MUMBAI: The BBC?s combined international news services attracted a record global weekly audience of more than 233 million during 2006/2007, according to independent surveys.The global audience figure for the combined services of BBC World Service radio, BBC World television and the BBC?s international online news service bbcnews.com is up 23 million from 210 million last year.

Many people used more than one service. BBC World Service?s weekly radio audience estimate is a record 183 million, up 20 million on last year. BBC World now has estimated record audiences of 76 million viewers a week, up from 65 million in2005/2006.The BBC?s international-facing online news sites attracted a record 763 million page impressions in March 2007, up from 546 million in March 2006. 

There were a record 38.5 million unique online users across the globe during March 2007, up from 32.8 million a year ago. BBC Global News director Richard Sambrook said, "This is a strong and welcome indication that the BBC?s news services are strengthening their impact with audiences around the globe in the highly competitive multimedia age. 

People around the world are increasingly turning to the BBC when they need quality news and information that is independent and trusted."There were large BBC radio audience increases in Bangladesh ? up 8.3 million. Increased survey coverage added 7.5 million to the estimate in Democratic Republic of Congo and 7.0 million in Afghanistan. Weekly audiences in radio markets in India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Rwanda all grew by a million or more during the year. BBC World saw substantial growth in audiences in Africa, Canada, Egypt, India, Pakistan and the US.

MUMBAI: Psychological illusionist Derren Brown comes to BBC Entertainment in regional premieres of his British series.

Wielding his powers of perception over unsuspecting audiences, Derren Brown hosts a number of specials and series acquired by the channel exclusively for Asia. The titles, including Derren Brown: Trick Of The Mind; Russian Roulette; S?ance: Messiah: Mind Control: Something Wicked This Way Comes; The Heist and The Series will premiere on BBC Entertainment in July. In India, the channel is available on Tata Sky and on IOL Broadband.

Also new to BBC Entertainment and Asia is the inspired Star Stories series ? a six-part expos? of the world?s top superstars. In an age where celebrity worship is the new religion, these fantastical dramatisations reveal the stars? stories behind their public images ? but these are the tales the stars would never want unveiled!

One can get a peak at the rollercoaster lives of Madonna and Guy, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, Sadie Frost and Jude Law, George Michael and Victoria and David Beckham. The ensemble cast includes Kevin Bishop and Daisy Beaumont.