Round-up week 49 (3-9 December)

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

New Year delights

The Mayor’s New Year's Eve fireworks are to be broadcast live in 360 degree panorama for first time ever by BBC. In addition, CBeebies have confirmed that Tom Hardy is to read the New Year CBeebies Bedtime Story.

Awards

Chris Coleman, the man who guided Wales to the semi-finals of the European football championships, has a Special Recognition Award at the Wales Sport Awards 2016.

Meanwhile, the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2016 top three have been revealed and Robbie Williams, Laura Mvula, Gareth Malone and the Invictus Choir were all confirmed to perform at the event this year.

BBC Music has announced the five artists shortlisted for BBC Music British Artist Of The Year and the Song of the Year shortlist ahead of the BBC Music Awards ceremony in London. 

The BBC Ukrainian Book of the Year 2016 awards winners have been announced.

100 Women

BBC 100 Women is to partner with Wikipedia editors in a global 12 hour edit-a-thon. Meanwhile, BBC Radio 5 live's 100 Women in One Day aims to feature at least 100 women on air in one day to report the news through the eyes of women around the world.

Appointments and jobs

Donalda MacKinnon has been appointed Director of BBC Scotland.

Disabled and BAME TV professionals are invited to join exciting training and development programme: BBC Content Commissioner Development Programme.

Announcements and blogs

Corporate

Following the publication of the Dame Janet Smith report in February 2016 a a progress report was published in July 2016 and a response to Dame Janet’s recommendations is now available. 

In addition, it was announced that Dame Fiona Reynolds, Sir Howard Stringer, and Simon Burke have had their term extended as Non-Executive Directors of the BBC’s Executive Board until April 2017.

Comedy

BBC Comedy has announced that New On Two pilot Home From Home, part of the Landmark Sitcom Season earlier in the year, has been commissioned for a full series for BBC One.

Entertainment

Eurovision: You Decide is to return as the countdown to find our next UK act begins.

Factual

Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer has talked about BBC One’s Planet Earth II and composing music to some of the most epic scenes he has ever witnessed.

BBC One has commissioned a 15-part series, Royal Recipes, to be hosted by Michael Buerk.

Digital

BBC iPlayer is to stream four minutes of Planet Earth IIfootage in the highest quality the BBC has ever broadcast. The experimental footage will be available in Ultra HD and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) on compatible connected TVs until early next year.

Radio

BBC Radio 1 has announced the new line up for BBC Radio 1’s Residency. Elsewhere, BBC Radio 3 is to record lost female composers to address classical diversity. 

Craig Charles returns with Scary Fairy for BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night. While BBC Radio 4 presents On Kosovo Field: a drama inspired by PJ Harvey’s Kosovan notebooks.

Regional

As BBC Radio Cymru Mwy, the pilot digital pop-up station reaches its third and concluding month of broadcasting, BBC Wales is urging listeners to continue to feedback their views on the service until 3 January – BBC Radio Cymru’s 40th birthday.

In Northern Ireland it was confirmed that four talented young musicians have been awarded the Northern Ireland Young Musicians’ Platform Award by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and BBC Northern Ireland. BBC Northern Ireland has also announced a new deal for GAA coverage.

Blogs

As part of the BBC's 100 Women season a new virtual reality programme, Trafficked has been developed. It uses testimony from Maria, a single mother trafficked from Nicaragua to Mexico to tell her story. Two team members tried it out and blogged about it in Experiencing BBC World Service's Virtual Reality 'Trafficked' and 100 Women - Immersed in Maria's story.

Broadcast Highlights

• Six Wives With Lucy Worsley, Wednesday 7 December, BBC ONE
• Vienna: Empire, Dynasty And Dream, Thursday 8 December, BBC FOUR
• Radio 4 Christmas Appeal: Making A Difference, Saturday 3 December, BBC RADIO 4
• Blowin’ In The Wind: Dylan’s Spiritual Journey, Friday 9 December, BBC RADIO 4 EXTRA