BBC One's blog

4.35pm Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 June on BBC ONE

The Blue Peter team tackle a variety of historical challenges as they uncover the real stories behind Britain’s gruesome past.

BBC One today announced a new comedy series, Come Fly With Me (working title), starring and written by the makers of Little Britain, Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

Set in a busy airport, the six-part series features all new characters played by Matt and David, plus special guest appearances throughout the series.

Jay Hunt, Controller BBC One said: “It’s thrilling that Matt and David’s next big show will be on BBC One. They are uniquely talented comic writers and performers and Come Fly With Me is a wonderfully exciting idea.”

Mark Freeland, Head of Comedy, said: “I’m proud and excited that the BBC are back working with David and Matt, two of the country’s most brilliant comedy talents. Also it’s great that it’ll be boom time once again for dress, wig and make up suppliers in the UK.”

The series is now in pre-production in the UK, to be filmed in HD, for broadcast later this year, and is a Little Britain Productions/BBC Production. Executive Producer for Little Britain Productions is Geoff Posner, and Mark Freeland for BBC Productions.

The producer is Adam Tandy, whose credits include the award-winning The Thick Of It and In The Loop and the director is Paul King (The Mighty Boosh).

The BBC today announces it will be launching a simulcast of BBC One in high definition (HD) this Autumn.

BBC One HD, which will simulcast a network version of the BBC One schedule for the first time, will see some of the BBC’s most loved programmes including EastEnders, Holby City, The One Show, The Apprentice, The Weakest Link and QI move to HD by the end of the year. They will be broadcast alongside Autumn schedule highlights including Strictly Come Dancing, Human Planet and Waterloo Road.

Plans are also underway for HD moves for Songs Of Praise and Casualty, as well as Match Of The Day, A Question Of Sport, and Blue Peter.

BBC One in HD will be made available to all digital television platforms offering HD channels – Freesat, Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media.

It will be in addition to the existing BBC HD channel, which will showcase the best of the rest of the BBC in HD. It is also announced today that the BBC HD Channel itself will extend its regular broadcast hours over the coming months from around nine hours a day to 12.

The BBC is charged with “delivering to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services” under its Royal Charter. With today’s announcement, the BBC continues its transition to deliver all its programmes in HD, with BBC One leading the way.

Jana Bennett, Director BBC Vision, says: “BBC HD has established itself as the most popular HD service, and these changes are important next steps in improving that service still further, providing an opportunity to showcase the wide variety of BBC programmes in the highest possible quality. We recognise that audiences have already been enjoying many of their favourite programmes in HD, and I’m delighted that we can now broaden their choice.”

Danielle Nagler, Head of BBC HD, says: “HD is the future of television: people who have HD have clearly told us that they want more of their licence fee-funded content in HD. I’m delighted that the HD simulcast of BBC One will become available on satellite, on cable, and now also on Freeview’s new HD service. This is a key moment for us on the journey to HD becoming the norm for all our programmes and channels.

“Audiences have already been enjoying many BBC One programmes in HD on our existing HD channel and the arrival of BBC One simulcast in HD will make it easier for them to find the programmes they love in high definition. BBC HD – the most popular HD channel in the UK – will continue to show programmes from across all BBC channels.”

Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, says: “HD is the gold standard for broadcasting, and it’s right that we bring all the excitement of HD to BBC One – the most watched channel in the UK.

“BBC One HD will bring families together for shared viewing of their favourite programmes from EastEnders and Strictly Come Dancing to The One Show, in incredible and vivid detail.”

The Autumn launch is the first stage in delivering BBC One in HD. The majority of programmes in the BBC One network evening schedule will be available in HD at launch, and by 2012 it is expected that the vast majority of all BBC One titles across all hours will be in HD.

The BBC’s existing HD Channel will continue to remain home to the best of the BBC’s programmes from across all its channels, including Top Gear, the Proms, Later… With Jools Holland, The Culture Show, Dragons’ Den, Being Human, Mad Men, sporting programmes including Wimbledon, as well as CBeebies favourites In The Night Garden and ZingZillas.

12.10pm Sunday 30 May on BBC ONE

Jake Humphrey presents live coverage of the Turkish Grand Prix from Istanbul (qualifying can be seen on Saturday).

8.00pm Saturday 29 May on BBC ONE

Josh Dubovie flies the flag for the UK as Graham Norton brings all the glitz, glamour and gossip from the 55th Eurovision Song Contest, live from Oslo, Norway.

Television actor and vintage plane enthusiast Martin Shaw will be taking to the skies over Yorkshire and Derbyshire this week for a documentary from the BBC in Yorkshire which aims to uncover brand new information about the RAF’s famous wartime Dambusters raid.

Shaw, who holds his own private pilot’s licence and flies vintage planes, will be flying over the Upper Derwent Valley in the Peak District above Sheffield where 617 squadron famously practised their bomb runs before embarking on their mission to destroy dams in Germany during the Second World War.

He will be joined in the cockpit of the Piper Navajo plane by war hero and Dambusters expert Wing Commander Chris Norton who led the Harrier jump jets of the RAF’s elite No1 Squadron against targets in Kosovo and the latest Gulf War. Using modern GPS technology they’ll be testing the accuracy of the wooden bombsights used to drop the bouncing bombs.

Later the pair will trace the entire route from RAF Scampton to the Ruhr Valley in Germany. Thanks to a special dispensation from the Civil Aviation Authority they will fly some of the route at the same ultra low level used by 617 Squadron’s Lancaster bombers.

Executive Producer for the BBC Ian Cundall said: “The amazing story of the Dambusters has been told many times, especially in the famous Richard Todd movie – but in this documentary we think we have come up with some exciting new evidence that reveals secrets which have remained hidden for the last 67 years. Wartime censorship and a desire to protect what, at the time, was a wonder-weapon led to many aspects of the raid being hushed up. When modern viewers find out what really happened we believe the raid will be seen as even more extraordinary.”

The plane, flown by Wg Cdr Norton, holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, will leave RAF Scampton near Lincoln – home to the original 617 Squadron – today. On arrival in Germany they will overfly the Mohne Dam and meet a local survivor of the raid.

Ian Cundall said: “Only by recreating this hugely important moment in wartime history can we fully understand the courage and skill of the airmen who carried it out. For too long their exploits have been lost in a fog of myth and half-truth.”

The programme is due to be broadcast this autumn in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on BBC One and again, later in the year, across the country on BBC Two.

4.35pm Tuesday 25 May on BBC ONE

Blue Peter keeps up its tradition of gaining unprecedented access to prestigious venues and events as Joel Defries and Helen Skelton go behind the scenes at the House of Lords, The Royal Mews and The Household Cavalry to help prepare for the State Opening of Parliament.

Last night’s grand finale of Over The Rainbow on BBC One saw Danielle triumph in the public vote and win the role of Dorothy in the new West End production of The Wizard of Oz. One-year-old Mini Schnauzer Dave pawed the coveted Toto role.

Immediately after landing the role Danielle said: “I really don’t think that thank you is enough, to the crew, everyone backstage, the panel, Andrew, the amazing public, everyone who comes here every week supporting us and the people at home. It really feels like it’s not enough but thanks to the girls, friends for life!”

Legendary composer and producer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, had, for the first time in the series, no say in the choosing of his new leading lady as viewers voted to select their Dorothy. He was thrilled with the public’s choice saying: “I’m really pleased with the result, the nation has never got it wrong and now is where the hard work begins. You acted that part from your very soul, that’s very very special.”

Over the course of a tense and dramatic evening, Danielle performed alongside fellow finalists Lauren and Sophie, who all set out to prove to the public that they had the voice and acting ability to become a West End leading lady.

After an opening performance of the Wizard Of Oz Medley, each finalist performed a solo and a trio performance with the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tin Man. The eight Dorothys no longer in the competition also performed Empire State Of Mind by Alicia Keys.

After performing their songs and receiving the usual round of feedback from Andrew Lloyd Webber and the expert panel of Sheila Hancock, Charlotte Church and John Partridge, the Dorothys faced an anxious wait to find out who was in third place.

At the end of the first live show, Lauren Samuels received the fewest votes, meaning she would not be Dorothy.

On hearing the announcement Lauren said: “I’ve learned so much about myself as a performer and as a person. I’ve made some incredible friends, friends for life. I just want to say a massive thank you to Andrew, the panel and to all the backstage crew, hair, make up, everybody. It’s just been fantastic.”

Andrew commented: “I’d be proud to work with you – you know my number and I know yours, so we’ll be in touch!”

In the second live show of the evening, the two remaining finalists – Sophie Evans and Danielle Hope – both performed Over The Rainbow, as well as their favourite songs of the series – Reflection by Christina Aguilera for Sophie and Mambo Italiano by Rosemary Clooney for Danielle.

It was then time for Graham to announce that Danielle had won the competition and would be taking the lead role in the Wizard Of Oz, leaving Sophie in second place.

Sophie said after the show: “I’m just feeling that ther’’s a future out there for me, Dorothy obviously wasn’t the role for me and I wish Danielle the absolute best of luck in the world. It’s been the best opportunity, the best training and I wouldn’t change it for the world, we are all friends for life, this isn’t the end!”

As well as announcing our winning Dorothy, it was also revealed that Dangerous Dave had won the role of Toto and would be playing him in a one-off gala performance.

Rachel Owen, Dave’s owner, commented on the win: “I am over the moon and so glad he has won. He really deserves it as he is such a little doggie superstar! He’s so laid back, that things don’t tend to get to him, but who knows, if he starts getting a few fans, it may go to his head and he might develop a certain strut to his walk! I think he’ll be very popular on his daily walks.”

Dave added: “Woof”.

Helena Bonham Carter is set to play the stepmother of renowned food writer and chef Nigel Slater in Toast, a film based on his bestselling novel of the same name, with Freddie Highmore set to portray Slater as a 15-year-old boy, made by Ruby Films and Television for BBC One.

Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One says : “Toast is a wonderfully nostalgic drama which will be a real treat for BBC One viewers. This remarkable cast is sure to really bring Nigel Slater’s story alive.”

Alison Owen, Executive Producer, Ruby Films says: “Freddie and Helena were our dream choices for Toast – we’re so happy to bring the Ruby standards of quality casting to this wonderful coming of age story for a UK audience.”

Toast is the ultimate nostalgia trip through everything edible in sixties Britain. Based on the heart-wrenching bitter-sweet story of food writer Nigel Slater’s childhood, Toast is a delicious retrieval of the tastes and smells that a young boy associates with his journey into adulthood.

It has so far sold a quarter of a million copies. It was also the winner of six literary awards, including the National Book Awards British Biography of the Year.

Highmore is best known for his role in Tim Burton’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Bonham Carter has most recently starred in the visionary director’s big screen adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland and BBC Four’s Enid.

Written by Billy Elliot scribe Lee Hall based on the autobiographical novel by Slater, Toast is set to shoot in June in the West Midlands.

Directed by SJ Clarkson, best known for her TV directing roles for Life On Mars, Mistresses and more recently Heroes.

Commissioned by Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One and Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning.

Toast is produced by Faye Ward at Ruby Films, and is funded by Screen West Midlands, Lipsync Post Production, Ruby Films and Television and the BBC.

Executive producers are Alison Owen, Paul Trijbits and Nicole Finnan and Jamie Laurenson at the BBC. The Works is selling the film internationally as a feature film.

Ruby Films and Television most recently produced Small Island and, RTS Award winner, Five Minutes Of Heaven for the BBC.

It has also recently completed principal photography on Jane Eyre for Focus Features and BBC Films. Directed by, Sin Nombre director, Cary Fukunaga, and starring Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), Michael Fassbender (Fishtank, Inglorious Basterds), Jamie Bell, Imogen Poots and Dame Judi Dench.

7.00pm Saturday 22 May on BBC ONE and BBC HD

Andrew Lloyd Webber puts his trust in viewers as the quest to find a new Dorothy reaches a climax and the public decides on a new star for the West End stage.