A round-up of BBC announcements, press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output last week.
New Talent 2017
On Monday Tony Hall and Idris Elba hosted special event to showcase the BBC’s New Talent Hotlist. Creative leaders from across the BBC have identified over 200 broadcasting stars of the future. More information be found in the New Talent 2017 media pack, including BBC Comedy’s The Felix Dexter Bursary.
BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced that Sue Perkins will host the British Academy Television Awards in 2017, marking her first year as master of ceremonies at the event. The awards will take place at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank on Sunday 14 May 2017 and the ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One.
Announcements and Blogs
Radio
On Saturday Gwyneth Williams, Controller of Radio 4, announced a selection of Spring highlights on the station, including a new play by Joan Bakewell and a new Radio 4 podcast, Fortunately, hosted by Jane Garvey and Fi Glover. On Thursday Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction at the station, Jeremy Howe announced a series of short story serials written exclusively for Radio 4.
50,000 free tickets for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend Hull 2017 will be released during The Radio 1 Breakfast Show at 9.10am on Monday 10 April. 25,000 eagerly anticipated tickets will be available for each day of the two-day event, which takes place at Burton Constable Hall on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May.
Radio 2 announced it is taking part in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as part of the event’s 50th anniversary celebrations and announced the BBC Radio 2 Feel Good Gardens Category for 2017.
Veteran broadcaster and former BBC Radio One and BBC Radio Two presenter Janice Long is to host a brand new weeknight programme on BBC Radio Wales between 7pm - 10pm, Monday to Thursday from 22 May.
Drama
Following the news earlier this month that Adrien Brody is to appear in series four of Peaky Blinders, BBC Two announced that Irish Film and Television Academy award-winner Aidan Gillen has also joined the cast of the show.
Jacqueline Leonard will reprise her role as Lydia Murdoch, the estranged wife of local gangster Lenny in BBC Scotland’s River City. Also in Scotland, filming has started on the fourth series of acclaimed BBC One drama, Shetland which sees the return of Douglas Henshall, Alison O’Donnell, Steven Robertson, Mark Bonnar and Julie Graham alongside new faces for a six-part series filming on location in Shetland, Glasgow and Norway.
BBC Four announced it acquired new Swedish thriller Black Lake which will air later this year.
Comedy
On Friday the BBC confirmed that Detectorists, written, directed and starring Mackenzie Crook, will make a much anticipated return to BBC Four. Last seen aired 2015, the third instalment will transmit later this year in a 6 part series.
Daytime
On Thursday Martel Maxwell was announced as the new presenter of Homes Under The Hammer joining current favourites Martin Roberts and Dion Dublin.
Factual
On Tuesday we published the media pack for Me And My Dog: The Ultimate Contest where canine scientists and dog trainers will help them unlock the full potential of their partnership as they compete in a series of challenges.
A major new co-production between CBBC Productions - the in-house team based in Salford - and DHX Media was revealed. Creeped Out, an original new drama anthology of spooky tales will also air on DHX Television’s Family Channel in Canada.
Sport
On Wednesday the BBC revealed plans for comprehensive coverage of 2017 Masters, on TV, radio and online. Presenter Hazel Irvine also explained why after 25 years of golf presentation with BBC Sport, she has decided to pass the baton on.
Arts
Get Creative, a partnership with BBC Wales and Arts Council of Wales, will kick off with Heart of Wales, a mass participation spectacle on one of Wales’ most iconic mountains, on Friday, April 7. Organisers Theatr Brycheiniog have teamed up with award-winning dance and installation artist Phil Williams for a spectacular interactive project, transforming Pen y Fan into Wales’ largest living art installation.
In celebration of Goldilocks And The Three Bears, CBeebies’ brand new ballet collaboration with Northern Ballet, the BBC is bringing its Dancing Beebies extravaganza back to Yorkshire on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 April in the grounds of Eureka Children’s Museum, Halifax.
Blogs
DJ Chris Hawkins gave us a whistle stop round-up of his experience at the BBC 6Music Festival in Glasgow.
We spoke presenter Jim Al Khalili to find out more about his programme 'Gravity: The Force That Shapes Our Lives', how he became a science broadcaster, and where in the UK is the best place to draw on the powers of gravity to help you lose weight.
As part of the BBC Genome Project we are now releasing the complete 1920s Radio Times magazines online to the public Specialist Researcher at BBC Archive, Andrew Martin explained a bit more about the history of the publication.
The BBC Arabic Festival came to a close on Thursday, and at a ceremony in London the winners of this year's were announced
Broadcast Highlights
The footballer explored grief in the moving documentary 'Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad'
- Line Of Duty, Sunday 26 March, BBC One
- Turkey with Simon Reeve, Sunday 26 March, BBC Two
- The Repair Shop, Monday-Friday 27-31 March, BBC Two
- Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad, Tuesday 28 March, BBC One
- Masterchef, Wednesday-Friday 29-31 March, BBC One
- Brian Pern: A Tribute, Wednesday 29 March, BBC Four
- Galapagos, Thursday 30 March, BBC One
