BBC Northern Ireland marks centenary anniversaries of events of 1916 with specially commissioned content
BBC Northern Ireland is continuing to mark the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, The Battle of Jutland and the Battle of the Somme with special programming focusing on this eventful year in our history.
Published: 20 June 2016
Through specially commissioned documentaries and live programming across television, radio, online and digital, BBC Northern Ireland has been reflecting the life and times of 1916.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, BBC Northern Ireland continues with a range of programming featuring archive material as well as never-before-published historical documents, witness testimony and artefacts to tell the stories of major points in history which still resonate in Northern Ireland.
This programming will aim not only to give audiences the opportunity to mark the centenary anniversaries, but also reveal what life was like for people living here 100 ago.
The stories are told against the wider context of World War One.
Television
BBC Northern Ireland’s second of the two landmark Voices 16 documentaries will be broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland on Wednesday 29 June at 9pm. Voices 16 – Somme explores the events of 1916 through the testimony of the people who witnessed it, using authentic documentation from the time.
Heroes Of The Somme, on BBC One Northern Ireland on Wednesday 6 July at 9pm, is the story of 10 war heroes, five key days and one iconic battle. The Somme offensive was one of the bloodiest and most horrific battles in human history. This documentary tells the personal stories of 10 men who won the highest military honour - the Victoria Cross - to reveal why the battle was fought, how it escalated and what was ultimately won and lost.
The Arts Show will feature a special report commemorating the Battle of the Somme at 10pm on Friday 1 July on BBC Two Northern Ireland.
Gaeilgeoirí an Chogaidh Mhóir, on BBC Two Northern Ireland on Sunday 3 July at 10pm, sees actor and writer Tony Devlin explore the story of Irish language speakers who fought in the First World War.
BBC News NI
Following on from live coverage of the anniversary commemorations of The Easter Rising in March and The Battle of Jutland in May, BBC News NI will provide extensive coverage of the remembrance services for the Battle of the Somme both here in Northern Ireland and from Thiepval in France with live broadcasts and content across TV, Radio and Online on 1 July.
Radio
BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle will continue with a range of programming across the year to mark the historic events of 1916. It includes the World War One At Home series (Monday 27 June to Friday 1 July at 4.55pm) in which Helen Mark presents a special season of stories from the series on the Great War to mark events during the momentous year of 1916. The ongoing 137-part series Love Letters From The Front (weekdays 11.55am/11.50pm from 21 April to 28 October), meanwhile, tells the true-life story of an English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly, during the First World War, through dramatised letters sent from the trenches.
The one-off documentary The Green Fields Of France on Sunday 3 July at 12pm marks the centenary of the Battle of the Somme as presenter Gerry Kelly goes on a personal journey to discover the story behind his favourite song.
The station will also cover many centenary events marking 1916, and feature documentaries, special commissions and live programming.
Online
Voices 16 is a landmark multimedia project for 2016 from BBC Northern Ireland. Day by day, BBC Northern Ireland tells the story of a momentous year through the eyes of the people who lived it. These personal accounts will unfold over the coming months on bbc.co.uk/voices16 and on Twitter @BBCVoices16. There will also be a chance to find out more with BBC iWonder guides.
Your Somme is an immersive, personalised, digital experience which allows the user to place themselves in 1916. By entering information on gender and general location, this new tool from the BBC will draw up the most likely scenario which would have faced them, had they lived a century ago. Where might they have served? Their regiment and chances of survival. It also generates the story of those women left behind to keep the country running. Your Somme uses graphics, music, images and personalised storytelling to draw the user into the events of the time. bbc.co.uk/taster/projects/your-somme
Ghosts of Thiepval VR is a virtual reality experience which allows the user to witness life inside the trenches of Thiepval Wood on 1 July 1916 – the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Users can step inside and travel over the top of the trenches of Thiepval Wood as well as hear surviving soldiers recall their experiences. Details of the 360 degree video and access to the download are available at bbc.co.uk/taster/projects/ghosts-of-thiepval-vr
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