World in Action was Granada Television’s flagship ITV current affairs series, running from 7 Jan 1963 to 7 Dec 1998, and built a reputation for film-led investigative reporting and a forceful editorial stance. Its journalism produced major public and political repercussions—including investigations associated with miscarriages of justice such as the Birmingham Six—and it also served as a platform for landmark documentary projects, including the first broadcast of “Seven Up!” as part of the strand in 1964.
World in Action (Season 3)
The Story of the Sun (Episode 1)
Air date: 1964-09-15
Overview: The launch of The Sun newspaper.
The Flip Side (Episode 2)
Air date: 1964-09-22
Overview: Various recording agents speak out on the pop music business, and whether the UK singles chart is a fair representation of vinyl sales.
U.S. Elections (Episode 3)
Air date: 1964-09-29
Canada (Episode 4)
Air date: 1964-10-06
Overview: French-Canadian unrest at the Queen's visit.
Eyes (Episode 5)
Air date: 1964-10-20
Overview: Investigation on how a bacterial infection got into a Birmingham Eye Hospital and caused several cases of blindness.
How to Loose at the Olympics After Really Trying (Episode 6)
Air date: 1964-10-27
Overview: An investigation into the poor training facilities available to Olympic contenders.
Vietnam (Episode 7)
Air date: 1964-11-03
Air Safety (Episode 8)
Air date: 1964-11-10
Smethwick and Racial Tension (Episode 9)
Air date: 1964-11-17
State of the Unions: Unions and the Motor Car (Episode 10)
Air date: 1964-12-01
Overview: A comparison of the industrial relations in the car making industries of the UK & the US.
Sunday Laws (Episode 11)
Air date: 1964-12-08
Overview: An investigation into Britain's age old Sunday trading laws and their effect on shops and similar businesses.
Labour Party Conference 1964 (Episode 12)
Air date: 1964-12-15
Ballroom Dancing (Episode 13)
Air date: 1964-12-22
Highlights of 1964 (Episode 14)
Air date: 1964-12-29
The English Disease (Episode 15)
Air date: 1965-02-09
Overview: Investigates if there is a link between bronchitis and road pollution.
Malcolm X (Episode 16)
Air date: 1965-02-23
Overview: Various black Americans give their views on Malcolm X, and an actor recreates some of his speeches.
The Night Drivers (Episode 17)
Air date: 1965-03-02
Overview: Investigates the transport and haulage industry and the dark practices that can leave drivers tired, open to hijack and dangerous vehicles on our roads.
The BBC (Episode 18)
Air date: 1965-03-20
The Middle East (Episode 19)
Air date: 1965-04-20
Overview: Observations of the tensions growing between Arab and Israeli.
Seventy Up (Episode 20)
Air date: 1965-04-27
Overview: Companion piece to Seven Up! (1964), this time featuring the elderly looking back rather than the young looking forward. The average age of these women and men is 79.
Water (Episode 21)
Air date: 1965-06-01
Overview: A look at the water crisis and how the drought will affect the summer.
The Other World (Episode 22)
Air date: 1965-06-29
Dukes (Episode 23)
Air date: 1965-07-06
The £.S.D. of MPH (Episode 24)
Air date: 1965-07-13
Jerry Builders (Episode 25)
Air date: 1965-07-20
The Tory Leadership (Episode 26)
Air date: 1965-07-22
Drugs (Episode 27)
Air date: 1965-08-03
