BBC2’s Patrick Holland unveils new slate
Patrick Holland, Controller BBC Two has today announced a major history series about the British Empire, new comedies from Sara Pascoe, Limmy and Sarah Willan, a documentary series with unprecedented access to Parole board panels, a brand new jewellery competition format and Impeachment: American Crime Story, the third instalment of the award-winning franchise.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Holland announced that the FX produced series Impeachment: American Crime Story would be coming to BBC Two. The series, written by Sarah Burgess, unravels the national scandal that swept up Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky and Linda Tripp as principal characters in the country’s first impeachment proceedings in over a century. It features a cast starring Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp, Beanie Feldstein as Monica Lewinsky, and Annaleigh Ashford as Paula Jones.
New factual titles announced for BBC Two include a four-part landmark history series, The Forgotten Empire. Presented by David Olusoga, the historian seeks to unearth a more definitive account of Britain’s place in the world, looking beyond the Victorian clichés to reveal new aspects of the imperial story and encounter forgotten communities across the globe with which we have a shared history.
The Forgotten Empire (4×60) was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History & Specialist Factual. It is being made by Uplands where the Executive Producer is Mike Smith and the Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Simon Young.
Filmed over a year with Parole Board panels from across Britain, Inside the Parole Board is a four-part series which follows the complex and emotionally-fraught decision-making process that determines which criminals are safe to walk free – and which will remain behind bars.
Inside The Parole Board was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller of BBC Two and Clare Sillery, Head of Commissioning, Documentaries. It is produced by Raw Television where the Executive Producers are Tim Wardle and Liesel Evans and the Series Producer is Alice Mayhall. The BBC Commissioning Editor is Emma Loach.
All That Glitters is a new talent search to find Britain’s most brilliant jeweller. Each week, the jewellers will be set challenges that explore different styles and aesthetics.
All That Glitters is a 6×60’ series for BBC Two, created and developed by Emma Willis and Naomi Benson and which will be made by Twenty Twenty. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. The BBC Commissioning Editor is Jack Bootle. It will be Executive Produced by Amanda Westwood.
Award winning comedian Sara Pascoe has a new six-part comedy about family, relationships and biology. The title, which is still to be announced, is a subverted take on the traditional sitcom format and combines eccentric characters, surreal moments and factual insight.
This sitcom (6×30’) is a Stolen Picture and Sara Pascoe co-production for BBC Two. It has been commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller of BBC Two, and Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy, and will be Executive Produced by Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Miles Ketley for Stolen Picture and Sara Pascoe. Catherine Gosling Fuller will produce and the BBC Commissioning Editor is Kate Daughton.
The series will be distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Alma’s Not Normal is a 30 minute New on Two comedy pilot written by and starring Sophie Willan. Set in her home town of Bolton, Sophie draws on her own unusual life experiences to share a unique view of what it’s like to come from a line of eccentric Bolton Women, who had kids too young, made bad decisions and got trapped.
Alma’s Not Normal is an Expectation production for BBC Two. The Executive Producer for Expectation is Nerys Evans and the Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Kate Daughton.
Also coming to BBC Two is a joint commission with BBC Scotland. Limmy’s Homemade Show takes DIY comedy to a new level. A cast of one, Brian “Limmy” Limond finds himself playing multiple parts, all the while mounting the camera on a tripod to capture his comedy musings mixing sketch, song, rant, animation and visual effects.
Limmy’s Homemade Show is a 3 x 30 Minute series that will shoot this autumn and premiere on BBC Scotland in the new year with the BBC Two transmission following shortly after.
The show will be Executive Produced by Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland and Gregor Sharp for BBC Two.
Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two says: “There has never been a better time to be a TV viewer, and in a world of endless choice, the BBC Two brand guarantees the most challenging content, embracing the complexities of the changing world, alive with the most eclectic and creative voices. These new commissions speak to these values, with David Olusoga re-evaluating the dominant narratives of the British Empire, Sara Pascoe exploring the demands and contradictions of women’s lives in her first scripted comedy series and The Parole Board building on the success of series like Forensics and Hospital making BBC Two the home of documentary in the UK. With the skill, craft and passion of our new jewellery competition All that Glitters, the brilliant new talent Sophie Willan landing her first show based on struggles as a young adult in Bolton, and the UK premiere of the globally – anticipated Impeachment; An American Crime Story, the channel is buzzing with the most exciting formats, the best story-tellers and the most essential stories.”
Staff Reporter
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