On the back of England’s victory over New Zealand in the first test at Lord’s yesterday, I’m going to start this week’s round-up with two announcements about cricket.
First up, the BBC has secured the radio commentary rights for the 2013/14 Ashes in Australia, which completes Test Match Special’s comprehensive coverage of a packed cricketing schedule throughout this summer and into the winter, as the England team travel Down Under for a back-to-back Ashes series. Secondly, the BBC and the MCC have created two “Spirit of Cricket” awards in memory of the much-loved, former TMS commentator, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, to recognise those cricketers/teams making the biggest contribution to the spirit of the game in the 2013 English season.
For those that love the game, summer looks set to be very exciting indeed and BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra will be there every step of the way, with, in addition to the normal ball-by-ball coverage, extra programming including, “Ashes Legends” and “Andrew Flintoff’s Ashes Roadshows”.
Things have been busy on the drama front too with outgoing BBC One Controller (and new Director of Television) Danny Cohen announcing a host of commissions, including a new adaptation of Poldark. There has also been a new commission for BBC Two (Murder) and a new acquisition for BBC Three (Orphan Black), alongside a new Stephen Tompkinson series for BBC One (Truckers).
Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson
Meanwhile, new BBC Two thriller The Fall, starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan, became the channel’s most successful drama series launch since 2005, with an average Monday night audience of 3.5 million.
And acclaimed BBC One drama Case Histories returned last night. We have some exclusive interviews with the cast, including Jason Isaacs and Victoria Wood, talking about their roles on the site here.
From drama to music, as BBC Four is set to explore the life and work of British folk legend Nic Jones in a new documentary. Jones released the acclaimed album Penguin Eggs in 1980 but his career was cut tragically short by a serious car accident. This new film tells the story of his long-awaited return to the stage in 2012.
BBC Four, alongside Radio 3, has also just announced details of the 2014 Young Musician of the Year. The competition, established in 1978, has gone from strength to strength and this year sees the introduction of a new Jazz Award and also an ambassadorial role for former winner, violinist Nicola Benedetti.
Radio 3, in partnership with the AHRC, has also just unveiled the ten academics that will be part of this year’s New Generation Thinkers scheme; they will spend a year working with the station to turn their research and ideas into broadcasts for the arts programme, Night Waves.
Finally, and again for BBC Four, we have just announced a new three-part series, Mothers, Murderers And Mistresses: Empresses Of Ancient Rome, which will tell the dramatic story of how exceptional women came to stand at the epicentre of imperial power.
Ben Murray is Editor of the BBC Media Centre.
