Omnibus(1967)

Omnibus is a landmark BBC arts documentary series that ran from 1967 to 2003, succeeding the acclaimed Monitor. Broadcast primarily on Sunday evenings across BBC1, the programme became a fixture of British cultural television, winning 12 BAFTA awards over its 35-year run. The series explored film, music, visual art and performance through intimate profiles and creative investigations. Notable documentaries include Cracked Actor, a portrait of David Bowie; René Magritte, directed by David Wheatley; and studies of Madonna and filmmaker Ridley Scott. In 1982, Barry Norman hosted a magazine-format season. Omnibus shaped how British audiences encountered contemporary and historical artists, establishing a template for serious arts broadcasting that influenced television documentary for decades. The series concluded when it was succeeded by Imagine, hosted by Alan Yentob.