6-9 May 1926, in a week that changed the BBC forever... this is part 2 of our 3-part special on the BBC and the General Strike 100 years ago this week (at time of podcast release), two million strikers were out in solidarity with the miners. It brought unique challenges to the BBC - with Winston Churchill trying to take it over, a tightrope of independence and impartiality, and broadcast requests from the Archbishop of Canterbury (no), the Leader of the Opposition (no), the TUC (no) and the Prime Minister (come on in sir!). John Reith welcomes the PM to his own home, even rewriting his speech for him while he's on air. It's all part of what we're calling The BBC and the General Strike in 5 (Over-)Steps. This episode, we'll discover over-reaching editorialising of the news, Reith the rewriter and those notably absent voices of opposition. Hmm. But then again, what would you do differently... and would that hand to Churchill the BBC on a plate? All will become clear, in our day-to-day guide through the middle of the General Strike during those nine days in May 1926. This episode looks at 6-9 May. Last episode we looked at 3-5 May. Next episode we'll look at 10-14 May plus the General Strike's legacy (and Reith's apologies). I hope you'll agree it's a fascinating tale, worth us taking the long way round. The details - from the role played by Reith's creaky office chair to his mum listening to the PM through the study door, and from Earl Grey's doorstep duel to Peter Eckersley's shock when he discovers imbalanced news - are deserving of retelling. So thanks for listening, if you do. And you should. Join us!  Part 3 follows on 10 May 2026 - 100 years on from the moments featured. Be subscribed to get the episodes when they land.   With thanks to these excellent resources... Radicalstroud.co.uk Warwick Digital Collections at the University of Warwick The Trades Union Congress The BBC Written Archive Centre 1926 The General Strike edited by Jeffrey Skelley Into the Wind by John Reith Asa Briggs’ The Birth of Broadcasting Ian McIntyre’s Expense of Glory Peter Eckersley’s The Power Behind the Microphone The BBC A People’s History by David Hendy Our Newspaper Detective Andrew Barker - and the various newspaper articles Trevor Howard and his article Immovable object, irresistible force: Reith, Churchill and BBC ‘impartiality’ Nine Days in May – radio drama by Robin Glendinning Churchill vs Reith – radio drama by Mike Harris Random Radio Jottings: https://andywalmsley.blogspot.com/2025/01/churchill-and-bbc.html   SHOWNOTES: Original podcast music is by Will Farmer.  Broadcasts over 50 years old are beyond copyright, but anything that is BBC copyright content is reproduced courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.  See Paul on tour in An Evening of (Very) Old Radio - or book it: paulkerensa.com/tour Our latest Substack summarises these 5 over-steps of the BBC in the General Strike: paulkerensa.substack.com Our Facebook group has ample marvellous photos and newspaper articles - thanks to Newspaper Detective Andrew Barker: facebook.com/groups/bbcentury Find us on BlueSky: bsky.bbcentury.social Find Paul on Instagram: instagram.com/paulkerensa Join Paul's mailing list This podcast is not made by today's BBC. It's just about the old BBC. Support the podcast by joining as a Patreon subscriber - for extra videos, writings, readings etc: patreon.com/paulkerensa - £5/month, cancel whenever. Or support this project without that regularity, with a one-off tip: ko-fi.com/paulkerensa Please share/rate/review this podcast if you have a mo - it all helps. Next time, Episode 120: The General Strike at 100, part 3: Reith wins? More on this broadcasting history project at paulkerensa.com/oldradio