Fisher (as chairman), Commander Rupert Gould, Will Hay, John Maud, Anna Neagle, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Hannen Swaffer and Barbara Ward. Cyril Edwin Mitchinson Joad (August 12, 1891 - April 9, 1953) was a British philosopher and broadcasting personality. ... A philosopher is a person who thinks deeply regarding people, society, the world, and/or the universe. ... A psychologist is a scientist who studies psychology, the systematic investigation of the human behavior and mental processes. ... Sir Julian Sorell Huxley, FRS (June 22, 1887 – February 14, 1975) was a English biologist, author, Humanist and internationalist, known for his popularisations of science in books and lectures. ... A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of organisms. ... Navy is also:- shorthand for Navy Blue the nickname of the United States Naval Academy A navy is the branch of the armed forces of a nation that operates primarily on water. ... Noel Gilroy Annan (December 25, 1916 – March 2000) was a British military intelligence officer, author, and academic. ... Ayer redirects here. ... Michael Ayrton (1921-1975), was a British artist and writer, known as a painter, printmaker and sculptor, and also as a critic, broadcaster and novelist. ... Sir Isaiah Berlin, OM, (June 6, 1909 – November 5, 1997) was a political philosopher and historian of ideas, regarded as one of the leading liberal thinkers of the 20th century. ... William Collin Brooks (22 December 1893 - 1959), frequently known as CB), was a British journalist, writer, and broadcaster. ... Violet Bonham Carter, later created Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury (1887-1969) was born on 15th April 1887 the daughter of Liberal Prime Minister H.H. Asquith and his first wife, Helen. ... Sir Kenneth McKenzie Clark, Baron Clark, OM CH KCB, (July 13, 1903 – May 21, 1983) was a British author, museum director, broadcaster, and the most famous art historian of his generation. ... Rupert Gould (November 16, 1890 - October 5, 1948), was a Lieutenant Commander in the British Royal Navy, and is perhaps most widely known for restoring the chronometers of John Harrison. ... William Thompson Hay (December 6, 1888 – April 18, 1949) was a British comedian, actor and amateur astronomer. ... Anna Neagle Anna Neagle (October 20, 1904 - June 3, 1986) was a popular British actress and singer. ... Sir (Harold) Malcolm (Watts) Sargent (April 29, 1895 – October 3, 1967) was a British conductor, organist and composer. ... Barbara Ward Barbara Mary Ward (1914 - 1981) was a British economist and writer interested in the problems of developing countries. ...

The radio programme ended in May 1949 and was transferred to BBC television in the 1950s. The soundtrack was broadcast the Home Service during the week following the television broadcast. BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which began in 1932. ... The BBC Home Service was the original name for Radio 4 and was on the air from 1939 until 30 September 1967. ...

References

• The Brains Trust information

External links

• UKGameshows information
• The Brains Trust by A. J. Ayer