Introduction
The History Project interview recordings were the first major oral history project of its kind; to record the working lives of professionals who had contributed to the growth and success of Britain’s film, theatre, television and radio industries. With over 800 interviews recorded to date and drawn from the experiences of such a diverse group of creative and technical talents, it has become an exceptional and highly-respected national resource. You can either browse through the Gallery View or use the  Index View of the Collection.
Unlike any other archive available in the UK, the History Project consists of interviews with professionals across all roles, all trades, and all sectors. Moreover, this uniquely valuable collection of the voices of practitioners across a wide range of craft and skills, includes the voices of many who cannot be heard anywhere else. Famous voices in the collection include Lindsay Anderson, David Attenborough, ​Richard Attenborough, Sidney Gilliat, Sheila Hancock, David Puttnam, ​Karel Reisz, Wolfgang Suschitzky, and many more.
The BEHP is grateful for the support it regularly receives from the Cinema Veterans’ magazine The Veteran and its Editor Allan Eyles.
Production
Begun in 1987, the earliest interview recordings were on audio cassettes until 2000. Thereafter, some recordings were made on semi-professional Mini DV Cam and professional Mini-Disc recorder (presented by Sony). From 2003 onwards almost all recordings have been made on video with developments in media technology being reflected in the wide range of formats of our recordings. However, where possible, all current recordings are made, by default, on HD video and all are stored on solid state hard drives.
Anyone can nominate a potential interviewee (including professionals who wish to nominate themselves) by contacting Sue Malden, the Hon. Secretary.
The Interview Recordings
The master recordings are stored in the BFI. The BFI can arrange access to the recordings, and transcripts where these exist, for research purposes. We answer history related enquiries from television and radio programmes and for films, books, academic research, exhibitions and festivals. We have also worked with the University of East Anglia, BAFTA, the David Lean Centre, BUFVC (now Learning on Screen) and the Bill Douglas Centre for the History of Cinema at Exeter University.
Accessing the Collection
The Collection is available online, here on our site.  Master tapes are deposited with the National Film and Television Archive.
For any use of the interviews please contact the secretary, Sue Malden.
Access to our interview collection is free, as we provide it as a public service.You can explore our interviews in our Collection Gallery.
AÂ National Legacy
Maintaining this collection – regarded as the largest oral history archive of its kind on the working heritage of Britain’s multi-industry media sector – is a formidable challenge as the Collection comprises of a mixture of audio recording and video recordings across various formats, reflecting the developments in technology and recording formats over the last thirty years.
Thanks to our working relationships with our Partners and volunteers, some, but sadly, all too few of our interview recordings have been transcribed. Some recordings have been transcribed by the British Cinema History Project at the University of East Anglia and excerpts from other participants may be found on the BFI’s Screenonline website as well as on the BEHP website.
We continue to work diligently to ensure that these priceless interviews are properly archived as part of our cultural legacy and made available to share, for the benefit of all, including students, researchers, filmmakers and the general public. Work is being undertaken to ensure that the recordings, past, present and future, are maintained in appropriate digital archive formats for future preservation. To this end, this website is merely the publicly visible part of a larger ongoing project; to create a fully searchable, interactive online digital archive of our entire interview collection, so that it can continue to be maintained and developed for the benefit of current and future generations.
We are determined to ensure that the stories, insights and experiences of this part of our cultural and economic history is available to be shared. Therefore, transcribing and fully indexing the already digitised interviews are ongoing projects that remain amongst our key priorities in the continued development of our archives.
Get Involved
The History Project is entirely reliant on its volunteers to help nominate interviewees, conduct research, produce interviews, transcribing, indexing, and managing the digital archive. Offers of help are always welcome and further information on how to become involved in the History Project is available in our Membership section.
Further information
If you have any queries or would like to find out more, please contact Sue Malden, the Hon,Secretary.
Disclaimer
The British Entertainment History Project (History Project) is a living archive for the stories and experiences of those who have chosen to share memories of their personal and professional lives. Out of respect to our participants, and to provide context for what may be said, the recordings are generally unedited and provided in their entirety, though, occasionally, minor redactions have been made at the request of the interviewee.
The views and opinions expressed by interview participants are obviously personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of the History Project or any of its volunteers, employees or representatives. The History Project make no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaim any liability therefrom.