A round-up of BBC announcements, press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output last week.
BBC Music Sound of 2017
The shortlist of BBC Music Sound Of 2017 ones to watch this coming year was revealed throughout the week. The winner was 22 year old R&B singer and songwriter Ray BLK (pictured above) from Catford, South London.
Awards
The finalists for the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2017 have been announced and include three nominations for The Archers. Elsewhere there are nominations for Tracks and Emile Zola: Blood, Sex And Money, which stars Glenda Jackson.
Announcements and blogs
Drama
The press pack for new four-part drama Apple Tree Yard was published. Amanda Coe’s adaptation of Louise Doughty’s best-selling novel begins on January 22 on BBC One and stars Emily Watson and Ben Chaplin.
It was announced that Jim Sturgess and Agyness Deyn will lead cast for BBC One's Hard Sun a new pre-apocalyptic crime drama which will start filming in late January.
Comedy
BBC Three announced it has commissioned a new feisty comedy for Valentines Day, Luisa Omielan's hit stand-up show What Would Beyoncé Do?!
Entertainment
Press pack for new Saturday night show Let It Shine was published, complete with Q & A's with judges Gary Barlow, Dannii Minogue, Amber Riley and Martin Kemp.
Factual
BBC One announced Spy In The Wild a highly innovative new natural history series where more than 30 ultra-realistic animatronic Spy Creatures to go undercover in the animal world.
Blogs
Director of nations and regions, Ken MacQuarrie unveiled a special spoken word version of Auld Lang Syne to ring in the New Year. The recording includes some of BBC’s radio voices from across the UK and around the globe to showcase the range and diversity of our services.
Betsan Powys looks ahead to the future, as well as celebrating the past of Welsh language station Radio Cymru as it marked 40 years of broadcasting on January 3 and we introduced Let It Shine which began on January 8, including some hilarious insights into working on the show from presenters Mel Giedroyc and Graham Norton.
Broadcast Highlights
Mark Gatiss behind the scenes, Sherlock: The Six Thatchers
- Sherlock: The Six Thatchers, Sunday 1 January, BBC ONE
- Elvis Dream Concert, Monday 2 January, RADIO 2
- Uncle, from Sunday 1 January, BBC THREE
- Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets Of Orkney, Monday 2 January, BBC TWO
- Yellowstone, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 3, 4, 5 January, BBC TWO
- Dawn French Live: 30 Million Minutes, Saturday 31 December, BBC FOUR
