The BBC and Political Discourse in Post-war Britain in Philip Purser’s the Twentymen

The BBC played a role in interpreting realities and shaping socio- political discourses in post-war Britain. The Corporation reflected British society by showcasing class tensions through the debate between elitism and democracy. It also educated and informed the British people by providing much information about the country’s post wartime coalition government. The BBC reported on efforts to relieve unemployment and tried to stimulate further advances to help the unemployed. Its broadcasters released “Compassionate talks” to help people deal with the stresses of post-war socio-political turmoil and fear. Thus the aim of this paper is to show how the BBC’s political discourse is a palimpsest discourse of post-war Britain’s political realities. Specifically, it analyzes how post-war Britain’s socio-cultural realities and political phenomena permeate Purser’s The Twentymen. The approach draws on the theory of interextuality to unveil the relations between Purser’s text and post-war discursive practices.