John Reith, the first ever Director General of the BBC, talks to Malcolm Muggeridge about his time at the corporation. He explains the thinking behind his decision to instruct BBC broadcasters to speak in the rather artificial manner – which became known as the ‘BBC accent’ – as opposed to their own local dialects.

Lord Reith also discusses the advent of television, and his subsequent departure from the BBC.

This clip is from Lord Reith Looks Back, originally broadcast 30 November, 1967.