A round up of BBC announcements, press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output from the last week.
Annual Report 2017/18
On Wednesday the annual report for the financial year 2017/18 was published.
Oliver Knussen
Following news of the death of composer and conductor Oliver Knussen, BBC Radio 3 will broadcast a special edition of Music Matters from 2015, which features an extended interview with the late composer, recorded at his home in Suffolk.
Announcements and blogs
Drama
The cast for BBC One's adaptation of Andrea Levy’s The Long Song has been revealed.
Comedy
On Friday BBC One confirmed that Still Game will return for a ninth and final series later this year as pensioner pals Jack and Victor go in to comedy retirement. Filming gets underway at BBC Scotland’s Dumbarton Studios and around Glasgow next month in what promises to be a must-see finale for fans across the country.
News
On Thursday, News announced changes to its political and parliamentary output to improve its digital coverage, better serve its audiences, and provide more value for money.
Factual
New titles have been announced for BBC Two, BBC Three and BBC Four that will be broadcast as part of The Big British Asian Summer - and a major new survey co-commissioned by BBC Factual, BBC News and BBC Asian Network has been launched.
Digital
Two new virtual reality projects announced on Tuesday by the BBC VR Hub will take viewers back through time, to experience the past as never before.
Arts
BBC Arts, BBC Films and Arts Council England have together partnered with Cuba Pictures and the National Theatre to bring LOVE to BBC Two later this year.
Radio
BBC Radio 5 live has emerged as one of the winners of the World Cup as listeners have switched to the station for the latest from Russia 2018.
Regional
It was confirmed that BBC Scotland’s flagship daily news programme on its new channel will be anchored by two of the country’s leading journalists, Rebecca Curran and Martin Geissler.
Blogs
Chris Kemp, Head of High Risk and News Safety reveals how the BBC stays safe in the world’s most dangerous places; Hannah Wilcock explains why being a BBC Apprentice on Autumnwatch, Winterwatch and Countryfile is 'The best thing I ever did'; in addition David Pickard, Director, BBC Proms talks about how pioneering sounds and breaking disability barriers define the BBC Proms 2018.
Plus, on Friday James Purnell, Director, Radio & Education blogged on why we need an industry chart for UK podcasts and we published the weekly BBC iPlayer Highlights 14-20 July 2018.
Broadcast Highlights
- Picnic At Hanging Rock, Wednesday 11 July, BBC TWO
- The First Time with St Vincent, Sunday 8 July, BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC
- The Documentary: Nye Bevan: The Man Who Made the NHS, Tuesday 10 July, BBC WORLD SERVICE
- The Great Exhibition Of The North, Thursday 12 July, BBC RADIO 4
- Quincy Jones - In Concert, Friday 13 July, BBC RADIO 2
- BBC Proms 2018 - First Night Of The Proms, Friday 13 July, BBC RADIO 3
