A quick round-up of BBC-related announcements and blog posts which appeared this week, plus a look forward to some selected highlights on TV and radio.
THIS WEEK
World War One at Home, a UK-wide BBC project, in partnership with Imperial War Museum, launched this week, telling the hidden war stories from the Home Front. Anneli Shearsmith, Broadcast Co-ordinator, BBC Yorkshire wrote a blog for us about the project and reveals some amazing untold stories – like Lizzie the ex-circus elephant who was put to work in Sheffield.
The Winter Olympics came to a close at the weekend and Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, reflected on A Winter Olympics to remember.
Earlier this week Radio 4 launched the Woman's Hour Power List 2014, this year judges are looking to compile the top ten game changers, which will be revealed on air, Wednesday 9 April.
On Wednesday Director-General Tony Hall spoke at the Oxford Media Festival. On the same day Mark Freeland announced that Myfanwy Moore is to return to the BBC from ITV to take up the role of Controller of UK Comedy Production.
On Thursday the BBC Trust aproved proposals for BBC Store, an online commercial service for audiences to buy BBC programmes on a download-to-own basis.
Friday saw Drama Controller Ben Stephenson and BBC One Controller Charlotte Moore unveil a hefty collection of drama commissions alongside their combined vision for drama on the channel. Ben's clarion call for writers stood out:
"Our message to writers is that BBC One offers them the biggest stage in Britain for their work at whatever length is right for the story, unlike the demands of international broadcasters."
Today it’s the start of the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival from Manchester – of all the live coverage, About the BBC producer Jen Macro tells me the ones she's most excited about hearing are the bands chosen by BBC Introducing to kick off proceedings on the main stage - especially PINS and Kiran Leonard.
On more familiar musical territory for me, our colleagues at Radio 3 and BBC Four announced a suite of programmes about the Eighteenth Century under the banner of 'Majesty, Music and Mischief'. Leading the charge at the Wednesday night press launch at the Foundling Museum was BBC Four Editor Cassian Harrison whose effortless yet empassioned eulogising of both programming and the period in history makes the upcoming season across BBC Four and Radio 3 a must-see.
And a special supportive pat on the back for journalist and BBC Look North newsreader Caroline Bilton whose rather unfortunate technology fail (it was the camera, not her chair) resulted in disappearing out of shot during a live in-vision bulletin. #DotheBilton quickly popped up on Twitter. Caroline swiftly provided an explanation on Look North. Broadcast Assistant Jonathan Brine shared this BBC Lincolnshire tribute on Twitter soon after.
NEXT WEEK
On Sunday its the 86th Academy Awards and BBC Films have six nominations across three films – Saving Mr Banks, Philomena and The Invisible Woman - here’s hoping they bring home a statuette.
There’ll be excitement in the office on Monday as our Eurovision entrant is announced (via Red Button & BBC iPlayer 7.30pm). The rest of the team at About the BBC HQ have bets on who the act might be, but as a Eurovision fan myself, I'm keeping my cards very close to my chest.
Also on Monday, a new series, Sport Relief's Top Dog begins on BBC Two, with two teams of dog owners and their pets being put through their paces in order to find out who will win the title of Top Dog.
On Tuesday BBC Four broadcasts the results of an ambitious sleep experiment. Animals Through the Night: Sleepover at the Zootakes a look at the sleeping patterns of the residents of Bristol Zoo.
Jon Jacob is Editor, About the BBC Website and Blog
- Read previous round-ups here.
