On Wednesday 27 July, the Science Museum will unveil a new free display – BBC at 100 – at a special broadcast-themed, after-hours Lates event that celebrates 100 years of the BBC and 40 years of Channel 4. This special Lates also forms part of the Science Museum Group’s Broadcast 100 programme.

In collaboration with the BBC, Broadcast Lates will bring the world of TV and radio to life with an exciting chorus of events, activities, workshops and Q&As; visitors can try their hand at presenting the weather in front of the BBC’s famous forecast map; discover the ingredients for a successful podcast with the BBC Audio team; enjoy new DJ-ing talent; and even investigate significant objects from broadcast history.

Opening at Lates to celebrate the BBC’s centenary, BBC at 100 is a new display that encourages visitors to explore how the BBC developed and popularised new media to entertain, educate and inform audiences across the globe. Ranging from a 6ft tall 1988 Cyberman costume from Doctor Who, to a WW2 “Midget” Portable Disc Recorder developed to bring listeners close to the reality of conflict, the case will display five iconic items from broadcast history that have influenced how we interact with modern media platforms.

Sir Ian Blatchford, Director and Chief Executive of the Science Museum Group said: ‘Across the Science Museum Group we’ll be celebrating 100 years of broadcasting and the centenary of the BBC with public events, special displays and a major exhibition at the National Science and Media Museum. Our Broadcast 100 programme will tell the story of the technology that enabled the world to be heard and the pioneers who made it happen, showcasing how broadcast is constantly changing the way we connect with one another and our understanding of the world around us.’

Visitors to Broadcast Lates can meet producers from BBC Audio to explore the boom in podcasting in What Makes a Great Podcast? They can also try their hand at presenting the weather in front of the BBC’s famous forecast map in Could You Be a BBC Weather Forecaster?

In a series of three Q&A sessions titled Verifying the News, chaired by presenter Philippa Thomas, visitors can meet reporters from the BBC’s newsroom, including members from the broadcaster’s disinformation and health teams to discover the steps the broadcaster is taking to tackle misinformation. These expert guests will provide insight into how to authenticate facts and discuss how they navigate fake news stories, on topics from social media and COVID-19 to the war in Ukraine.

Enjoy BBC Introducing stars Maria Hanlon and J.Ar.J spinning discs in the Science Museum’s Energy Hall, take part in a pub quiz on TV, radio and streaming, or drop into the museum’s café to take part in a Blue Peter “make”.

Lates programme highlights:

BBC AT 100
To mark the BBC’s 100-year anniversary, visit the museum’s latest display. BBC at 100 showcases five iconic items from broadcast history to explore how the BBC utilised technology to deliver its mission of informing, educating and entertaining audiences across the nation.

VERIFYING THE NEWS
Investigate the vital challenge of misinformation in News, with a special focus on key topical issues such as the COVID pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. Presenter Philippa Thomas in conversation with expert correspondents Marianna Spring, Rachel Shraer, Shayan Sardarizadeh.

COULD YOU BE A BBC WEATHER FORECASTER?
Have a go at weather forecasting in front of that famous map and familiar graphics, with help from lead weather presenter Ben Rich and the BBC Weather team. It’s not as easy as it looks!

WHAT MAKES A GREAT PODCAST?
Explore the boom in podcasting, across multiple platforms and networks, with BBC Audio producers Hannah Hufford and Grainne Morrison.

BBC R&D: EXPERIENCE THE AUDIO ORCHESTRATOR
Create your own immersive audio experience using everyday devices with the Audio Orchestrator, and meet the team from BBC R&D.

BBC ARCHIVE AND MEMORY
Find out how the BBC is using the UK’s greatest archive of social history to help people with dementia, unlocking the past through memorable music and news.

HERE’S ONE I MADE EARLIER!
You’re never too old for a Blue Peter “make”. Grab some sticky back plastic, toilet rolls and a washing up liquid bottle and get creative!

BBC REWIND: GEMS FROM THE ARCHIVE
Dip into some of the 30,000 archive clips from the BBC’s rich history, freshly digitised for the BBC’s centenary.

REVEALING THE OBJECTS THAT MATTER
Join our curators on an undercover investigation around the Science Museum. The objective: reveal the broadcasting stories hidden in our galleries. Gather your evidence (you may even want to share it with the world, using #SMLates), and win an old-school prize in the form of your very own Blue Peter Badge!

SILENT DISCO
Whether you’re practising your moves or in the mood to Vogue, grab a headset in Exploring Space, select your tunes and dance until you drop.

Entry £3 per person (card payments only) – tickets available in the Exploring Space gallery. Last entrance 22.00.

A NEW AGE OF BROADCASTING: PANDEMIC CHALLENGES
Join us in the IMAX Theatre from 19.30 for a fascinating discussion between journalists, broadcasters and scientists, on the challenges of covering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lasting impacts upon the broadcasting industry.

Entry £10 per person – tickets available at any ticket desk.

WONDERLAB: THE EQUINOR GALLERY
Fuel your imagination and immerse yourself in a world of wonder at the most spectacular interactive gallery in the world. With 50 mind-blowing marvels of science to enjoy, Wonderlab is an experience unlike any other.

Special Lates price – only £5! Tickets available at any ticket desk.

CANCER REVOLUTION: SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND HOPE
From busting myths about the causes of cancer, to exploring how the latest science is advancing cancer care today, free, major exhibition Cancer Revolution: Science, Innovation and Hope shows the incredible progress we have made in understanding this disease and highlights the important challenges that are still to be solved.

Free, but ticket required – tickets available at any ticket desk.

The Broadcast 100 programme is supported by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. For more about the Science Museum Group’s Broadcast 100 programme, please visit: https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/broadcast-100.