Round-up week 38 (17-23 September)

A round-up of BBC announcements, press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output last week.

Statements

The BBC has issued the following statement on behalf of Mary Berry for Great British Bake Off.

Appointments

Ken MacQuarrie, Director of BBC Scotland, has been appointed as the BBC’s new Director of Nations and Regions.

Corporate

This week, the first returning network television series to be put out to competitive tender were announced, as part of its plan to open up more network commissions under its ‘Compete or Compare’ strategy.

Announcements and blogs

Drama

As filming commences, further casting has been confirmed for Broken (working title), with Anna Friel, Paula Malcolmson, Aisling Loftus and Adrian Dunbar amongst those joining Sean Bean in Jimmy McGovern’s new drama series for BBC One. 

Meanwhile, the media pack for series three of BBC Two's The Fall was published. 

Elsewhere, BBC Three unveiled the cast for new original sic-part thriller Clique. The network also confirmed the new YA drama, Class, written by Patrick Ness, will premiere from Saturday 22 October.

Comedy

After a nine-year hiatus, iconic comedy series Still Game is back for a  new six-part series revisiting evergreen pensioners Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade as they embrace the spirit of growing old disgracefully.

Factual

Autumnwatch returns to BBC Two this October to celebrate its tenth year. Across four days, from Monday 24th to Thursday 27th October, Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games will be bringing viewers the very best and the very latest wildlife action from across the country.

Radio

Plans for seventy days of special commissions, initiatives, broadcasts and an ‘Embedded Composer’ to mark the 70th anniversary of the Third Programme, the predecessor of BBC Radio 3 were revealed this week.

BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra announced that MistaJam will cover Annie Mac’s 7-9pm weekday new music show on Radio 1 when she takes her maternity leave in January 2017.

Jo Whiley, this week, confirmed that Van Morrison will perform an exclusive live concert for the BBC Radio 2 In Concert series.

Multi-award winning comedian Joe Lycett will make his first appearance as the new host of BBC Radio 4’s It’s Not What You Know on Thursday 29 September.

iPlayer

Acclaimed filmmaker, Adam Curtis brings his new epic film, HyperNormalisation to BBC iPlayer this October. The film will premiere at 9pm on Sunday 16 October.

Regional 

In Wales, BBC Wales launched its first ever pop-up radio station, as BBC Radio Cymru Mwy took to the digital airwaves. BBC Wales and Sport Wales also started a search for grassroots sporting heroes.

In the English Regions, a host of BBC projects were announced including a major new national spoken word festival, a ballet for young children made in Hull and the recruitment of 100 local community reporters as part of Hull’s year as the UK City of Culture. A search was also launced for aspiring presenters who have a passion for Hull and want to shout about the UK City of Culture 2017.

Meanwhile in Scotland, comedy phenomenon Still Game has partnered with the world-renowned BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for a new recording of the iconic title music, arranged and conducted by BAFTA award-winning TV and film composer Ben Foster.

International

The BBC World Service is holding a series of debates across Europe as the continent grapples with the big issues of migration, the economy and security: World Questions: Europe and Hungary.

Blogs

This week's blogs included CBeebies Controller Kay Benbow saying "Don't underestimate toddlers, they like Shakespeare too"; a round-up of BBC wins at Emmys 2016; our own Jen Macro made a Hospital visit: Behind the scenes of Casualty; Jon Jacob wrote in praise of All Together Now: The Great Orchestra Challenge - celebrating amateur music making; a futuristic look at 'Holographic' TV at the BBC; and BBC World News Editor Angus Foster on BBC News in Canada. 

Broadcast Highlights

• All Together Now: The Great Orchestra Challenge, Saturday 17 September, BBC Two
• The Last Night Of The Proms From Around The UK, Saturday 17 September, BBC Four
• Davis Cup Tennis : GB v Argentina, Sunday 18 September, BBC One
• The Trouble With My Dad, from Tuesday 20 September, BBC Three
• Brexit: A Very British Coup? Thursday 22 September, BBC Two
• Keith Richards' Lost Weekend, Friday 23 September, BBC Four
• Radio 3 In Concert: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 70th birthday, Monday 19 September, BBC Radio 3
• BBC National Short Story Award 2016, Monday 19 September, BBC Radio 4
• The Documentary: How To Win A Presidential Debate, Tuesday 20 September, BBC World Service