I am more than a little worried about the programme tonight - the FT review in it today mentions the 'short lived Comet airliner' 1952 - early 80s? Hardly short lived!
Also it refers as one of the criticisms to "having been developed in only 3 years where 7 years is more normal for most airliners".
To compare the Comet with the B.707, development times seem little different:
Comet: Design work commenced 1946, first flight 1949, entry into service 1952
B.707 Design work commenced 1952, first flight 1954, entry into service 1958