BBC Northern Ireland Commissions Hold The Front Page

Rare TV’s Belfast hub has begun production on the new series Hold The Front Page for BBC Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer.

The three-parter talks to journalists who have broken news stories that made headlines around the world, including those who broke the story of Roy Keane’s exit from Ireland’s 2002 World Cup squad, those who exposed the truth behind Anne Darwin’s husband’s faked death and those who uncovered a financial scandal tying the former MP wife of Northern Ireland’s First Minister to an extramarital affair with a man 40 years her junior.

The series director is Ben Jamieson, and Brittny Heinrich is series producer. Executive producers include Edward Hart for Rare TV and Mary McKeagney for BBC Northern Ireland.

“When it comes to big news events, the story behind the story is a fascinating aspect of press coverage,” Hart said. “Hold The Front Page provides the inside track on how journalists follow up on tips, track down sources and stand up their information in a hard-fought competitive race to be first to break the news.”

Eddie Doyle, head of content commissioning for BBC Northern Ireland, commented, “This insightful series is sure to captivate audiences with its twists and turns as it takes a deep dive behind the headlines of these memorable breaking news stories.”