Four New Arts Programs Set for the BBC

LONDON: Among the new programs that BBC Two has commissioned is My God, It’s Full of Stars: A Journey to the Edge of Science Fiction, which is a four-part co-production with BBC America.

In My God, It’s Full of Stars, BBC Arts takes viewers through the definitive television history of science fiction. Each episode will explore one of the enduring themes of sci-fi, from time travel to the exploration of space to robots to aliens.

BBC Two also lined up MR James: The Tractate Middoth, a drama, and Ghost Writer, a documentary. Mark Gatiss writes and directs this new version of The Tractate Middoth. In the accompanying doc, Gatiss steps into the mind of the author MR James to look at how he created the supernatural story.

A Very British Renaissance is a new three-part series presented by art historian Dr James Fox. In it, Fox will explore the British Renaissance and its cutting-edge art, literature, architecture and science.

Melvyn Bragg explores the lives and work of John Ball and Thomas Paine in Melvyn Bragg’s Radical Lives. The series will look at how these men worked to uproot the systems in which they found themselves and the lasting legacy that their actions had.

Janice Hadlow, the controller of BBC Two, said: “I’m delighted to be bringing such an exciting range of intelligent new arts programs for BBC Two. Melvyn Bragg returns to bring viewers his extraordinary insights into the lives of two radical writers and I’m pleased to bring James Fox’s authority and passion to the channel as he explores Britain’s Renaissance.

“It’s a pleasure to bring Mark Gatiss back to BBC Two with a new look at one of Britain’s genre defining writers and we’ll be setting a channel first as we take an in-depth look at the cult of science fiction.”

Mark Bell, the arts commissioning editor, said: “Melvyn Bragg is one of the great writers of our time. He has a particular knack for digging out influential figures we should all have heard of, but often haven’t, then bringing them to life with his inimitable insight.

“The BBC’s arts programs celebrate authorship across an eclectic range of subjects; it is what makes us tick. As the biggest producer and investor in original arts and music programs in the U.K., I’m pleased we’re able to bring such a rich and varied range of new arts programs to BBC Two.”