BBC3 Moves To Silence Critics With Schedule Launch
The BBC has moved to silence critics of its new digital entertainment channel, BBC3, by unveiling a schedule that focuses heavily on news, factual programmes and original British content.
The channel for young adults, which has been two years in the making, was finally given the go ahead last September with a strict set of conditions designed to ensure that it remained distinct from its commercial rivals (see Government Finally Gives BBC3 The Go Ahead).
The BBC re-worked its original proposal (see
Outlining BBC3’s first schedule, Stuart Murphy, controller of the channel, said: “In every programme, whether it is science, arts, comedy, current affairs, drama, news, documentaries or animation, it will be BBC3’s job to raise the creative game, and to be constantly surprising and stimulating.”
Current affairs programming on the new channel includes a strand called the Third Degree, which features a mix of story-led documentary investigations and analysis.
One programme in the strand, Jailed By The State, follows journalist, David Akinsanya, back to the scene of a crime that saw him serve time in borstal. He tracks down his former gang members and the people he was in prison with to find out whether jail put them back on the straight and narrow.
The BBC has also emphasised its commitment to drama by commissioning a number of original new series, including Burn It, a drama from first time screen writer, Matt Greenhlagh, which follows three men from Manchester discovering what it feels like to turn 30.
Comedy on the new channel comes in the form of 3 Non-Blondes, an all girl hidden camera show featuring Tameka Empson, Jocelyn Jee Esien and Ninia Benjamin. Dom Joly has also been given his own show, This Is Dom Joly, which will feature a range of guests and an in-depth look at the Joly household via an “intimate” video diary.
As expected, a fifteen minute news bulletin fronted by Radio Five Live presenter, Julian Worricker, Sangita Myska and Tazeen Ahmed will be broadcast every weekday at 7.45pm. In addition a 60-second news bulletin will be screen every hour on the hour.
Other popular BBC faces including Johnny Vaughan and The Fast Show’s Swiss Tony have been given their own shows.
The BBC’s director of television, Jana Bennett, said: “With its launch, BBC3 begins a journey to bring alive modern public service values for a generation of young adults. As well as giving them the best in entertainment, we want to help them navigate what is happening to them, to the world around them and to the wider world.”
Earlier this month the BBC announced that the launch of BBC3 would be supported by programming from terrestrial channels, BBC1 and BBC2. The initial launch fortnight of the new channel will see it premier episodes of primetime BBC1 soap, EastEnders, in an attempt to encourage young people to tune in. BBC2 will also promote take-up of the new youth channel by simultaneously screening its opening night on 9 February (see BBC3 Launch To Be Supported By Main Terrestrial Channels).
BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk
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