BBC

BBC Drama today announced full details of a stellar cast for Ballet Shoes.

Dancing onto BBC One will be Dame Eileen Atkins (Cranford Chronicles), Emilia Fox (Silent Witness), Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones's Diary), Robert Hardy (Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets), Lucy Cohu (The Queen's Sister), Harriet Walter (Bright Young Things), Lucy Boynton (Miss Potter), Yasmin Paige (Sarah Jane Adventures) and Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Grainger in the Harry Potter films.

They join Victoria Wood, Richard Griffiths, and Marc Warren in the feature-length film of the classic novel by Noel Streatfeild, which will transmit on BBC One.

Patrick Spence, Head of Drama, BBC Northern Ireland, comments: "The mix of hugely prestigious and burgeoning talent is as close to perfection as any cast could be."

Set in Thirties London, Ballet Shoes tells the exhilarating tale of orphans Pauline (Emma Watson), Petrova (Yasmin Paige) and Posy Fossil (Lucy Boynton) who are adopted by an eccentric explorer, Great Uncle Matthew (Richard Griffiths – Bleak House) and raised as sisters by his selfless niece, Sylvia (Emilia Fox).

The BBC today unveiled a brand new look for CBBC, the channel for 6 to 12-year-olds, with a fantastic range of brilliant new programmes, a distinctive new logo and brand new animated idents.

The new content and new image firmly establish CBBC's position as a truly multiplatform brand available on BBC One, BBC Two, the digital CBBC channel and bbc.co.uk/cbbc.

The new season and new look will be on air and online from 3 September 2007.

CBBC also welcomes a new face in the form of Ed Petrie, who will host CBBC every weekday afternoon.

Anne Gilchrist, Creative Director, CBBC said: "I'm really excited about the prospect of more children finding out about the great new content CBBC is offering – and then passing it on to their friends."

Highlights of the new season include Escape From Scorpion Island, a high-octane, adrenaline-fuelled adventure game presented by Reggie Yates and Caroline Flack and set on a fictitious exotic island off the coast of Brazil.

Behind closed doors with Her Majesty The Queen, an exclusive set of interviews with Tony Blair as he departs Number 10 and some of the best talent in the business, this is a stellar autumn season of programming on BBC One.

Peter Fincham, Controller, BBC One, says: "We're keeping up the pace of change on BBC One. This autumn sees the introduction of a new nightly news summary at 8pm each weekday evening.

"Designed to bridge the gap between the Six and Ten O'Clock news, it joins Panorama, now firmly established in the 8.30pm Monday slot, and The One Show, each weeknight at 7pm.

"In drama fresh new talent mix with some of the finest and most established talent the industry has to offer. Newcomers Danny Lee Wynter and Tommy Jessop lead Stephen Poliakoff's Joe's Palace and Mark Haddon's (The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time) Coming Down The Mountain respectively.

"Dame Judi Dench, Sir Michael Gambon and Philip Glenister return to BBC One in Cranford Chronicles, created by award-winning producer Sue Birtwistle (Pride And Prejudice) and Susie Conklin and written by Heidi Thomas (Lilies). And four talented contemporary writers have each taken a classic fairy tale and re-invigorated them for a modern BBC One audience.

Danny Cohen, Controller of BBC Three, today announces the commission of six bold new drama pilots to transmit later this year.

A combination of hot new talent and established names will produce the pieces, which cover a wide range of maverick tales set both in the present day and the future.

Danny Cohen comments: "I'm very excited by the fresh feel of the drama pilots that we've commissioned. They are bold, vibrant pieces that draw together emerging talent with some of the strongest voices in British drama.

"These pilots are the first step in the development of a new generation of youthful drama series for BBC Three."

Being Human follows three young flatmates and the traumas and tribulations of co-habiting. The extra challenge for them is that one of them is a vampire, one is a ghost, and the other, a werewolf.

Produced by Touchpaper TV (NY-LON) and written by Toby Whithouse (Doctor Who, Torchwood), Being Human films in September in the Bristol area.

The Earth moves for BBC Two

Geology takes polar position on BBC Two this autumn as Dr Iain Stewart sets out to do for geological science what Andrew Marr recently did for modern history.

Earth – The Biography is a landmark series charting the epic story of how our planet came to be what it is today. It combines spectacular images, cutting-edge science and compelling narration to highlight the major events that have shaped our planet's history and allowed life to flourish since its birth 4.6 billion years ago.

Roly Keating, Controller of BBC Two, says: "Iain Stewart is a born communicator who gets right to the heart of his subject, and his compelling series is at the heart of a new season rich in epic adventures, personal challenges and unforgettable stories.

"Raymond Blanc, Stephen Fry, Louis Theroux, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Ewan McGregor and Bruce Parry are just some of the other high profile names who in very different ways will be also be putting themselves on the line to bring memorable ideas and experiences to BBC Two audiences this autumn.

from New York City - review of all episodes of Rome Season 2 - about 3-4 paragraphs for each episode ... Rome Returns and Concludes

Wi-fi networks in schools can give off three times the height of the signal radiation of phone masts, a BBC Panorama investigation has discovered.

The Chairman of the Health Protection Agency, Sir William Stewart, calls for a review of the health effects of wi-fi in the programme, to be broadcast tonight on BBC One.

Current Government advice – from a report published by Sir William in 2000 – recommends that phone masts are not sited near schools, without consultation with parents and the school, because children are thought to be more vulnerable to radio frequency radiation emissions than adults.

Panorama visited a comprehensive school in Norwich and measured the radiation signal strength from a classroom wi-fi enabled laptop.

The programme found the height of the signal strength was three-times higher than the height of the signal strength of a typical phone mast.

Children's skulls are still growing and are thinner than adults' – tests have shown children absorb more radiation than adults when using mobile phones – which could raise questions about the safety of children working bent over computers being exposed to radiation at very close-quarters.

Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC Daytime & Early Peak, today announced two new commissions which both promise to be a mouth-watering treat for viewers.

Food Poker is an innovative take on a cookery show for BBC Two combining the thrill of a poker round with the competitive edge that always ensues when you put two or more top chefs in a kitchen together.

And Making A Meal Of It on BBC One sheds a light on the cut and thrust of the business world as couples compete in the kitchen of a busy restaurant.

Jay Hunt says: "Food Poker and Making A Meal Of It build on the huge success of programmes like Great British Menu in extending the range and ambition of our food shows."

Combine chefs' fiery competitive culinary spirit with one of the world's best loved and most exciting card games and you get Food Poker, a recipe competition where culinary reputations are put on the line with every turn of the card.

Using chance, skill and the ability to bluff, a team of top chefs play a high octane card game to win the ingredients for a savoury and a sweet dish.

The BBC has today been given approval by the BBC Trust to launch a nationally available free-to-view satellite proposition as a joint venture with ITV.

"Freesat", as it is currently known, will provide a Standard and High Definition (SD and HD) enabled digital satellite proposition with launch anticipated for Spring 2008.

Consumers will be offered up to 200 channels plus full digital satellite interactivity and high definition capability, without the need to pay a subscription.

Consumers will also have a choice of equipment (including both SD and HD receivers, an HD personal video recorder and an integrated digital television), together with a range of installation options.

BBC Director-General, Mark Thompson, said: "The BBC's objective in launching Freesat is to support Digital Switchover by providing another way for licence payers to receive digital television channels and radio services, subscription free from the BBC and ITV.

"Its primary purpose is to drive digital take-up in analogue homes, particularly in those areas which are out of digital terrestrial coverage.

Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC Daytime & Early Peak, has announced two new commissions set to bring a new look to BBC One's Sunday morning religious slot.

The commissions have been awarded following the first tender process in BBC Vision's Window Of Creative Competition (WOCC) – the 25% of commissions that BBC in-house production and the independent sector compete for.

The contracts have been won by two independent production companies based outside London.

From Mentorn Oxford comes Heart And Soul (working title), a new multi-faith programme featuring a panel and a studio audience. The fast paced show will debate and explore the religious, moral and ethical questions exercising the nation and will come from different locations across the UK. The series begins on BBC One later this year.

Life From The Loft (working title) is made by Leeds-based independent True North. The new magazine show will take the defining issues of our age including faith, spirituality and morality and make them appealing and accessible. With an extensive multi-platform presence and an emphasis on audience involvement throughout the week, the show is designed to have a strong life beyond transmission.

The BBC issued a statement after ICSTIS, the premium rate services regulator, announced "measures to restore public trust in participation tv".

The BBC statement reads:

"We welcome today's (Thursday) useful and constructive meeting. The BBC is conscious of its responsibilities to ensure that all of its audiences have complete confidence in the integrity of phone lines used in its output.

"The BBC differs from commercial broadcasters in that we do not use premium rate numbers to generate revenue, except for a small number of clearly defined charitable occasions such as Comic Relief and Children in Need.

"For all competitions, the BBC seeks to charge the lowest possible rate with the aim of not making a profit. It is for this reason that the BBC's own editorial guidelines give clear guidance on the use of premium rate lines and ensure that all BBC programmes adopt the ICSTIS codes when using such lines.

"We can confirm that a full review of BBC programmes which use premium rate telephone lines, led by Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision, is already well underway and a report will shortly be made to the Director-General.

The BBC has launched two channels on YouTube, and a third is due to follow later in the year. The BBC Channel contains clips on current shows and some background information. The BBC Worldwide Channel also has clips from shows.

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The BBC Executive today confirmed that BBC Jam, the Corporation's online interactive learning service for 5 to 16-year-olds, will be suspended from next Tuesday 20 March 2007, following a decision by the BBC Trust.

The Trust's decision follows extensive discussions with Government and the European Commission about how to address allegations from some in the industry that Jam is damaging their interests.

Mark Thompson, the BBC's Director-General, said: "We are sorry that BBC Jam is to be suspended, but we believe the Trust has reached the right decision.

"We believe that BBC Jam is an innovative proposition, aimed at pushing forward the BBC's digital learning agenda and delivering the formal educational remit enshrined in our Charter.

"The service was launched in January 2006 with many conditions attached, following a rigorous consultation process. It was approved by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in January 2003 and by the European Commission in October the same year.

Last week, the BBC confirmed that a review of programmes which used premium rate telephone lines was underway.

The BBC was contacted last Friday by email by a viewer who raised questions about the conduct of a competition on Blue Peter on 27 November 2006. In particular, the viewer alleged that a child who was visiting the studio was asked to call into the studio.

On receipt of this information, Richard Deverell, Controller, BBC Children's, commissioned an immediate initial report into what happened.

On 27 November, the programme ran a competition during a live programme to raise money for the Blue Peter Appeal, which was in aid of Unicef. Viewers could enter by dialling a premium rate number costing 10 pence for the call. 3.25 pence per call would go to Unicef. No profit from the calls was made by the BBC. Viewers, as always, were reminded to obtain permission from the person who paid the bill before calling. The winner could select a prize from a list of children's toys.

Six new comedy pilots will be released during the year by BBC.

These are: Raging, The Coming of Age, Spacehopper, Sound, The Scum Also Rises and Biffovision.

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