BBC Daytime to include more drama and current affairs
The BBC has revealed that the daytime output for BBC One and BBC Two will include more drama and current affairs programmes following criticisms in a report by the BBC Trust.
Liam Keelan, Controller of BBC Daytime, announces an increase in hours of consumer and current affairs and more UK-originated drama, as well as a raft of new commissions for BBC Daytime. The announcement is part of BBC Daytime’s ongoing commitment to bring its viewers more distinctive and original programming. Over the last 12 months, there has already been a 140% increase in consumer and current affairs, as well as more money being directed to UK-originated drama.
Also announced today is a special week of programming marking Census Week in March next year. A new drama, 32 Brinkburn Street, is the story of two generations of the same family in 1931 and 2011. A powerful story about love and family with a mystery at it’s heart. Brand new factual series, Making Britain Count, looks at how Britain changed across the 20th century using the census. Daytime will also be celebrating the work of police officers across the UK with the new commission Britain’s Bravest Cops.
“Over the next year we’re going to be bringing our daytime viewers almost 100 more hours of current affairs, social issues and consumer affairs, as well as nearly doubling factual and drama events from three or four to at least six each year in the same vein as The Week We Went To War and the award-winning Land Girls. As the sole provider of UK-originated drama in daytime, I’m thrilled to be able to continue our commitment to this. And today I’m genuinely delighted to be able to announce these new commissions which I know will resonate strongly with our audience.” – Liam Keelan
32 Brinkburn Street
Set in a typical Georgian terraced house in Manchester, 32 Brinkburn Street follows the lives of two generations of the same family who both live in the same house, one in 1931 and one in 2011. Over the five episodes the drama will explore the powerful topics of pregnancy – unwanted for one woman and unobtainable for another; the impact of extremist politics on a family; the impact of addiction; love and infidelity; madness and mental health and ageing.
Moving between contemporary Britain and Thirties Manchester, it will explore the changing nature of society and the family, and how each generation copes with similar issues. The drama will subtly highlight how things have changed, but also how human nature fundamentally remains the same. Their dramas are domestic but for the characters involved the stakes are high.
32 Brinkburn Street (5×45) is being made by BBC Drama (Manchester). Jessica Pope and Gerard Melling are executive producing for BBC One.
Making Britain Count (w/t)
Making Britain Count celebrates the story of how Britain has changed, as recorded by the census from 1901 to 2011. Each episode will focus on two decades from 1901 to present day and will cover themes such as property, employment, social conditions, education, cost of living, leisure, national identity, marriage, and family dynamics. Over the course of the week the series will reveal how Britain has developed and changed according to the census findings.
Twenty Twenty Television, 5×45 @ 9.15. The series has been executive produced by Lucy Hillman and Gerard Melling for BBC One.
Britain’s Bravest Cops (w/t)
In the week running to the Police Federation’s 2011 Police Bravery Awards, Britain’s Bravest Cops is a week-long special series recognising the UK Police Force’s hard work and heroism. The show will be a mix of stories of police bravery referencing the heroic actions of all the nominees of the Police Bravery Awards, and actuality, showing police officers facing danger fighting crime.
Britain’s Bravest Cops is a 5×45 series and has been executive produced Gerard Melling for the BBC and James Burstall for Leopard Films for BBC One.