A round up of BBC announcements, press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output from the last week.
BBC ready to get 2018-19 football season started
After one of the most unforgettable World Cup tournaments to date that witnessed England’s memorable run to the semi-finals and an audience of 44.5m tune into the BBC for all of the action, Match Of The Day is ready to return to BBC One from Saturday, 11 August and deliver all of the highs and lows from the Premier League.
Announcements and blogs
BBC Studios
On Wednesday we announced the result of the fifth title put out to competitive tender, as part of the Charter and Agreement requirement to open up more of the BBC’s TV programming to competition: and BBC Studios have won the competitive tender for Bargain Hunt.
Factual
With the recent arrival of his baby son, BBC One has commissioned a single film, Surrogacy (w/t) with Tom Daley, to be made by Raw Television.
In addition, David Brindley, Head of Commissioning, Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment, and Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two, have announced the recommission of hit series The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan and Mortimer And Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.
Comedy
BBC Writersroom Scotland and BBC Comedy Commissioning announced this week a brand new Comedy Writers’ Programme aimed at supporting Scottish and Scottish-based comedy writers and the independent sector.
Entertainmant
BBC One confirmed that Cheryl, Matthew Morrison and Oti Mabuse are to lead the search for The Greatest Dancer.
Proms
The BBC Proms are holding a Prom in virtual reality for the first time ever.
Radio
Radio 4 confirmed that Gemma Cairney is to present The Sound Odyssey, a new four-part series for the network. In addition, Radio 4 announced the world premiere dramatisation of The White Hotel, re-uniting writer Dennis Potter and the director of The Singing Detective, Jon Amiel, and featuring an all-star cast including Anne-Marie Duff, Bill Paterson and Simon McBurney.
Plus, Victoria Wakely has been confirmed as the new editor of World at One and The World This Weekend. Current World at One editor, Owenna Griffiths, will become the new editor of PM, iPM and Broadcasting House.
This week BBC Radio 6 Music unveiled changes to its daytime and weekend schedule, launching early in the New Year.
International
Jamie Angus, BBC Director, BBC World Service responds to comments made on the Mizan news agency in a statement on harassment of BBC Persian staff.
Blogs
Fatima Salaria, BBC Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual, blogged about The Big British Asian Summer on the BBC. We also published the weekly BBC iPlayer Highlights 11-17 August 2018.
Broadcast Highlights
- Angela Carter: Of Wolves And Women, Saturday 4 August, BBC TWO
- Animal Park Summer Special 2018, Monday 6 August, BBC ONE
- The Forum: Waiting For Godot: The Play That Changed The Rules Of Theatre, Saturday 4 August, BBC WORLD SERVICE
- Paperback Writers with David Sedaris, Sunday 5 August, BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC
- Edinburgh International Festival 2018, Monday 6 August to Friday 10 August, BBC RADIO 3
- Marc Almond’s Torch Song Trilogy, Thursday 9 August, BBC RADIO 2
