BBC Bags Sunday Night Drama Slot

The BBC has earmarked Sunday nights for big budget dramas with the announcement of two major projects on BBC1 and BBC2.

The two historical adaptations, King Charles II and Byron, will be screened on Sunday nights in November 2003. The move could see the BBC dominating the key Sunday night viewing slot, which is traditionally very lucrative for ITV.

The announcement follows the high-profile PR campaign by ITV to ensure its adaptation of Dr Zhivago was not put head to head with the BBC’s adaptation of Daniel Deronda (see ITV Asks BBC To Avoid Autumn Drama Clash).

Byron is to be shown in two parts and is set to star Johnny Lee Miller in the title role. Jane Tranter, controller of drama commissioning at the BBC, commented: “Byron aims to take a non-traditionalist approach to period drama, so that it won’t feel like a classic. It will also emphasise such contemporary themes as celebrity and media manipulation.”

Historical dramas and factual programming have experienced something of a renaissance in recent years, following the rise of celebrity historians such as Simon Schama and Dr David Starkey.

It is understood that Channel 4 have promised Starkey £2 million to write 25 hours of television material, which works out at about £75,000 an hour. However, academics have questioned the value of historical programming, and it has been claimed that the type of history that is bought, packaged and sold to viewers is not facilitating a greater understanding of past events.

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk

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