Round Up Week 50 (9-15 December)
Hannah Khalil
Digital Content Producer, About The BBC Blog
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A round up of BBC announcements, press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output last week.
Blue Planet II becomes BBC iPlayer’s most popular programme of 2017 so far
Spectacular natural history programme Blue Planet II has become BBC iPlayer’s most popular programme of the year so far, with 4.2 million requests for the first episode.
Bruce: A Celebration to air on BBC One
On Wednesday 21 February 2018, the day before what would have been his 90th birthday, BBC Studios is staging a very special event to honour one of this country’s biggest and best-loved entertainers and broadcasters, Sir Bruce Forsyth. The show will be broadcast on BBC One at a later date.
BBC African Footballer of the Year 2017
Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been voted the overall winner of this year’s BBC African Footballer of the Year Award, the first time he has been shortlisted.
Training
The BBC’s pioneering new training programme for disabled actors has led to all 32 participants successfully securing BBC auditions.
Announcements and blogs
Comedy
Dragged up all the way from the ocean bed, national treasures Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are back together this festive season for a special 30th anniversary clip show bursting with brand new material, greatest hits, hilarious rarities, and even some never-before-seen footage.
Drama
The media pack for Little Women was published on Thursday.
Factual
Coming to TV screens on Sunday 17 December, 9pm, is The Alternativity, a unique observational arts and documentary commission for BBC Two. This hour-long film sees creative visionary Danny Boyle travel to Bethlehem to capture a festive performance of the nativity quite unlike any other.
Children's
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have followed in the footsteps of his grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, by being awarded a coveted Gold Blue Peter badge it was announced on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, new commissions for CBeebies will bring crafty upcycling, village drama and Shakespeare to the fore in 2018 as BBC Children’s secures a great selection of new and returning CBeebies content.
In addition, a new interactive story based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale The Snow Queen launches on the CBeebies Storytime app today in time for the festive period.
Sport
On Monday, BBC One announced a new Saturday night game show to launch in the run up to Sport Relief 2018.
Online and interactive
A new game has been launched in whichDoctor Who fans can step inside a virtual reality version of the show’s title sequence.
Radio
On Saturday Radio 1 announced that Liam Payne, Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello, The Vamps, Jason Derulo and Hollywood stars including Chris Hemsworth, Chloë Grace Moretz and Kirsten Dunst will host Radio 1’s Superstar Playlist - taking over Radio 1 on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, on Monday, BBC Asian Network announced that Jasmine Takhar is the new presenter of The BBC Asian Network Weekend Breakfast Show (6-10am), having taken over from Harpz Kaur who is now The BBC Asian Network Breakfast Show presenter (weekdays, 6-10am).
Elsewhere, it was confirmed that International DJ, radio broadcaster and club curator DJ Charlesy will be joining the 1Xtra family from Friday 9 February 2018.
Regional
Give My Head Peace will be making a popular return to BBCNI television with three brand new episodes in early 2018, and fans can apply for tickets now.
International
The BBC World Service and Sundance Institute, who are collaborating on a series of radio programmes and podcasts under the theme of Neighbour, have selected five projects from a pool of nearly 200 applications to take forward into production.
Blogs
Director Miranda Howard-Williams wrote: My experience on the BBC Writersroom Directing Scheme 2017, we also published the weekly BBC iPlayer Highlights 16-22 December.
Broadcast Highlights
CBeebies The Snow Queen
- Sarah And Duck, 14 December, CBEEBIES
- BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2017 - The Contenders,Tuesday 12 December, BBC ONE
- Blue Peter: It's Chriiiiistmaaaaas!, Thursday 14 December, CBBC
- The Sweet Makers At Christmas, Friday 15 December, BBC TWO
- CBeebies' The Snow Queen, Friday 15 December, CBEEBIES
- British Composer Awards 2017, Sunday 10 December, BBC RADIO 3
- Grenfell: Dust On Our Lips, Tuesday 12 December, BBC RADIO 4
