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BBC Two Programme Policy 2009/2010
Television: Select television statement policy BBC One BBC One Scotland BBC One Wales BBC One NI BBC Two BBC Two Scotland BBC Two Wales BBC Two NI BBC Three BBC Four CBeebies CBBC BBC HD
Service remit
BBC Two's remit is to be a mixed-genre channel appealing to a broad adult audience with programmes of depth and substance. It should carry the greatest amount and range of knowledge-building programming of any BBC television channel, complemented by distinctive comedy, drama and arts programming.
Delivering the BBC's purposes in 2009/2010
BBC Two will continue to contribute towards the delivery of the BBC's public purposes in the range of ways set out in its service licence. Key developments in the way in which the service will contribute to each purpose are outlined below. These are designed to address the priorities identified by the BBC Trust, future-proof the delivery of the purposes, and address perceived gaps in delivery in line with strategies in the BBC's purpose plans.
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Key developments
1 Sustaining citizenship and civil society
Television: Select television statement policy BBC One BBC One Scotland BBC One Wales BBC One NI BBC Two BBC Two Scotland BBC Two Wales BBC Two NI BBC Three BBC Four CBeebies CBBC BBC HD
Service remit
BBC Two's remit is to be a mixed-genre channel appealing to a broad adult audience with programmes of depth and substance. It should carry the greatest amount and range of knowledge-building programming of any BBC television channel, complemented by distinctive comedy, drama and arts programming.
Delivering the BBC's purposes in 2009/2010
BBC Two will continue to contribute towards the delivery of the BBC's public purposes in the range of ways set out in its service licence. Key developments in the way in which the service will contribute to each purpose are outlined below. These are designed to address the priorities identified by the BBC Trust, future-proof the delivery of the purposes, and address perceived gaps in delivery in line with strategies in the BBC's purpose plans.
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Key developments
1 Sustaining citizenship and civil society
- Priority: BBC Two will aim to maintain its reputation for quality journalism and thought-provoking current affairs by offering insights into the major issues of the day and reflecting public concerns, including examining the causes and significance of the current economic situation. A new documentary series Recession Britain will record the struggle of some of Britain's most famous high street names, while a new drama, Lehman Brothers, will tell the story of the collapse of this investment bank. Cultural, economic and demographic change will be explored in depth in The History Of The British Family. The Trouble With Working Women will show how the post-war entry of women into the workplace has transformed economy and society.
- A new documentary, Generation Jihad, will examine young British men and women whose ideas have been shaped by messages emanating from radical Islam, while the upcoming Violence Season will explore how acts of aggression in both the public and domestic spheres have a corrosive effect on much of contemporary British life. Surveillance UK will assess the impact of the spread of security cameras and other technologies of observation. Working Lunch and Newsnight will continue to offer intelligent commentary and analysis of economics and current affairs. As part of the Aged In Britain Today season, a Gerry Robinson documentary on transforming private care homes will be aired at a similar time to BBC One's Silverville, a documentary series reflecting the lives of older people in Britain. There will also be a Panorama special about the treatment of old people in the UK.
- Priority: Landmark series will play a bigger role in peak time, aiming for high audience impact and maintaining the BBC's reputation for factual programming of the highest quality. BBC Two will follow up the success of Oceans with a new six-part natural history series devoted to marine life, South Pacific. The Great Rift will show how Africa's biggest valley has determined the fate of much of the continent's wildlife, and in another landmark series Stephen Fry will join zoologist Mark Carwardine to encounter some of Earth's most endangered animal species in Last Chance To See.
- BBC Two will deliver high-impact presenter-led series that offer a distinctive, original portfolio of subjects and approaches with a diverse appeal, including Andrew Marr's Age Of Churchill and Dan Snow's The British Navy. Beyond these shores, viewers will be offered fresh insights into 18th-century France in The French Revolution and into the life of the Sun King, Louis XIV, in Versailles: Dream Of A King. The 40th anniversary of the moon landings will be marked with a James May film and a two-part series telling the story of NASA. The Supersizers will serve up six more entertaining episodes from the history of British food.
- BBC Two will strengthen its reputation as a key deliverer of intelligent and thought-provoking programmes covering all aspects of science. How The Earth Made Us will show how geology has shaped human history and civilisation in often surprising ways. In line with the Darwin 200 season, The Human Journey will retrace the expedition of the first humans who left Africa and went on to colonise the world. Solar System will use cutting-edge technologies to bring spectacular images of our planetary neighbours – complemented by new interactive tools on the online site. The series will be supported by a seven-part spin-off science series for CBBC.
- Priority: BBC Two will aim for high-impact seasons of programmes which explore the arts and culture. These include the Poetry Season 2009, which is a key expression of the channel's commitment to reflect one of the most important components of Britain's great literary tradition. Across more than eight hours of prime-time programmes featuring contributors including Griff Rhys Jones, Simon Schama, Armando Iannucci and Sheila Hancock, the channel will offer a variety of different perspectives on the value and meaning of poetry. The series Off By Heart will introduce children to the joys of both learning and reciting verse. This BBC Two-led cross-channel season is a collaboration with BBC Four and aims to deliver an ambitious literary event on television.
- Other cultural genres are covered in several high-profile landmark series. The Birth Of British Music will examine the evolution of a national classical repertoire through the music of Purcell and the influence of Handel and Haydn. Classical music coverage will receive a distinctly contemporary twist when, fresh from the success of Maestro, drum and bass artist Goldie creates a classical composition for this year's BBC Proms. The Genius Of Design will reveal the origins of everyday objects and pay tribute to those who created them. One of the art world's most influential patrons will select Britain's most promising young artist and include them in a career-changing exhibition in St Petersburg in Charles Saatchi's Next Big Thing. In addition, a special observational documentary series will follow the progress of children from two schools that represent the houses of Montague and Capulet during the staging of Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet.
- BBC Two drama and comedy will focus on fresh new content, presenting an innovative and eclectic line-up of comedy this year, including the much-anticipated Krod Mandoon (an inept swordsman leading a troupe of equally incompetent pseudo-heroes in an ancient fantasyland) and the dysfunctional, eccentric-filled rural anti-idyll that is Psychoville. One of Britain's most talented comic actresses will star in a new sketch show, Miranda Hart's Joke Shop, which has transferred from Radio 4. The scandalous private lives of the Pre-Raphaelite artists will be brought vividly to life in Desperate Romantics, a series supported by complementary factual programmes to be shown on BBC Four.
- BBC Two aims to ensure that the rich diversity of Britain's communities is represented across the range of genres and formats. A number of new drama and comedy series are planned. In My Country is a comedy series which explores the humour behind national identity issues, while original dramas will celebrate the lives of pioneering Georgian lesbian Anne Lister and footballer George Best.
- In factual programming, a range of history, science and arts programmes will be produced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The presenting team from Coast will tell fascinating stories from the thriving communities that line the UK's shores. The second series of The History Of Scotland will bring the story of Caledonian progress up to the modern era, while the former Deputy Prime Minister will investigate the geographical differences in British attitudes and lifestyles in John Prescott: The North-South Divide. Viewers will be introduced to some of the country's most intriguing and beautiful gardens in A Year At Bodnant. Si and Dave will cross the length and breadth of Britain to experience the very best local dishes in The Hairy Bikers: Mum Knows Best.
- BBC Two will prioritise the development of online resources which promote knowledge building. As part of the BBC's commitment to the Year of Science, BBC Two programmes such as Solar System and Horizon will be complemented online with content from across the BBC and links to other parts of the web. The channel will continue to innovate around major programmes, encouraging online audiences to participate and contribute to output. The rich multiplatform presence for Springwatch will develop to offer new ways for audiences to connect with live broadcasts and to feed directly into programmes. Dragons' Den, on the other hand, will offer fledgling entrepreneurs the chance to pitch ideas to two new online 'dragons'. This year will see improvement designed to support a range of programme genres such as gardening and cookery, as well as natural history through the Earth project.
- Priority: BBC Two will deliver a broad range of current affairs and documentary output helping audiences to understand and make sense of what is happening in the world. This year, BBC Two will screen a two-part documentary showing almost every step of Barack Obama's ascent from obscure Illinois state senator to the most powerful office in the world. The channel will return to the US to hear what ordinary Americans think of the new President's first year in office in Obama: One Year On. Twenty years after the collapse of Communism, Matt Frei returns to Germany to present the three-part series Berlin, while Tiananmen Square will track down first-hand witnesses to the protests against China's rulers. BBC Two will introduce Explore, a new strand on journeys around the world covering both travel and current affairs, while the global mountain adventure programme High Altitude returns with a new series, featuring a number of guest presenters including entrepreneur Richard Branson and professional footballer Nicky Bailey, who are both accustomed to dizzy heights .
