I’m the one who commented last year that the BBC is very unlikely to still
have these shows. My reasoning is a bit more sophisticated than your summary
here, but your basic point, that we don’t know for sure, is true.
You have to remember that for a long time the BBC said it didn’t even hold
episode one and it was an Australian friend who pointed out it was still running
occasionally on the ABC. As is reasonably well known the BBC had a policy of
using tapes several times in the late 60s and my strong suspicion is that the
only one that may possibly turn up is the Christmas 1974 one.
Still as you say we don’t know for sure.
I have tried to get the BBC archives to help me with things a couple of
times and like you never even had a “sorry but we are too busy to help” in
reply. But again, to be fair, it has been a while. A couple of years ago the BBC
talked about opening up its archives to the public entirely, so maybe they are a
bit more open about things.
I tend to think it would be best pursued by someone in London who could
physically go to the archives if that proved to be the best thing to do. From a
website POV it would be good to complete the lists of subjects and winners on
the website though it of course is very unlikely they would release the tapes to
us even if they do still exist.
In terms of having an appeal made on the radio for anyone with tapes to
come forward, if you like I am happy to help with this. Again I tend to think
the best thing though would be for a British person to do this who is happy to
have their address and/or phone number broadcast. Anyone willing to step
forward? If someone is prepared to take this under their wing as a
project...
I should make it clear though that I have never had any significant help of
any sort from the BBC, until my recent contact with Andy Brereton (who has now
left the BBC). Still if someone is willing to be a contact point I am prepared
to try.
cheers, Dean
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2012 9:22 PM
Subject: Re: [just-a-minute] Missing JAMs
Has anyone actually "asked the BBC" whether on not they have copies
of the missing episodes? We know we haven't got them, and surely that's all we
know for certain.
I wrote to the BBC webpage dealing with lost treasures last year
after finding Getting Wound Up and never got a response, though I think it had
become a mothballed inititative of Greg Dyke's.
Someone said (last year) they'd probably have been broadcast again if they
had them but that's supposition and not fact.
It would be great if we had a patron to help us get the BBC to search. How
about Nicholas or Paul?
Anyway, I'll just take my virtual bow for Getting Wound Up, my sole
contribution to the hundreds that have been provided by fellow members.