Round up Week 3 (13-19 January)

A round up of BBC announcements, press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output last week.

500 Words

This week Chris Evans launched the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show 500 Words short-story writing competition for children aged between 5-13 years of age.

Super Movers campaign

The BBC and the Premier League have launched Super Movers, an exciting partnership which will help primary school teachers to inspire children to become more active throughout their school day and enhance their learning.

BBC Music Sound of 2018 Live and Celtic Connections

BBC Music announced BBC Music Sound of 2018 Live - an intimate gig featuring performances from a selection of the future new music talent tipped for success this year by influential musical experts - part of the BBC Music Sound Of 2018 longlist.

In addition, BBC Music invites audiences to tune into landmark event for Celtic Connections with a range of programming on radio, TV and online.

Announcements and blogs

BBC Studios

Newly merged BBC Studios has announced the remaining appointments to the Executive Committee, completing the organisation’s senior line-up.

Drama

The media pack for Call The Midwife series seven was published. 

Elsewhere, BBC Three has acquired Australian drama Romper Stomper. The six-part contemporary thriller was acquired from DCD Rights and will air on the channel in 2018.

Comedy

BBC Comedy have announced an exclusive screening of This Country in Gloucestershire with cast and crew.

Meanwhile, an original comedy series penned by exciting upcoming writers Paul McKenna and Jimmy Donny Cosgrove, and starring Martin Clunes which centres around the life of Warren Thompson, a pedantic driving instructor who thinks the world is against him, was announced for BBC One.

Children in Need

Rosie Millard OBE has been appointed as the new Chair of charity BBC Children in Need.

Radio

On Wednesday BBC Radio 1 announced a new weekend schedule for the station - with new signings Maya Jama and Jordan North joining Radio 1 to host weekly shows, and celebrities including Scarlett Moffatt and Mollie King becoming Radio 1 DJs to present alongside Matt Edmondson.

National 

According to official figures, Wales consistently falls behind the rest of the UK in terms of levels of happiness. So this January, across television, radio and online, BBC Wales hopes to encourage positive change and well-being with a special week of programmes beginning on Welsh Happiness Day.

International

Nigeria’s Channels Television and the BBC are joining forces on a new English language current affairs programme due to launch in 2018. The live studio-based show will focus on the stories behind the news, with original storytelling and audience interaction via social media and in the studio in Lagos.

Meanwhile it was confirmed that on 17 January, BBC World Questions will be in Madrid, where Jonathan Dimbleby will chair a debate between leading politicians and opinion formers with all subjects and questions provided by the public audience.

Blogs

This week James Purnell introduced the Super Movers campaign; and we rounded up the BBC wins at the Writers’ Guild Awards 2018, as well as publishing the weekly BBC iPlayer Highlights 20-26 January.

Broadcast Highlights

• The Coronation, Sunday 14 January, BBC ONE
• The Leisure Society with Gemma Cairney: Kelley Deal, Sunday 14 January, BBC 6 MUSIC
• Trump Voters: One Year On – Panorama, Monday 15 January, BBC ONE
• Surgeons: At the Edge of Life, Monday 15 January, BBC TWO
• Inside No.9, Tuesday 16 January, BBC TWO
• Art, Passion & Power: The Story of the Royal Collection, Tuesday 16 January, BBC FOUR
• Living Differently, from Thursday 18 January, BBC THREE
• Hits, Hype & Hustle: An Insider's Guide To The Music Business, Friday 19 January, BBC FOUR