A round up of BBC announcements, press releases and blogs. Plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output from the last week.
BBC Arts announces unique new documentaries
In 2019 BBC Arts will offer audiences innovative programming and partnerships with the best artistic talent - giving unique perspectives and an unmissable front-row seat to the best arts and performance in the UK and beyond.
BBC searches for new podcasting talent with The Rachael Bland New Podcast Award
The BBC is launching a UK-wide search to find the next new, passionate and distinctive voices in podcasting. Entries for The Rachael Bland New Podcast Award opened on Monday 21 January. BBC Radio 5 Live will produce a pilot series of the winning podcast to showcase on BBC Sounds.
Comedy
Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Fiona Shaw CBE are set to guest star in series two of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s multi award-winning series Fleabag.
Drama
BBC Four welcomes thrilling new international drama series and returning favourites to the channel including, Safe Harbour and returning series Trapped, Follow the Money and Cardinal.
Michelle Keegan will return to BBC One to lead the fourth series of Our Girl. Made by BBC Studios, this six-part commission will take place one year on from 2 Section’s last tour in Bangladesh.
Factual
Winterwatch will return to BBC Two this year, broadcasting live from its new location in the wildest part of the UK, the Cairngorms National Park: the new, year-round home for The Watches.
Scotland
Acclaimed Scots actors Mark Bonnar and Jamie Sives, will star in Guilt, a new four-part drama series, written by Neil Forsyth - the first drama commission for BBC Scotland’s new digital channel.
Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé, award-winning actor Mark Bonnar, comedy legends Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill and a raft of new talent and documentaries showcasing modern Scotland, are lined up to feature on the new BBC Scotland television channel launching next month.
Corporate
The BBC announced on Monday 21 January that Gwyneth Williams, Controller of Radio 4 and 4 Extra, is to leave the corporation.
Broadcast highlights
- I Blame My Parents, Sunday 20 January, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer
- imagine... James Graham: In The Room Where It Happens, Monday 21 January, BBC One and BBC iPlayer
- Holocaust: A Newsround Special, Monday 21 January, CBBC and BBC iPlayer
- On Guitar - Lenny Kaye!, Friday 25 January, BBC Four and BBC iPlayer
- Heart and Soul: Raven, Sunday 20 January, BBC World Service and BBC Sounds
- The Essay: Yorkshire, Monday 21 January to Friday 25 January, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
- Lowry Revisited, Thursday 24 January, BBC Radio 4 Extra and BBC Sounds
- CrowdScience: Why Do We Bury Our Dead?, Friday 25 January, BBC World Service and BBC Sounds
