The losers from the year long review are Despatch Box and On the Record which have both been axed.

These plans are about improving the best of what we do already and creating new strands that will modernise our coverage

Richard Sambrook BBC Head of News

Among the new developments will be a Saturday morning programme on BBC Two which will treat politics "seriously, but less formally".

Newsnight's presenter Jeremy Vine is to front a new one-hour long discussion programme on Sunday mornings to replace On The Record.

There will also be a new 45-minute political review on BBC One following Question Time on Thursdays.

New interactive services

Michael Portillo and Mo Mowlam have been signed up for a four part series from the team behind BBC Two's Back to the Floor.

They will spend a week together visiting schools, prisons and other areas.

Traditional reporting under the spotlight

There will be more one-off specials such as NHS Day and Cracking Crime and a dedicated team of journalists will be set up to cover big issues such as foot-and-mouth, when they arise.

A new interactive service, I-Can, using the internet and interactive digital TV will be launched to encourage direct participation in politics.

The BBC Parliament channel will get a new website and interactive service.

Contenders for Saturday morning show

BBC bid: Today editor Rod Liddle/Five Live's Fi Glover External bid: Express columnist James O'Brien/Political commentator Daisy Sampson

Westminster Live will be relaunched and, on Wednesdays, will move to a new two hour morning slot on BBC Two, for live coverage of the proposed earlier scheduling of Prime Minister's Question Time.

There will also be a boost for regional programming, with weekly political slots moving to BBC One from BBC Two.

A new political programme on BBC One will also be created for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The first of the new political television programmes should be on air in mid-January.

The BBC has said it will continue to develop a "consumer-led" approach to politics, with features such as the Your Politics slot on the Six O'Clock News.

There are plans for a five minute digest of yesterday in Parliament on BBC One's Breakfast and a seven minute summary of the day's proceedings on BBC News 24.

The overall aim is to increase viewing figures for parliamentary programmes by a fifth, with 36 more hours of political viewing a year.

Keeping watch

BBC Chairman Gavyn Davies said: "The governors have given detailed scrutiny to these plans on two occasions.

"We believe that they will both enhance serious political coverage on the BBC and widen its appeal.

Sambrook: 'BBC has important public service role'

"The governors will monitor implementation of the strategy and performance of the new programmes and will welcome feedback during the process."

The results of the review follow a BBC commissioned survey which suggested many people under the age of 45 were disillusioned with politics and believed politicians to be "crooks", "liars" and "a waste of time".

Political coverage was seen as white, middle-class, middle-aged men arguing with other white, middle-class, middle-aged men in a "secret shared language", according to the research.

'Engaging people'

The review was led by the BBC's Director of News, Richard Sambrook, with former Newsnight editor Sian Kevill.

Mr Sambrook said the "wild speculation" about the changes had proved to have little relation to the real world.

Such misplaced rumours had worried politicians but having seen the actual plans, the reaction of the main political parties was "neutral to encouraging".

Mr Sambrook added: "I certainly do not think it's a dumbed down package. I think it's quite the opposite."

Low turnout

Sian Kevill said research had shown "growing apathy and disillusion among audiences with the wider political process".

She added: "We hope these changes and ideas will increase the number of people watching and engaging actively with the democratic process."

The BBC survey was commissioned after the low turnout at the 2001 general election.