Get Ahead was a BBC Television

BBC Television

BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...

 programme running from 1958 to 1962 which offered a prize of £5,000. This was awarded to a contestant's idea for an entrepreneurial project for a profitable business. It was an early forerunner of programs such as Dragons' Den on BBC2.

The program was sponsored by the News Chronicle

News Chronicle

The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...

, a form of indirect advertising which would not have been permitted for commercial stations (such as ITV

ITV

ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...

), as this is prohibited by the Television Act 1954

Television Act 1954

The Television Act 1954 was a British law which permitted the creation of the first commercial television network in the United Kingdom, ITV....

.

The programme was presented by Peter West

Peter West

Peter Anthony West was a BBC presenter and sports commentator best known for his work on the corporation's cricket, tennis and rugby coverage as well as occasionally commentating on field hockey. Throughout his television career he remained freelance.-Early life:He was an only child...

. A panel of senior business experts judged the merit of the award and included Sir Miles Thomas

Miles Thomas

Miles Webster Thomas, Baron Thomas, Lord Thomas of Remenham, known as Sir Miles Thomas, or Lord Thomas, DFC was Managing Director of the Morris Motor Company, 1940–1947, Chairman of the British Overseas Airways Corporation , 1949–1956, Chairman of the merger...

, who had been chairman of BOAC

Boac

Boac may refer to:* Boac, Marinduque, a municipality in the Southern Philippines* Boac , an American rapper* British Overseas Airways Corporation, a former British state-owned airline...

 and the British offshoot of Monsanto

Monsanto

The Monsanto Company is a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed in the "Roundup" brand of herbicides, and in other brands...

, the American chemical company at the time.