A round-up of BBC announcements, press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output last week.
500 Words
Radio 2 launched their annual short-story writing competition for children aged five-thirteen. The live final on Friday 16 June will take place at the Tower of London.
Mental Health Season
The BBC launched a season of programmes across TV, radio and online looking at Mental Health. Alison Kirkham, Controller of Factual, said: “More than ever, people are realising the importance of looking after their mental as well as their physical health and this season of programmes explores what we can all do to look after ourselves and support others." As part of the season, Radio 1, Radio 1 Xtra and Asian Network launch a year-long campaign to encourage young people to explore issues surrounding their mental health called My Mind And Me.
Appointments
Julia Bond was appointed the BBC’s first Children’s Commissioning Executive with specific responsibility for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Julia’s experience includes many productions for CBeebies and CBBC across linear and digital platforms in a BBC career spanning 15 years.
Announcements and blogs
Comedy
Good Omens, a six-part comedy based on the acclaimed novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett was commissioned, BBC studios will co-produce the series with Narrativia and The Blank Corporation and in association with BBC Worldwide, who have licensed the global SVOD rights to Amazon. It was also announced that the award winning Inside No.9 would return for a fourth series and we published the Media Pack for BBC Three's Witless.
Factual
We announced a three year engagement strategy partnership with BRITDOC, co-funding up to four BBC documentaries a year, playing out primarily as Storyville films.
The winner of The Great Interior Design Challenge was revealed. Programme judge Kelly Hoppen siad of the successful contestant, Daniela Tasca-York, “Every single room she designed was a different feel, a different look, different textures, she really pushed the boundaries.”
Radio
Desert Island Discs celebrates its 75th anniversary on Sunday 29 January. Radio 4 shared details of the on-air celebrations which will begin on 28 January with a special three hour programme on BBC Radio 4 Extra featuring some of the wonderful voices from the archive.
Also, Radio 1Xtra’s A.Dot launched the Trashbag Tuesday animation tool with Mixital to inspire teenagers to get creative.
Children's
Blue Peter launched a competition for viewers to design and name mascots, one for the IAAF World Championships London 2017 and one for the World Para Athletics Championships. The winners will see their designs come to life at the events.
Daytime
Dan McGolpin unveiled five new commissions for BBC Daytime and Early Peak including Holding Back The Years, a new series looking at the experiences of growing older in Britain today and The Boss, a brand new quiz show hosted by comedienne Susan Calman.
Arts
BBC Young Dancer 2017 unveiled the 20 talented young dancers who have made it to the Category Finals of the competition.
Sport
BBC Sport released details of its coverage plans for the 2017 RBS 6 Nations Championship across its TV, Radio and Digital outlets.
Blogs
School Report's Editor Sharon Stokes introduced a new way for young people to share their story ideas - BBC School Report “The Pitch” gives 11-16 year olds the chance to send content directly to the BBC, where it will be shared with and considered by a team of editors from across BBC programmes.
We discovered the whereabouts of the old BBC Breakfast sofa. BBC Media Action's Walid Batrawi told us how the iconic red couch was saved from the scrap heap and shipped from London, via the BBC’s Jerusalem bureau, to start a new life in Ramallah.
BBC Writersroom launched their BBC Scotland office on Friday 20 January. Development producer Angela Galvin explained why this is great news for Scotland-based writers and a few of the upcoming plans and events.
Broadcast Highlights
Fiona Bruce and contributors on Antiques Roadshow Holocaust Memorial
- Call the Midwife: The Casebook, Saturday 14 January, BBC One
- Antiques Roadshow Holocaust Memorial Special, Sunday 15 January, BBC One
- The Infinite Monkey Cage, Monday 16 January, Radio 4
- Zero Days: Nuclear Cyber Sabotage - Storyville, Monday 16 January, BBC Four
- Pointless: 1,000th Episode, Monday 16 January, BBC One
- Our Dancing Town, Tuesday 17 January, BBC Two
- The Documentary: Trump Tweet By Tweet, Wednesday 18 January, BBC World Service
- Jack Dee's Inauguration HelpDesk, Thursday 19 January, BBC Two
