BBC Two Announces Fall Lineup

LONDON, June 26: BBC Two has revealed its programming lineup
for the fall, headlined by the geological science series Earth—The
Biography
, hosted by Dr. Iain Stewart.

Earth—The Biography will combine spectacular imagery, cutting-edge science and 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.

Other fall highlights include the launch of the culinary
reality series The Restaurant. In The
Restaurant,
distinguished European chef and
restaurateur Raymond Blanc will host a competition in which nine couples aim to
fulfill the dream of owning their own restaurant, financially backed and
personally supported by Blanc himself.

Following the success of The Secret Life of the Manic
Depressive,
Stephen Fry will be featured in
Stephen Fry—HIV and Me, a
program in which he interviews celebrities such as George Michael, Era Erasure's
Andy Bell and Scissor Sister Ana Matronic to hear their personal stories about
HIV. Fry then himself takes an HIV test.

BBC Two will also be premiering Under The Knife, which follows Louis Theroux as he travels to
California to undergo a plastic surgery
procedure—liposuction—rather than experiencing it from the
sidelines.

The network’s art program Arena, will feature an exclusive interview with the famed
music producer Phil Spector, who is currently on trial for murder.

Starting in the late summer and
running into the fall, BBC Two will air a raft of programming to mark the 60th
anniversary of the independence of India and Pakistan. These include India
With Sanjeev Bhaskar
, and Saira Khan's
Pakistan Adventure
. In India With
Sanjeev Bhaskar,
Bhaskar offers an
observant portrait of today’s India, while Saira Khan's Pakistan Adventure follows Khan, a former Apprentice candidate, as she goes back to her family roots.

The season also includes a history
series from Michael Wood, The Story Of India; Ganges, a
wildlife series focusing on the historic river; and The Day India Burned:
Partition
, tracing events after the
British left India in August 1947.

Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman
are featured in Long Way Down, which
chronicles their 15,000 mile-journey on motorcycles through the grueling
terrain of the African continent to South Africa.

Epic dramas are also making an appearance on the network’s
schedule, including Capturing Mary, a
film written by celebrated author and director Stephen Poliakoff, as well as The
Tudors,
starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as
Henry VIII. Comedies on BBC Two this fall will include The Peter Serafinowicz Show and Little Miss Jocelyn.

Roly Keating, the controller of BBC Two, commented:
"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. It's also a great
season for arts and drama, with a world-beating scoop from the Arena team, who have gained access to Phil Spector, and a
stunning new film from Stephen Poliakoff."