BBC's blog

Created and written by Heidi Thomas and based on the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth, Call The Midwife returns for a Christmas special in December 2012 and a second series early in 2013.

Christmas is coming and in Poplar the nuns and midwives of Nonnatus House are busier than ever. When an abandoned baby is discovered on the steps of the convent, the whole community rallies round to provide food and clothing and to try and trace his mother.

Nurse Jenny Lee, meanwhile, gets caught up in the heart-breaking mystery which surrounds an elderly, semi-vagrant local woman, Mrs Jenkins, played by Sheila Reid. For newly married Chummy, other challenges await, as she pulls out all the stops to mount a truly memorable children’s nativity play. Continue reading »

Strictly Come Dancing will be more festive than ever this Christmas day with a special line-up of six brand new celebrities taking to the dance floor. This year celebrities include football star Fabrice Muamba, actress Sheila Hancock, JLS’s Jonathan “JB” Gill, entertainer Bobby Ball, comedienne Katy Brand and TV presenter Helen Skelton.

Daniela Nardini has joined the cast of BBC One’s award-winning drama Waterloo Road for the third instalment of its eighth series, currently filming on location in Greenock, Scotland.

In future episodes of the popular drama – made by Shed Productions (a Shed Media Company) through BBC Scotland – Daniela (The Fades, This Life) joins the Waterloo Road staffroom as a new science teacher.

Daniela’s character, Esther Fairclough, is a passionate, driven but maverick science teacher who has an unconventional approach to inspiring her pupils. Daniela says: “Esther is mildly dangerous with the potential to get more so. She is passionate about her cause but unfortunately doesn’t know how to encourage and promote her views without getting carried away.” Continue reading »

With season highlights including a Call The Midwife special, kayaking Olympians, carols with Katherine Jenkins, the return of Miranda and another sparkly Strictly Come Dancing Special, there will be something for everyone this Christmas.

Roger Mosey, Controller, BBC Vision, says: “The BBC has a rich tradition of being at the heart of British families’ Christmas celebrations and we believe this year’s line-up is one of the most exciting yet. There’s something for everyone, with special episodes of Call The Midwife, Doctor Who, and Miranda; brand new shows such as Mr Stink and Loving Miss Hatto; a special Superstars reflecting our Olympic year; and programmes that reflect the meaning of Christmas from Goodbye To Canterbury, led by Dr Rowan Williams, to the traditional carol service from King’s College, Cambridge.” Continue reading »

This Christmas, BBC religious programming goes behind the scenes of one of Britain’s most treasured places of worship – Westminster Abbey; actor David Suchet embarks on a personal journey following in the footsteps of St Paul; writer and historian Simon Sebag Montefiore explores Rome, the Eternal City; and, as he prepares to step down as Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams intimately reveals the beauty and heritage of Canterbury Cathedral.

Live worship on BBC One comes from St Anne’s Cathedral, Leeds and St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. And BBC Radio 4 will herald the start of Christmas Day with a live broadcast from Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

Aaqil Ahmed, Commissioning Editor Religion and Head of Religion & Ethics, says: “As we prepare for Christmas, it is befitting that Westminster Abbey is at the heart of our celebrations given it’s unique stature at the centre of national worship in this country. Continue reading »

Following an unprecedented year of sport we are delighted to announce the final shortlist of 12 sportspeople who make up the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012.

The list reflects the success of a truly remarkable year and the exceptional achievements of our sportsmen and women.

The shortlist of 12 contenders was put together by an expert panel of sports specialists. Continue reading »

It was announced today that the current series of Merlin will be the last as BBC One’s hit show reaches a spectacular conclusion this Christmas.

The epic family fantasy drama will bow out with a special two-part finale, as this unique re-telling of the Arthurian legend reaches its natural and dramatic end – it’s not to be missed!

Merlin has been enthralling audiences on Saturday nights over last five years, consistently attracting an average audience of over six million viewers, with ratings for the current series peaking at 7.1 million. Continue reading »

Sienna Guillory (Resident Evil, Inkheart, Love Actually, Eragon) has been cast to play Luther’s new love interest in series three of Neil Cross’s critically acclaimed drama series, which started filming this week.

Luther is back under intense pressure, with two conflicting crimes to investigate and a ruthless ex-copper determined to bring him down.

Luther’s life is his job; that is, until love crosses his path and offers him a chance of happiness. Guillory plays Mary, who works in a vintage clothes shop. She meets Luther in a chance encounter. Continue reading »

The BBC Trust has today appointed Tony Hall – Lord Hall of Birkenhead – as the Director-General of the BBC, following the departure of George Entwistle.

Lord Hall is currently Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, was Chairman of the board for the Cultural Olympiad and was head of BBC News and Current Affairs from 1996 to 2001. He was a digital pioneer, launching BBC News Online, as well as Radio 5 Live, BBC News 24 and BBC Parliament. At present he is Deputy Chairman of Channel 4.

Lord Hall is expected to start in early March and in the interim period Tim Davie will remain as Acting Director-General. Continue reading »

BBC Three announced today it has commissioned Way To Go, a 6×30-minute black comedy about three ordinary guys who find themselves forced by an extraordinary set of circumstances into setting up an assisted-suicide business.

Created by US-based comedy writer Bob Kushell, (The Simpsons, 3rd Rock From The Sun, Anger Management), Way To Go follows brothers Scott and Joey and their friend Cozzo.

After Scott is moved by a terminally ill neighbour’s request to die – and at the same time faced with a predatory female employer, a split from his girlfriend, and a desperate life or death need for cash to pay off his brother Joey’s gambling debts – he and his best mate Cozzo stumble towards what they think is their only solution: an assisted-suicide machine. A deeply illegal situation about which they will have to keep very, very quiet. Continue reading »