A round-up of BBC announcements, press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output last week.
Reith Lectures
On Sunday BBC Radio 4 confirmed details and broadcast dates for Dame Hilary Mantel’s Reith Lectures. In her five lectures titled Resurrection: The Art And Craft, Mantel will ask questions about the legitimacy and usefulness of historical fiction, examine the role of research, and explore how a writer might serve the recorded facts whilst giving breathing space to the imagination.
Announcements and blogs
Factual
On Monday at Buckingham Palace, the BBC announced the first programmes to feature in its Royal Collection Seasonwhich will reveal the fascinating history of one of the largest and most important art collections in the world.
On Tuesday we published the Springwatch media pack. Presented by Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan, Martin Hughes-Games and Gillian Burke, this annual three-week wildlife show returns to BBC Two at the end of May, broadcasting live from the Cotswold countryside.
On Wednesday Charlotte Moore and Tom McDonald revealed a new three-part series from the makers of 2015's BAFTA award winning Big Blue Live. Wild Alaska Live (pictured at top)will be broadcast live across a week in July 2017.
Drama
Hugh Grant is to return to British television screens for the first time since the early 1990s. He will star in A Very English Scandal, based on the book by John Preston, as the disgraced MP Jeremy Thorpe.
Comedy
On Friday, Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning announced a raft of brand new satires across all four BBC TV channels, featuring an extraordinary range of comedic talent including Tracey Ullman, Charlie Brooker, Frankie Boyle, Diane Morgan, Luisa Omielan and Rhys Thomas.
Children's
BBC North will host CBBC Summer Social, in July. The free, live event will bring together top stars, amazing games and masterclasses with the teams behind some of CBBC’s biggest shows, all taking place on the MediaCityUK Piazza.
Sport
BBC Sport announced full details for FA Cup Final 2017 coverage across the BBC this Saturday.
News
BBC News announced on Thursday that the BBC's global audience has risen to 372m (weekly), a rise of 7 per cent year on year.
Music
BBC Studios and BBC Music announced they will present Later 25 at the Royal Albert Hall on BBC Two as Jools Holland brings his iconic music television show to the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday September 21 2017 to celebrate 25 years, 50 series and over 360 episodes on BBC Two.
Meanwhile, on Friday Sir Ray Davies was confirmed to headline BBC Proms In The Park 2017.
Radio
Radio 1 released a statement on BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend which will be continuing as planned this weekend in Hull.
Regional
It was confirmed that on Monday 29 May, world-renowned surgeon David Nott will pay tribute to his West Walian roots, as he presents BBC Radio Wales’ Patrick Hannan Lecture 2017 at the Hay Festival. His lecture, in front of a sold-out audience at the BBC tent will focus on his incredible journey from Trelech to the frontline.
Blogs
On the blog we revealed details of the BBC Comedy and BBC Writersroom Felix Dexter Bursary for Comedy Writers and shared some lovely pictures from BBC Radio 2 Feel Good Gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017.
Broadcast Highlights
Presenter Sophie Raworth at the RHS Chelasea Flower Show
- Miranda Hart: From Hampshire To Hollywood, Saturday 20 May, BBC Radio 4
- The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Sunday-Friday 21-26 May, BBC One/BBC Two
- My Big Gay Jewish Conversion, From Tuesday 23 May, BBC Three
- The Met: Policing London, Wednesday 24 May, BBC One
- White Gold, Wednesday 24 May, BBC Two
- Paula, Thursday 25 May, BBC Two
- Sharon Osbourne Presents Rock ‘n’ Roll's Dodgiest Deals, Friday 26 May, BBC Four
