The 1970s was a transformative time for television, and one show that played a significant role in this transformation was the BBC’s Open Door. Conceived by the legendary Sir David Attenborough, the show’s radical approach to programming gave a voice to groups on the fringes of society, including trans women, housewives, and black teachers. This “mini cultural revolution” aired for a decade, from 1973 to 1983, and its impact was felt far and wide.
Open Door was groundbreaking in its approach, allowing groups to control the direction of entire episodes with minimal interference from the BBC. This led to the creation of content that was raw, honest, and unapologetic. The show tackled difficult subjects head-on, including domestic abuse, racial disparities, and social inequality. One notable episode, “Battered Wives,” aired in 1973 and featured a woman who spoke about her experiences with domestic violence, saying, “I think that a lot of husbands wouldn’t batter their wives if they realised that their wives could get up and walk out.”
The show also provided a platform for marginalized communities to share their stories and raise awareness about the issues they faced. The Transex Liberation Group, a collective of trans women, appeared on the show in 1973, discussing their experiences and challenging societal norms. One trans woman spoke about the difficulties of living as a trans person, saying, “It’s like living on the edge of a volcano. Because, if anything happened to me, if I got knocked down by a bus or a car, or anything, or taken ill, and I was put into hospital, and they found out I was still biologically male, I would be put into a men’s ward, which would be so embarrassing… or if I wasn’t put in a men’s ward I would be put in a sort of side ward, and made to feel an oddity, whereas I feel I’m not an oddity.”
Black teachers also appeared on the show, discussing the poor level of achievement of black children in the English school system. Presenter Mike Phillips opened the episode by saying, “We are a group of black teachers and we made this programme about the poor level of achievement of black children in the English school system. That’s the problem that is worrying most of our black parents out there at this moment.” He added, “So if you’re a black parent and you are sitting there thinking that just because you dress up your child neat and tidy and send him to school in the morning, he is going to come out as a civil engineer, or a lawyer, or doctor, or even as an average skilled man, think again. Because the most likely thing is that he will turn out, not to do better than you, but to do the same or worse, because that is the position that society has marked down for him.”
The Vegan Society also had their own episode, where they discussed the benefits of a plant-based diet. One campaigner said, “Ever since I started a vegan diet, trying this and trying that, my health has steadily improved.” Additionally, women campaigning for “Wages for Housework” appeared on the show, highlighting the importance of recognizing the value of unpaid domestic work. The narrator of their episode said, “Housework, the work all women do. The only work that isn’t considered work. The only work you don’t retire from. The only work you don’t get wages for.”
Open Door’s impact was not limited to the groups it featured; it also influenced the broader cultural landscape. The show’s radical approach to programming paved the way for future generations of filmmakers and television producers to push boundaries and challenge societal norms. As historian Sir Simon Schama notes, “It was really a kind of mini cultural revolution. The slogan of Open Door, ‘Your Own Say… In Your Own Way,’ says it all. It turned what broadcasting was, what it meant to everybody, completely upside down.”
In conclusion, Open Door was a pioneering show that gave a voice to the voiceless and challenged societal norms. Its legacy can still be felt today, and its influence can be seen in many modern television shows and documentaries. As we look back on this groundbreaking series, we are reminded of the power of television to shape culture and inspire change. By providing a platform for marginalized communities to share their stories, Open Door helped to launch a “mini cultural revolution” that continues to resonate with audiences today.