Round up Week 5 (27 Jan - 2 Feb)

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

Awards

On Saturday the BBC Audio Drama Awards were held with Dame Sian Phillips (pictured with David Suchet) awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award; meanwhile, singer Hannah Rarity has been named BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2018.

Pay and Equality at the BBC

On Tuesday, we published a review of on-air pay carried out by PwC, and set out a five-point plan to help create a fairer and more equal BBC; and in response to a number of queries and external comments regarding the role of Naomi Ellenbogen QC in the BBC’s On-Air Review, we set out further details in a statement.

Announcements and blogs

Drama

The full list of the cast and crew of Collateral, David Hare's new political thriller for BBC Two has been published as well as the media pack.

Meanwhile BBC One confirmed award-winning drama Death In Paradisehas been recommissioned for an eighth series.

Factual

A new three-part documentary series for BBC Two The Forensic Investigators has been announced. The network also confirmed Famously Unfit… for Sport Relief a brand new show which will be air as part of this year’s exciting week of Sport Relief activity.

Sport

BBC Sport confirmed on Tuesday it had renewed Premier League highlights to 2021/22. 

Children's

This week new Blue Peter Diamond badge designed by international fashion designer Henry Holland was launched on CBBC during the show’s landmark 5000th episode.

Radio

Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Noel Gallagher have been announced as the line- up for for BBC Music’s The Biggest Weekend.

Regional

In an historic moment for Welsh broadcasting, BBC Radio Cymru 2 - the new Welsh language radio service from the BBC - took to the airwaves on Monday.

Meanwhile, BBC National Orchestra of Wales announced they will tour China in December 2018, giving a series of concerts with Principal Guest Conductor Xian Zhang.

In addition, it was announced that highlights and live match coverage of Wales’ China Cup adventure will be available on BBC Wales and S4C.

International

On 6 February BBC World Questions comes to Kathmandu to host a debate on the country’s political and economic future - and to find out what Nepal thinks about world events.

Meanwhile BBC World Service announced new BBC Radio services and English Language Learning for Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Blogs

Editor of Radio Cymru Betsan Powys blogged about why she's proud of new station Radio Cymru 2; we published a round-up of BBC wins at British Comedy Guide Awards and the weekly BBC iPlayer Highlights 3-9 February. On Friday Dan Rees blogged about The technology behind BBC One’s Animals With Cameras.

Broadcast Highlights

• All Together Now, Saturday 27 January, BBC ONE
• Stacey Dooley Investigates: Russia's War On Women, from Wednesday 31 January, BBC THREE
• Animals With Cameras, Thursday 1 February, BBC ONE
• Blue Peter: 5000th Show And A Brand New Badge!, Thursday 1 February, CBBC
• Nigel Slater's Middle East: Lebanon, Friday 2 February, BBC TWO
• The Final Take: Bowie In The Studio, Tuesday 30 January, BBC WORLD SERVICE