The Computer Programme
A 1982 BBC series introducing computers via the BBC Micro.
The Computer Programme is a British television series produced by Paul Kriwaczek and originally broadcast by the BBC on BBC 2 in 1982. The series was created to introduce people to computers and demonstrate their capabilities, featuring the BBC Micro, which was developed by Acorn Computers as part of the BBC Computer Literacy Project. The programme was successful enough to spawn two follow-up series: Making the Most of the Micro (1983) and Micro Live (1984–1987).
- Broadcaster
- BBC (BBC 2)
- Original broadcast year
- 1982
- Producer
- Paul Kriwaczek
- Number of episodes
- 10
- Featured computer
- BBC Micro (Acorn Computers)
- Presenters
- Ian McNaught-Davis ('Mac'), Chris Serle, Gill Nevill
- Theme music
- Kraftwerk's Computer World
Lore & Background
The series was filmed in October 1981, before Acorn had fully completed the BBC Micro. The machines used on demonstration segments were early pre-production models that barely worked; Acorn engineer Steve Furber worked behind the set to keep them running. Some units had ULA chips overheating under studio lights, and the linear power supply units were prone to overheating and, in some cases, catching fire. Fellow Acorn engineer Sophie Wilson recounted that some BBC Micros used in the studio were dummy units connected to a modified Acorn Eurocard system development rack hidden out of sight that actually ran the software.
Reader's Guide
The Computer Programme is significant as a cornerstone of the BBC Computer Literacy Project, which aimed to educate the British public about computing at a time when personal computers were emerging. Its use of the BBC Micro—a machine developed specifically for the project—helped establish that computer in schools and homes across the UK. The series' format, blending studio demonstrations with real-world applications, set a template for subsequent educational technology programming. Its influence extended beyond the UK: it was broadcast in the United States by PBS in 1983, and an adapted version aired in Catalonia as Connecta el micro, pica l'start, where the BBC Micros were replaced by Dragon 200 computers. Stock footage from the series was later incorporated into the 2009 BBC drama Micro Men, which documented the Sinclair-Acorn rivalry. The accompanying book, The Computer Book, sold 80,000 copies in the UK and topped the UK non-fiction chart, further extending the series' educational reach.
Did You Know?
- Acorn engineer Steve Furber worked behind the set to keep the BBC Micros running during filming.
- Some BBC Micros used in the studio were dummy units connected to a hidden Acorn Eurocard system development rack that actually ran the software.
- The Catalan adaptation replaced the BBC Micros with Dragon 200 computers, which were made in Spain.
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