Danny Cohen's vision for BBC One revealed at the Edinburgh Television Festival

Speaking at the Edinburgh Television Festival, Channel Controller Danny Cohen has discussed the BBC One, network its importance and the channel’s plans for the future.

© BBC

Danny Cohen said “It’s a huge privilege to run Britain’s most-watched channel, and I’m greatly enjoying my time at BBC One. There’s always plenty to do though and my focus in the coming months is on consolidating BBC One’s position as the home of the biggest and best programmes – whilst at the same time continuing to develop the channel as a place where we take experimental risks and develop new talent.

“The new programme commissions I am announcing today across Comedy, Drama, Factual and Entertainment underline this creative strategy – with its aim to combine the biggest programmes with the kind of commitment to risk and new talent not normally associated with mainstream channels.”

2012 has already been a huge year for BBC One, the corporation state, adding that extraordinary major events have seen the channel bring the nation together for its biggest moments. The Olympics and Diamond Jubilee helped draw massive audiences and put BBC One right at the heart of the action. They exclude the fact some of the choice of presenters for the latter was met with much indignation by viewers who found the style and feel lacking beeb-ness.

The BBC however continue to look at the positives with their recent successes such as Call The Midwife and The Voice UK which the corporation note are the biggest new drama and entertainment series respectively on BBC One in over a decade. The records started in 2001, apparently. Alongside these major hits, Danny Cohen has been working to foster a spirit of risk and experimental creativity on BBC One through various projects the beeb state.

Danny Cohen adds: “The raft of exciting new programmes I’m announcing today are at the heart of what I believe BBC One stands for: combining the biggest names and the most ambitious programmes with a major new commitment to creative risk and innovation. New comedies written by Britain’s biggest names sit alongside an exciting new Drama Talent Scheme for emerging writers and directors.”

“Two masters of British comedy have created brand new sit-coms especially for BBC One, namely Ben Elton with Slings And Arrows and David Walliams with Autumn Leaves (w/t). Comedy is incredibly important to BBC One and it’s been brilliant to see such great talent being so passionate about working on the nation’s favourite channel.”

BBC One is also committed to delivering an ambitious range of popular and original British drama, and announces today two new distinctive drama series which are In-House BBC Drama productions.

The Ark is a new series written by Sarah Phelps (Great Expectations) which tells the story of the First World War’s frontline medics, focusing on the British nurses and volunteers working in France to save the lives of injured and traumatised soldiers.

Quirke is a new series adapted by screenwriters Andrew Davies and Conor McPherson which will bring John Banville’s acclaimed novels to the screen, starring Gabriel Byrne in the title role. Quirke is the chief pathologist in the Dublin City Morgue – a charismatic loner whose job takes him into unexpected places as he uncovers the secrets of sudden death in 1950s Dublin.

Alongside these pieces, Danny Cohen also today announces a major new Drama Talent Scheme for emerging writers and directors. The aim of the scheme is to develop the next generation of star writers and directors, through a strip of original mid-week pieces that will broadcast on BBC One. Each production will be mentored by a current master of the genre, and will be ambitiously cast. This fresh approach to storytelling will bring entirely new voices to the screen in a bold and entertaining drama event. No longer a need to get luvvie with the producer of EastEnders then to get a quick-entry to the beeb then…

In Entertainment, a new live Saturday night game show has been ordered, where contestants from all walks of life will battle it out to become The Brightest Briton and finally, Seasons is BBC One’s new Natural History commission – a definitive portrait of our country’s dynamic and spectacular nature over the course of one year. The series will reveal why Britain’s climate is unique on Earth, and why our relationship with its wildlife is so enduring and special.

Danny Cohen concludes: “We’ve got an exciting Autumn on BBC One to look forward to, with a star-studded new series of Strictly, a massive injection of Original British Drama and landmark factual series from Andrew Marr and Michael Palin. And I hope the new commissions I’ve announced today for 2013 express the range and creative ambition of BBC One. There are great opportunities here for big names, a real commitment to new talent and opportunities, and top quality programmes.”