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MUMBAI:
BBC Worldwide Channels has unveiled two new additions to the
slate of original productions for its BBC-branded portfolio
around the world.
The
new programmes are the first co-productions with the BBC’s
in-house team since the business announced plans last month
to treble the number of original programme hours ordered for
its international audience.
In
factual channel BBC Knowledge comes ‘Dara O Briain's
Science Club’, a new science magazine format, hosted
by the Irish comedian. Also ordered for BBC Lifestyle is an
international version of the newly revived Food And Drink
series, fronted by the Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux
Jr. Food and Drink is BBC Worldwide’s first production
for BBC Lifestyle.
Both
titles have been co-produced with BBC Two in the UK. ‘Dara
O Briain's Science Club’ and ‘Food and Drink’
have been ordered by Tracy Forsyth, Vice President, Commissioning,
as part of her plan to treble the number of original hours
ordered for BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle
and UKTV (BBC Worldwide’s general entertainment channel
in Australia and New Zealand) in 2012, with the aim of increasing
the number of original hours on the channels to 100 by 2014.
Created
with global audiences in mind, the new titles build on one
part of Tracy's twin-track commissioning strategy: to order
both international formats which will air in all markets alongside
local productions targeting individual markets.
Dara
O'Briain's Science Club is a six-part science series presented
by Dara O Briain takes a single subject each week and examines
it from lots of different and unexpected angles - from extinction
to sex, Einstein to space exploration and brain chemistry
to music.
The
programmes will plug viewers into the latest thinking on hot
topics. Combining lively in-depth studio discussion with exploratory
films and on-the-spot reports, this series brings some of
the world’s foremost thinkers together to share their
ideas on everything, from how to avoid asteroid impact to
whether or not we are still evolving.
Dara
will be joined by materials scientist and engineer Mark Miodownik,
neuroscientist Tali Sharot, physicist and oceanographer Helen
Czerski and science writer Alok Jha. There will also be special
guest appearances from Marcus Brigstocke, James May, Jessica
Hynes, Mark Steel, Josh Widdecombe and Ed Byrne.
‘Dara
O'Briain's Science Club’ will air from 2013 on BBC Knowledge
in Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Italy, Poland
and the Nordic region. It will also air on BBC HD (Latin America,
Poland, Turkey and the Nordic Region).
‘Food
And Drink’ is a revival of BBC Two’s iconic culinary
series. Each episode will feature mouth-watering recipes cooked
by Michel Roux and a stellar cast from the world of food and
drink who will join him in the kitchen. Food And Drink will
play host to the latest debates and discussions from the world
of gastronomy, and will showcase the hottest food trends -
delivering up-to-date news, views and consumer issues. The
series will be vibrant and relevant, providing a fascinating
look at what, how and why we eat and drink today.
Food
And Drink will air next year on BBC Lifestyle in Africa, Asia,
the Middle East, Poland and the Nordic Region. It will also
air on BBC Entertainment (India and Latin America) and BBC
HD (Latina America, Poland, Turkey and the Nordic region).
Forsyth
said, “Dara O Briain's Science Club and Food And Drink
are great examples of the high-quality programmes that I am
seeking for BBC Worldwide’s international channel portfolio.
As well as these popular science and culinary formats holding
broad appeal for our viewers around the world, I believe the
shows have the potential to be returning series which can
be built into global brands.”
Last
month, BBC Worldwide Channels outlined plans to bolster its
original programming slate, through a combination of fully
funded series and co-productions from the BBC’s in-house
productions teams, as well as the independent production community.
BBC
Worldwide Channels acting MD David Weiland said, “I’m
delighted to be working with the BBC’s in-house teams
– BBC Science and BBC Bristol – on these latest
new productions for the international BBC-branded portfolio.
I believe Dara O Briain's Science Club and Food And Drink
will resonate with our viewers around the world and are the
high-quality programmes our global audience expects from the
BBC."
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