BBC Two's blog

8:00pm Wednesday 29 December on BBC TWO

Matt Lucas goes behind the scenes of the world’s longest-running musical as the extraordinary story of Les Mis�rables is told; BBC cameras also follow Matt in rehearsals as he prepares for the role of a lifetime when he fulfils his dream of performing in the show in its 25th anniversary year

9:15pm Sunday 26 December on BBC TWO

Domhnall Gleeson and Ian Hart star in this drama set in the mid-Eighties focusing on the extraordinary relationship between Bob Geldof and Harvey Goldsmith as they hatch their plan to stage a concert to “feed the world”

9:20pm Saturday 25 December on BBC TWO

John Wilson and his Orchestra perform an exclusive celebration of festive musical treats from the golden age of swing, with Seth MacFarlane, Anna-Jane Casey and special guest Curtis Stigers

3:00pm Saturday 25 December on BBC TWO

The Birmingham Royal Ballet, in its 20th anniversary year, perform in BBC Two’s new production of Cinderella, choreographed by David Bintley

9:00pm Friday 24 December on BBC TWO

John Hurt stars in Neil Cross’s thoroughly modern adaptation of MR James’s atmospheric Edwardian ghost story that tells the tale of a man’s encounter with an apparition on a desolate British beach

2:45pm Friday 24 December on BBC TWO

Jonathan Kent’s new production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, a highlight from the 2010 Glyndebourne festival season, stars Gerald Findley, one of the world’s leading baritones, in the title role as Mozart’s charismatic but amoral seducer

9:00pm Monday 20 December on BBC TWO

Ruth Jones serves up a generous serving of festive fun with guests Ricky Gervais, Will Young and Miranda Hart, as she makes her UK debut hosting her own show

12:35pm Saturday 18 December on BBC TWO

A bitingly original urban teen musical, written by Sarah Counsell and Simon James Green, stars Jacke Roche, Daisy Head and Paterson Joseph and includes eight original R&B tracks

Best-selling author and food writer Sophie Dahl returns to BBC Two to tell the compelling story of Mrs Beeton, one of the most famous food writers in British cooking. Sophie Dahl On Mrs Beeton (w/t) will mix social history with cookery and storytelling.

Mrs Beeton’s Book Of Household Management was once a must-have on the wedding list of every aspirational Victorian bride. An instant best-seller when it was first published in 1861, it was the first of its kind to combine thousands of recipes with advice on every aspect of domestic management.

Mrs Beeton left an enduring legacy with her book, but little is known about her fascinating life. Sophie will follow her childhood journey from the streets of London to the grandstand at Epsom – one of 21 children – to wife, fashion journalist, editor and best-selling author, who died tragically at the age of 28.

Sophie tries out a few of Mrs Beeton’s stalwarts such as carrot jam, pigeon pie and lobster à la francaise to see whether they stand up to test of time and still appeal to the modern palate.

Sophie says: “I have been a long-time devotee of Mrs Beeton and leapt at the chance to learn more about her extraordinary life through this programme.

“People have an image of her as a starchy Victorian matron, but she was actually a startlingly modern woman, who wrote her famous book at the age of 23. Her life story is compelling and I’m honoured to tell it.”

Alison Kirkham, Commissioning Editor, Factual Formats and Features, says: “We’re thrilled to have Sophie back on BBC Two, fusing cookery with social history to see what we can learn from Mrs Beeton in today’s age. It’s the perfect subject matter for a talent like Sophie to bring to life for a BBC Two audience.”

Along the way, Sophie will meet experts and historians who still cite Mrs Beeton as a powerful influence in today’s society.

Immersing herself in the world and times of Mrs Beeton, Sophie will cook centuries old recipes on a Victorian range with food historian Annie Grey, bake cakes and biscuits with the Women’s Institute and recreate Mrs Beeton’s cold cure with ethno-botanist James Wong. This programme celebrates the life of an extraordinarily modern woman.

Sophie Dahl On Mrs Beeton (w/t) has been commissioned by Alison Kirkham, Commissioning Editor, Factual Formats and Features for BBC One and BBC Two.

Lisa Edwards is the commissioning executive producer for the BBC. The 1×60-minute factual programme is made by Keo Films and will be broadcast in early 2011. The executive producer at Keo Films is Claire Whalley and the director is Claire Lewis.

9:00pm Tuesday 14 December on BBC TWO

In a landmark film, BBC Two lifts the lid on this most famous of ancient towns to reveal Pompeii as it has never been seen before