Tomorrow's World (BBC science and technology programme)

Format and characteristics

The programme followed a magazine-style structure combining studio demonstrations, filmed reports, interviews with inventors and engineers, and viewer questions. Items ranged from consumer products and household gadgets to industrial processes, medical advances and transport technologies. Many segments involved live or staged demonstrations intended to show how a device worked in practice.

Presenters and public role

Over its run Tomorrow's World was fronted by a succession of presenters who became familiar faces associated with explaining science to the public. The first presenter, Raymond Baxter, led the show until 1977 and set its tone of practical demonstration and clear explanation. Other well known contributors included Judith Hann, Howard Stableford, Michael Rodd and Maggie Philbin, alongside specialist reporters and guest experts.

Impact, legacy and notable features

The programme helped popularise many household and consumer technologies by introducing them early to mass audiences — for example, early home computers, consumer electronics and mobile communications. It also influenced later science television and encouraged public interest in technological change. The show was sometimes remembered for demonstrations that did not go to plan, underlining the uncertainty that can accompany early prototypes and live testing.

Topics commonly covered

• Consumer electronics and home appliances
• Computing and communications
• Medical and biomedical research
• Transport, materials and engineering advances