Round-up week 35 (27 August - 2 September)

A round-up of BBC announcements and press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output last week.

BBC iPlayer law 

From 1 September, a change in the law means you need to be covered by a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up, on BBC iPlayer. The change does not affect the vast majority of households which are already licensed.

Announcements and blogs

Drama

BBC One announced adaption of Jessie Burton’s sumptuous period thriller The Miniaturist, the network also revealed details of Our Girl which returns with a further five-part serial story, this time featuring the British Army on a posting in contemporary Kenya.

Entertainment

Team 'Apollo' were crowned Robot Wars Champion 2016 on BBC Two, while BBC One prepared for The One Show Anniversary with the publication of a Media Pack.

Factual

BBC Studios Factual announced Julian Hector as the new head of Natural History Unit, elsewhere, Keith Richards is to become a Pirate TV host for a Lost Weekend on BBC Four.

Meanwhile, Boy George is to journey back to his formative years for a BBC Two documentary this October, as the centrepiece of BBC Music’s My Generation season looking at the 1970s.

Radio

Radio 4's The Archers announced the start date for Helen’s trial which will start on Sunday 4th September. 

BBC Radio 1Xtra announced the line-up for 1Xtra Live in Liverpool - the station’s annual flagship event – which is set to take place on Saturday 8 October at Liverpool echo Arena. 

Regional

Northern Ireland announced that the popular sitcom Give My Head Peace is returning to BBC One Northern Ireland for a one-off special this autumn to launch a new season of local comedy; in addition, BBC Northern Ireland and Libraries NI have signed a new partnership agreement to help support learning and development opportunities for communities across Northern Ireland. It was also announced that Neil Hannon from The Divine Comedy and The 4 Of Us complete the line-up for BBC Radio Ulster's ATL@30 Gig live from the Ulster Hal, Belfast on Monday 5 September from 8pm.

In Wales, Arts Council Wales and BBC Wales are calling for talented Welsh artists and bands to apply for the Launchpad Fund this year.

News announced that current affairs programme Inside Out returns to BBC One across England this September for a new nine-part series.

Blogs

Chris Condron, Digital Product Director, BBC Design & Engineering talked about how his Salford-based team are constantly innovating to respond to audiences’ digital demands and reveals Rio 2016 is the biggest event the BBC has ever delivered digitally to audiences, with over double the unique browsers for London 2012. There were tears at the CBeebies Prom, and BBC Kick Off Trainee Sports Reporters Stacey Copeland and Gary Armstrong share their experiences.

Finally, in light of the BBC Landmark Sitcom Season, Jon Jacob took a look at an important aspect of the situation comedy programme: musical themes that accompanied some classic BBC comedies over the years.

Broadcast Highlights 

• Casualty - Too Old For This Shift, Saturday 27 August, BBC One
• Are You Being Served?, Sunday 28 August, BBC One
• Night Tube: The First Weekend, from Sunday 28 August, BBC Three
• The Coopers Vs The Rest, Monday 29 August, BBC Two
• All Aboard! The Country Bus, Monday 29 August, BBC Four
• New York: America's Busiest City, Tuesday 30 August, BBC Two
• All Together Now: The Great Orchestra Challenge, Tuesday 30 August, BBC Four
• The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner, Saturday 27 August, BBC Radio 4
• The Legendary Angela Lansbury, Tuesday 30 August, BBC Radio 2