The South Bank Show
A ITV1 Original
The South Bank Show is a long-running television arts magazine that set out to make culture accessible to a wide audience. Fronted by Melvyn Bragg, each episode focuses on a single artist, movement, or cultural moment, using extended interviews, on-location reporting and performance clips to... Read more
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About The South Bank Show
The South Bank Show is a long-running television arts magazine that set out to make culture accessible to a wide audience. Fronted by Melvyn Bragg, each episode focuses on a single artist, movement, or cultural moment, using extended interviews, on-location reporting and performance clips to sketch a clear portrait. First broadcast on ITV in 1978, it stayed on air until 2010 and returned on Sky Arts in 2012, keeping the original tone of in-depth profiles alongside shorter pieces on music, film, theatre, literature and visual art. Episodes alternate between single-subject deep dives and magazine-style lineups. The program often balances serious analysis with moments designed for general viewers, aiming to connect specialist subject matter with everyday curiosity without consistently sacrificing depth.
Created and presented by Melvyn Bragg, the series premiered on ITV in 1978 and ran until 2010. A revived edition started on Sky Arts on 27 May 2012, retaining the show's original format and remaining associated with mainstream British television.
The programme earned steady recognition within arts and television circles over its long run, gathering nominations and plaudits from critics and specialist bodies. Its influence was often acknowledged at retrospectives and industry events, and its longevity gave it credibility among curators and academics. It remains a reference in arts TV.
It helped normalize serious arts coverage on mainstream TV and introduced many viewers to creators they might not know. Over decades it shaped public conversation about culture in the UK and inspired later arts programmes. It also preserved interviews and performances that would otherwise be lost, and across generations.
Critical response has been mixed, with admiration for its ambition and depth alongside critiques of uneven episodes and occasional reverence for subjects. The show's themes center on artist profiles, creative process and cultural context. A user rating on the provided source sits at 5.6/10 from 7 votes.
Details
- Release Date
- January 14, 1978
- Episode Length
- 1h
- Rating
- NR
- User Ratings
- 7 votes
- Type
- TV Series
- Seasons
- 45
- Episodes
- 776
- Network
- ITV1, Sky Arts
- Status
- Ended
- Genres
- Documentary, Talk
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Studio
- LWT
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Cast
Melvyn Bragg
Self - Presenter
Created by: Melvyn Bragg
Seasons (45 seasons, 776 episodes)
Season 1
24 episodes - 1978
Season 2
24 episodes - 1978
Season 3
19 episodes - 1979
Season 4
26 episodes - 1980
Season 5
27 episodes - 1981
Season 6
26 episodes - 1982
Season 7
22 episodes - 1983
Season 8
24 episodes - 1984
Season 9
24 episodes - 1985
Season 10
23 episodes - 1986
Season 11
24 episodes - 1987
Season 12
24 episodes - 1988
Season 13
25 episodes - 1989
Season 14
23 episodes - 1990
Season 15
25 episodes - 1991
Season 16
25 episodes - 1992
Season 17
25 episodes - 1993
Season 18
22 episodes - 1994
Season 19
20 episodes - 1995
Season 20
20 episodes - 1996
Season 21
22 episodes - 1997
Season 22
16 episodes - 1998
Season 23
21 episodes - 1999
Season 24
24 episodes - 2000
Season 25
19 episodes - 2001
Season 26
25 episodes - 2002
Season 27
13 episodes - 2003
Season 28
23 episodes - 2004
Season 29
13 episodes - 2005
Season 30
11 episodes - 2006
Season 31
30 episodes - 2006
Season 32
8 episodes - 2007
Season 33
6 episodes - 2008
Season 34
6 episodes - 2008
Season 35
9 episodes - 2009
Season 36
10 episodes - 2014
Season 37
10 episodes - 2015
Season 38
6 episodes - 2016
Season 39
6 episodes - 2017
Season 40
6 episodes - 2018
Season 41
4 episodes - 2019
Season 42
4 episodes - 2020
Season 43
4 episodes - 2021
Season 44
4 episodes - 2022
Season 45
4 episodes - 2023
