In a rather surreal and wonderful start to the week, I found myself sitting in front of a real fire, in a book-lined, wood panelled room talking to actor Gabriel Byrne. We were discussing his new drama for BBC One, Quirke, a dark thriller set in 1950s Dublin. Transmission details haven't been confirmed yet, but there’s some more information about the three-part series here and we’ll be featuring my interview on the site in the coming months.
From one Hollywood star to another now, as William Hurt takes the lead in The Challenger, a factual drama on BBC Two tonight at 9pm. It tells the story of US physicist Richard Feynman’s role on the commission set up to determine the cause of the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. It’s a bravura performance from Hurt as the charismatic scientist in what’s an intelligent and compelling dramatic interpretation of the story. My interview with the writer Kate Gartside and executive producer Mark Hedgecoe is below and there’s also some fantastic BBC Archive footage here of Feynman explaining the mysterious forces that govern the universe.
Interview with Mark Hedgecoe and Kate Gartside about new BBC Two drama, The Challenger.
Aside from winning Nobel Prizes and changing the face of scientific thought, Feynman was a great teacher, raconteur and bongo player – which brings me, by way of a highly spurious tangent, to music, as last week saw the publication of the 2013/14 schedule of concerts and broadcasts by the Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Probably not a great deal of bongo playing here, but the season does include an exploration of some of the major American composers, Gershwin, Ives, Barber and John Adams.
Last week also saw the launch of a new campaign to celebrate 90 years of innovation at the BBC, telling the story of broadcasting, engineering and technological progress since 1922. From the birth of radio and TV, to the first steps into the digital world with BBC Micro Computers and Ceefax, through to more recent innovations like BBC iPlayer and delivering the first truly digital Olympics in 2012, the BBC has consistently pioneered exciting new technologies for its audiences. All that rich history is told in just 60 seconds in the wonderful video below.
Film illustrating how the BBC has ushered in the future of broadcasting since 1922.
The campaign asks ‘Where Next?’ and the future is certainly upon us as today we announced the first broadcasts of the BBC’s television news services - the News at One, Six and Ten and the BBC News Channel – from the brand new High Definition studios at the BBC’s New Broadcasting House. Today’s News at One will be the first programme to come live from the new studio.
Future, past, present – Doctor Who has them all covered in second segment of the seventh series which features four new episodes. The first is called ‘The Bells Of Saint John’ and sees the Doctor pitch up in contemporary London to do battle with a sinister force that lurks within the wi-fi signals that swamp the modern world. Our media pack features interviews with writer, Steven Moffat, and stars, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman.
Finally, in another nod to bygone days, BBC Two announced they’ll be screening an evening of programming dedicated to the legendary comedian Dave Allen. I have fond memories of seeing him on television when I was a child, his serene brand of melancholy and urbane charm stuck with me, and I will always his remember that wonderful parting phrase of his: “Goodnight, thank you and may your God go with you.”
Ben Murray is Editor of the BBC Media Centre.
Follow @BBCPress on Twitter.
