Round-up week 48 (26 November - 2 December)

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

Religious programming for Christmas

This festive season, from Advent to the New Year, the BBC's religious programmes offer a host of Yuletide treats; from live worship and traditional musical celebration to conversation and reflection, there is something for everyone this Christmas.

Awards

The shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016 has been revealed. Meanwhile, BBC Music has announced Izzy Bizu as the winner of its BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year Award ahead of the 2016 BBC Music Awards which take place at the ExCeL London on Monday 12 December.

New appointments

Oliver Kent has been appointed Head of Continuing Drama Series for BBC Studios Scripted.

BBC Wales has appointed Nick Andrews as the new Head of Commissioning.

Announcements and blogs

Entertainment

BBC Four is to revive the classic 80s programme, Pop Quiz: The Comeback, for two specials in celebration of 80s pop music.

Elswhere, The Brownlee Brothers, Robbie Savage, Scott Mills and Suzi Perry are amongst the celebrities entering the Robot Wars arena with Dara Ó Briain and Angela Scanlon for two celebrity Christmas specials, Robot Wars: Battle of the Stars.

BBC One is to host a spectacular New Year’s Eve celebration with a concert from one of the UK's greatest performers, Robbie Williams, live from London.

Factual

Patrick Holland, Channel Editor, BBC Two, has announced that the team behind Exodus: Our Journey to Europe has been commissioned to make a major new series following the developing stories of migration and the response to the migration crisis.

BBC Music

The BBC Music Sound Of 2017 longlist has been announced. It was also confirmed that John Legend is to join the star-studded line up of artists performing at the BBC Music Awards 2016.

Radio

BBC Radio 1Xtra announced Ace as the new presenter of the 1Xtra morning (weekdays, 10am-1pm), taking over from Trevor Nelson from January 2017.

Elsewhere, Steve Lamacq is to host a special Christmas Ska Party for BBC Radio 6 Music.

Meanwhile, BBC Radio 2 presents Johnnie Walker Meets...Peter Kay this Christmas.

BBC Radio 4 has confirmed changes to its schedule from April 2017, when the station will launch two new arts programmes and bid farewell to Midweek. In addition, Radio 4 launched the 90th anniversary Christmas appeal Together For 90 Years with St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Digital

BBC News app users can now swipe through a new videos of the day function to catch all the latest news in an easy-to-consume list.

Regional

BBC Wales and BBC Scotland have announced their respective Christmas programming. BBC Wales and Arts Council of Wales have also confirmed that their partnership new music project Horizons/Gorwelion will continue for an extra year.

International

BBC Urdu brings the so-called honour killing of women in the spotlight as the new series, Qatal o Ghairat (Murder and Honour), rolls out on TV, radio, online at bbcurdu.com and social media.

Blogs

A round-up of the BBC winners at the RTS Craft and Design Awards 2016 was published along with Mark Elliott's assessment of How BBC Local Radio provided vital coverage during the floods.

Broadcast Highlights

• The Big Food Rescue, Monday 28 November to Friday 2 December, BBC ONE
• Twirlywoos, Monday 28 November to Friday 2 December, CBEEBIES
• Rillington Place, Tuesday 29 November, BBC ONE
• Pass The Baton! - Radio 3 Performing Groups Day, Sunday 27 November, BBC RADIO 3
• The Conversation: Speechwriters, Monday 28 November, BBC WORLD SERVICE