Front Row comes to BBC Two
The BBC today announced that it is extending the Front Row brand this autumn with a new series on BBC Two.
Published: 9 August 2017
BBC Two is delighted to welcome the editorial expertise of the Front Row team with a fresh and intelligent new topical arts show designed to provide real journalistic depth and insight to our arts coverage.
With its existing presence on Radio 4 and plans for an enhanced digital offer, Front Row will now bring audiences high quality arts and culture content across TV, radio and online.
Building on BBC Two’s commitment to showcasing the best of arts and culture on Saturday nights, the Front Row television series will broadcast on early Saturday evenings this September. As with Radio 4’s flagship arts and culture programme, it will chart the changing landscape of the arts, bringing viewers a rich mix of interviews, news, features and performances, as well as arts and culture reviews.
The topical weekly discussion show will air for seven weeks and confirmed presenters include television and radio presenter Nikki Bedi, British columnist and broadcaster Giles Coren and the BBC’s Media Editor Amol Rajan. The BBC Two Front Row production team will work in synergy with the BBC Radio 4 programme team, with some shared interviews conducted by the BBC Radio 4 Front Row presenters also appearing on the television programme.
Front Row is on Radio 4 on weeknights at 7.15pm with a weekly audience of 2.1 million and will mark its 20th anniversary on air next year. This autumn, Front Row’s digital offer will also be enhanced, bringing audiences closer to the artists and performances featured across both the radio and TV editions. Digitally, Front Row will offer additional content, including videos, revealing more about what happens in the studio and behind the scenes to current and new audiences across platforms.
Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two says: “BBC Two is delighted to welcome the editorial expertise of the Front Row team with a fresh and intelligent new topical arts show designed to provide real journalistic depth and insight to our arts coverage.”
Jonty Claypole the BBC Director of Arts says: “Radio 4’s Front Row is an outstanding programme. It is able to reflect the latest developments in UK culture as it happens - and isn’t afraid to set the agenda too, bringing us into contact with some of the greatest artists and practitioners each weekday. By expanding its footprint with BBC Two and enhancing its digital presence, we will connect an even wider audience with the very best arts and culture right across the country.”
Alice Feinstein, Editor of BBC Radio 4’s Front Row says: “I'm delighted to be able to bring the wit and style of Front Row's arts journalism to the BBC Two audience.”
Mark Hedgecoe, Head of Pacific Quay Productions, BBC Studios says: “We are enormously excited about producing BBC Two's version of Front Row, adding to Pacific Quay Production’s growing roster of commissions. Front Row is an iconic Radio 4 brand and this is a terrific opportunity to bring its rich mixture of arts and culture to a new television audience."
The Front Row TV series was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Jonty Claypole, Director of Arts. It will be produced by Scotland-based Pacific Quay Productions, part of the BBC’s commercial production arm BBC Studios and will be Executive Produced by Tanya Hudson. The Editor is Alice Feinstein.
EDA
