BBC Two Commissions Slew of New Programs

LONDON: There have been a wealth of new commissions made across drama, comedy and factual genres at BBC Two, which is also planning a year-long celebration of British inventions.

In the way of drama, the channel has ordered Wolf Hall, a six-part adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. The Honourable Woman features Hugo Blick, following up the critically acclaimed The Shadow Line.

For comedies, David Mitchell and Robert Webb lead the cast in their first new comedy-drama series, Our Men. Broadcaster and comedian Sue Perkins takes the lead in a self-penned comedy, Heading Out. Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson return to BBC Two in 2013 with the six-part Holligans’ Island. Graham Linehan (IT Crowd, Father Ted) has teamed up with Steve Delaney, the creator of the radio character Count Arthur Strong, for a new 6×30-minute series entitled Count Arthur Strong.

BBC Two has planned a year-long look back over the history of British inventions with The Genius of Invention. Presenters include Michael Mosley, Liz Bonin, the Hairy Bikers,  Brian Cox and Dan Snow, who will explore the lasting influence of Britain’s scientific and engineering history. The network also ordered the art-based three-parter The World that Women Made (working title).

Janice Hadlow, the controller of BBC Two, commented: “BBC Two has had a really successful year with stand-out dramas from The Best of Men to Line of Duty, the channel’s best performing drama series since 2002; fantastic comedy, including Twenty Twelve and The Sarah Millican Show; ground-breaking documentaries and current affairs films from The Men Who Made Us Fat to Britain in a Day; and our contribution to the Cultural Olympiad from the acclaimed The Hollow Crown adaptations of Shakespeare’s history plays to a major exploration of the life and work of Lucian Freud.

“Looking ahead, I want to ensure that the channel’s sense of confidence and scale continues, and I believe that these commissions, from a major year-long celebration of British inventiveness and ingenuity to new dramas and comedies from some of our brightest and best talent demonstrate the range and ambition we have for BBC Two.”