Round-up week 6 (4-10 February)

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

Sustainability

From April this year all of the BBC’s TV programming will have to track their carbon footprint using the Albert carbon calculator for TV production. The Albert scheme aims to better understand the environmental impacts generated by programme production and to promote more sustainable ways of working. This marks the BBC’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact and is part of its wider sustainability plan.

RAJARS

The latest RAJAR (Radio Joint Audio Research) figures were released covering Quarter Four (Oct-Dec), 2016 on Thursday 9 February. The data showed BBC Radio Ulster/ Foyle remains the most listened to radio station in Northern Ireland receiving an average weekly reach of 521,000 listeners.

BBC Radio 4’s Today programme also recorded it’s highest ever audience figures, Bob Shennan, Director of BBC Radio and Music said “As Today celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, Radio 4 listeners continue to wake up to world class journalism which scrutinises the headlines, holds those in power to account and enlightens them with stories that shape our society.”

Disclosures

The BBC published details of expenses, gifts and hospitality and declarations of personal interests for Q2 2016/2017 (July - September 2016) for senior managers who earn over £150k and/or those who sit on the BBC’s boards.

Awards

Fiddle player Charlie Stewart was named BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2017.

On Monday Mark Radcliffe revealed that the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017 would return to the Royal Albert Hall in London on Wednesday 5 April, and on Wednesday the nominees were announced.

Announcements and blogs

Entertainment

BBC One premiered the new Top Gear trailer on Saturday 4 February. The 90 second film sees the hosts squirm through a set of uncomfortable questions from a BBC risk assessor.

On Wednesday 8 February, BBC One confirmed the first celebrities who will take part in Let’s Sing and Dance for Comic Relief – the new supersized version of Let’s Dance for Comic Relief which has seen some breathtaking performances from household names.

Factual

BBC One announced Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum And Dad. In May 2015, the former professional footballer’s wife Rebecca passed away from breast cancer, aged just 34. Rio will explore ways of managing grief, including his own.

The Real Marigold Hotel returns with a second series on Wednesday 15 February, moving over from BBC Two to BBC One. We published a media pack including interviews with the new hotel guests and Jon Jacob blogged about meeting the new cast and some ideas about his own senior citizenship – which we should mention, is a long way off.

Drama

BBC Two announced Daniel Mays will star in factual drama Against The Law as Peter Wildeblood, whose lover Eddie, under pressure from the authorities, turned Queen’s evidence against him in one of the most explosive court cases of the 1950s - the infamous Montagu Trial.

BBC Four acquired Canadian crime drama Cardinal which will air later in the year and BBC One announced that Lee Mead and Jaye Jacobs will make a dramatic return to BBC One’s popular medical drama Holby City.

BBC iPlayer

Taboo and Apple Tree Yard will become the first of a new run of boxsets on BBC iPlayer. All episodes of each show will remain on iPlayer until the last episode is broadcast. The full series will then be available to watch as a boxset for 30 days.

Music

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra announced the Tectonics Glasgow Festival 2017 line-up.

Chlidrens

BBC Newsround commissioned ComRes to conduct a survey to coincide with Safer Internet Day 2017 (February 7) and CBeebies’ Controller Kay Benbow commissioned two series of Treasure Champsa brand new show aimed at older pre-schoolers. The mixed media show will explore the values common to different faiths and cultures such as generosity, empathy and honesty.

Sport

The BBC broadcast Wales Women’s rugby live, for the first time. Geoff Williams, Head of Sport, BBC Wales said: “Over the course of the Six Nations Women’s tournament, BBC Wales will provide live TV and online coverage with highlights, interviews and analysis throughout every step of the competition.”

Radio

Radio 2 announced changes to its weekend programming schedule, which launch on Saturday 4 March and Saturday 1 April.

Blogs

Director of Radio and Education, James Purnell talked about the BBC's commitment to reinventing public service broadcasting for a new generation, and how education will be a part of that. 

Director Nour Wazzi wrote about The Break II which, now in its second year, is an exciting collaboration between BBC Writersroom and BBC Drama Production to make five original short monologues for BBC Three, written by up-and-coming BAME writing talent from across the UK.

Broadcast Highlights

• Women's Rugby Six Nations Sunday 5 Febdruary, BBC Two
• This Country Wednesday 8 February, BBC Three
• The Moorside Tuesday 7 February, BBC One
• Roots Wednesday 8 February, BBC Four
• Brexit: A Guide for the Perplexed Monday-Friday 6-10 February, Radio 4
• Jo Whiley: BBC Introducing Special Wednesday 8 February, Radio 2