BBC Director of Content, Charlotte Moore, unveiled a raft of new commissions for BBC One and set out the BBC’s approach to commissioning new programmes at the Edinburgh TV Festival.
Moore pointed out that the BBC must adapt to changing viewer habits as increasingly audiences are choosing to watch programmes on-demand.
Charlotte Moore, said: “We are hugely proud of the programmes we’ve had on BBC One this year, but we are aware that we can’t stand still if we are to keep up with what the audience wants. So we are making changes to the BBC iPlayer so there will be more programmes available for longer and a richer offer for everyone, young and old. With this in mind we’re increasingly looking to commission programmes that will work across both the linear channels and BBC iPlayer.”
The new commissions announced today include three dramas from Steven Moffat, Sarah Solemani and Gwyneth Hughes, a new comedy Bumps and two standalone factual pieces on extinction, presented by Sir David Attenborough, and mental health featuring the Duke of Cambridge.
Inside Man is a four-part mini-series produced by Hartswood Films and written by Steven Moffat (Dracula, Sherlock, Doctor Who). A prisoner on death row in the US and a woman trapped in a cellar under an English vicarage, cross paths in the most unexpected way. The four-part serial will go into production in late 2020
Whilst an original thriller inspired by true events, Ridley Road by Sarah Solemani (Barry, Aphrodite Fry) tells the story of one brave young woman’s fight against the rise of fascism on the cusp of the Swinging Sixties. The 4×60-minute drama will be produced by RED Production Company (a STUDIOCANAL company) and BAFTA-award-winning executive producer Nicola Shindler (Years and Years, Happy Valley, Trust Me, Safe).
When It Happens To You is made by the producers of Three Girls, the BBC’s multi-award winning account of the grooming scandal in Rochdale. Its writer Gwyneth Hughes ((Doing Money, Vanity Fair)) explores the emotive issues around abortion in Northern Ireland and the experience of families and their loved ones whose lives have been profoundly affected by it. When It Happens To You is a Studio Lambert production for BBC One. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content and Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama. It will be executive produced by Susan Hogg and Gwyneth Hughes for Studio Lambert, and Lucy Richer for the BBC.
New comedy Bumps, starring Amanda Redman, will follow the challenges of Anita, a sixty-three-year-old divorcee with two grown up kids, who decides to have a third baby. Unbeknownst to her it happens to be at the same time as her forty year old daughter Suzanne discovers she is expecting her first child. Bumps (1×30’) has been commissioned by Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy, and Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content. The Executive Producer is Phil Temple at Kudos. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Alex Moody.
In A Royal Road to Wembley: Tackling Mental Health viewers will follow the The Duke of Cambridge as he works in partnership with the FA to launch a new plan to raise awareness of male mental fitness. The film will follow the narrative of the football season, from the first qualifying round in September all the way through to The FA Cup Final in May, and will show clubs up and down the country tackling mental health issues in their communities. A Royal Road to Wembley: Tackling Mental Health 1×60 was commissioned for BBC ONE by Charlotte Moore, Director, Content and Alison Kirkham, Controller, Factual Commissioning and is being made by Goalhanger Films, where it is being Executive Produced by Tony Pastor.
Following the impact of Climate Change: The Facts, BBC Factual will explore the huge number of species of plants and animals which face extinction and the impact of this loss on the planet and humanity. Presented by Sir David Attenborough the 60 minute special titled Extinction: The Facts is part of the BBC’s on going ‘Our Planet Matters’ season which focuses on the biggest environmental and sustainability issues. Extinction: The Facts, a 1×60 for BBC One, is made by BBC Studios Science Unit. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content, and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual.
Staff Reporter
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