BBC Four Adds Slew of New Shows

LONDON: BBC Four has continued to bulk up its comedy slate, which now includes the hit U.S. series Parks and Recreation, along with adding to its arts, science and drama lineups.

Alongside Parks and Recreation, the BBC Four comedy roster includes An Innocent Abroad, set in the summer of 1941 and looking at PG Wodehouse’s fall from grace. In Michael Grade and the World’s Oldest Joke, the eponymous presenter traces the history of the joke with help from a number of historians, academics, comedy experts and comedians. There’s more Old Jews Telling Jokes on the way as well. Other comedy programs for the network include a series featuring Brian Cox’s Radio 4 character Bob Servant and a biography on the legendary stand-up performer Richard Pryor.

There’s also new arts programming on the way. Treasures of The Louvre features the Paris-based writer Andrew Hussey as he travels through the famous institution. The Riviera: A History in Pictures is a two-part program that watches as Richard E. Grant follows in the footsteps of artists who found inspiration from France’s Côte d’Azur. The Handmade in Britain series continues in collaboration with the V&A with Carved with Love, spotlighting woodwork.

In the way of science fare, Pain, Pus and Poison centers on Dr. Michael Mosley as he tells the story of how scientists learned to use the natural world to heal our bodies.

Among the new international dramas headed to the network is Hinterland, a detective series set in the coastal Welsh town of Aberystwyth. The Inspector Montalbano drama has been a successful staple of the BBC Four schedule. Now, in Young Montalbano, viewers can get insight into the youth of the Sicilian detective.

Richard Klein, the controller of BBC Four, said: “BBC Four is in really great shape at the moment, with share continuing to increase. We’ve had a great critical and audience response to recent programs, from Food Glorious Food to the Big Science season; and of course, the much anticipated return of The Killing III, which launched with over a million viewers.

"Looking ahead, there’s much to look forward to and I’m delighted that we have acquired Parks and Recreation, one of America’s smartest comedy series. To accompany this, the channel is taking a year-long look at comedy, with a drama from award-winning writer Nigel Williams about PG Wodehouse and films celebrating some of our oldest jokes, exploring what makes us laugh and showcasing some of our most popular comedians, from Richard Prior to Simon Amstel.”