Round-up week 39 (24-30 September)

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

BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2016

BBC Sport today begins its search for the Young Sports Personality of the Year 2016 as nominations open for the coveted award.

Arrivals and departures

Award-winning journalist Martin Bashir has been appointed as the new BBC Religious Affairs Correspondent, while Helen Boaden, Director of Radio, has announced her intention to retire. BBC Radio 2 presenter Desmond Carrington also announced that he is to step down from his presenting duties on the network.

Announcements and blogs

Drama

The second series of BBC One's multi-award winning drama Doctor Foster has started filming with Suranne Jones.

Elsewhere, BBC Two confirmed that Olivier-award winning actress Denise Gough will star in Paula, the new revenge thriller by playwright and filmmaker Conor McPherson. She will be joined by Tom Hughes (Victoria, The Game).

Entertainment

It was confirmed this week that Matt LeBlanc will return to host Top Gear with a new series set to air on BBC Two and globally next year.

Meanwhile, BBC One's Apprentice media pack was published. Also for the network, BBC One Daytime welcomes Rick Edwards, Juliet Sargeant and Martyn Ashton plus the return of The Hairy Bikers for this autumn and winter as Dan McGolpin, announces a range of new programmes to keep the BBC One daytime schedule fresh until the end of the year and beyond.

Factual

For BBC Two, Sally Phillips is to explore the impact of a new screening for Down’s Syndrome in A World Without Down’s Syndrome?In addition,Andrew Marr is to tell the personal story of his stroke and his struggle to recover in a new documentary for the network.

Meanwhile, BBC Four’s Britain’s Lost Masterpieces discovers rare painting by 17th Century master Jacob Jordaens.

iPlayer

This week we announced the next phase of plans to make BBC content, products and services more personalised and tailored to all viewers and listeners.

BBC Music

Alan Davey, Controller of BBC Radio 3, announced at the Radio Festival that the BBC Philharmonic is launching an innovative new series of interactive concerts that are set to change the way people experience an orchestra.

BBC Music also announced that Spring King, Izzy Bizu and Sundara Karma will kick off the first BBC Music Presents US tour - a partnership between BBC, Live Nation and the GREAT Britain campaign - showcasing the best UK talent in the US.

Radio

This December, Radio 4 brings Neil Gaiman’s spellbinding tale Stardust to listeners. To celebrate this new two-part dramatisation by Dirk Maggs, Radio 4 is inviting budding artists and fans alike to create and submit an evocative image that captures the story of Stardust.

BBC Radio 1Xtra announced this week that Craig David has joined the line-up for 1Xtra Live in Liverpool on Saturday 8 October.

Regional

The Blame Game will celebrate 10 Years on BBC One NI with a special show featuring Kevin Bridges.

International

In a week of special programmes and live reports, BBC World Service will explore the vision of the Francis Crick Institute, including a major debate from the Crick on the fast-changing pace and ethics of genetic research.

Blogs

Jessica Cecil wrote for us about Supporting our Tech Talent; Director of News and Current Affairs, James Harding said "Don’t blame us for Brexit"; while Helen Boaden extolled the virtues of BBC personalisation in A more personal BBC for everyone.

There was also a call for writers to submit to BBC TV Drama Writers’ Programme 2017; and over at Radio 3 they were celbrating 70 years so Alan Davey wrote 70 years young: Radio 3, still pioneering new music and new ways to enjoy it; finally Jonty Claypole introduces BBC Two's Poetry Night.

Broadcast Highlights

• Strictly Come Dancing, Saturday 24 September, BBC One
• Street Auction, Monday 26 September to Friday 30 September, BBC One
• Morgana Robinson's The Agency, Monday 26 September, BBC Two
• Ambulance, Tuesday 27 September, BBC One
• Being Black, Going Crazy?,  from Tuesday 27 September, BBC Three
• Britain's Lost Masterpieces, Wednesday 28 September, BBC Four
• The Fall, Thursday 29 September, BBC Two
• Sir Terry Wogan Remembered: Fifty Years At The BBC, Friday 30 September, BBC One
• Oasis In Their Own Words, Friday 30 September, BBC iPlayer
• The Kitchen Cabinet, Saturday 24 September, BBC Radio 4
  
  
• Private Passions: Sound Frontiers – Dame Joan Plowright, Sunday 25 September, BBC Radio 3
• Global Business: How Has London's French Community Fared Since Brexit?, Sunday 25 September, BBC World Service
• Thank You For Being My Friend - A Tribute to Terry Wogan, Monday 26 September, BBC Radio 2
• A Service Of Thanksgiving For The Life And Work Of Sir Terry Wogan KBE, DL, Tuesday 27 September, BBC Radio 2