New factual titles coming to BBC featuring Danny Dyer, Lucy Worsley and Professor Brian Cox

New specialist factual titles coming to BBC One and BBC Two featuring Danny Dyer, Lucy Worsley and Professor Brian Cox

Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual, has announced six new programmes for BBC One and BBC Two

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In history, Danny Dyer won't just explore his regal ancestors as he did in Who Do You Think You Are? but get to eat, dress and live like them in Danny Dyer's Right Royal Family. And Lucy Worsley stages a re-enactment of the wedding of Victoria and Albert: The Wedding.

In science, Professor Brian Cox will offer an unprecedented insight into the solar system in The Planets; new health format Twinstitute will use thirty pairs of identical twins to put the latest health theories to the test; whilst a unique combination of drama and documentary will offer an in-depth retelling of the Apollo 11 space mission.

In religion and ethics, Pilgrimage will return for a second series featuring a new group of celebrities on a new pilgrim route whilst Male Circumcision (w/t) will explore one of the thorniest ethical subjects of modern times.

Tom McDonald says: “2018 has been a hugely successful year for BBC specialist factual thanks to the brilliant producers and suppliers we work with: with Bafta, RTS and Emmy awards for our output and ratings hits from Surgeons: At The Edge Of Life to Princess Margaret: The Rebel Royal. I'm thrilled to be announcing such a broad and bold range of titles showcasing the variety of forms, tones and modes we deliver science, history and religion content in. These titles show our huge commitment to innovating in specialist factual at the BBC and I can't wait for these titles to be on air."

Danny Dyer’s Right Royal Family

History, BBC One

In a new two-part series, Danny Dyer puts the flesh on the bones of his incredible family tree, previously revealed on Who Do You Think You Are? In Danny Dyer’s Right Royal Family he finds out not only who his ancestors were but how they lived as he immerses himself in the pursuits, passions and lifestyles of his forebears. From the Vikings to the Tudors, Danny dresses, eats and lives his way through his entire family tree. And, remarkably, his journey is a retelling of eight hundred years of British history – which is all there in his extraordinary bloodline.

As he experiences first-hand how his royal and noble ancestors lived, Danny eats sheep’s tongue like his Viking 35 x great-grandfather Rollo and learns how to hunt like his 30 x great grandfather William the Conqueror. He dons 14th century armour to fight like his famous 19 x great grandfather, knight Henry Hotspur Percy - and finally gets his hands on a ruff when he hosts a sugar banquet attended by his entire family in all their Elizabethan finery.

Danny says: “I’m still in shock at the fact that I’m related to such important people. I’ve had a ball getting to know them. It was a nutty experience.”

Danny Dyer’s Right Royal Family (2x60’) is made by Wall to Wall. The Executive Producer is Colette Flight. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director, TV Content and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. The Commissioning Editor is Simon Young.

Victoria & Albert: The Wedding

History, BBC Two

In this special, Lucy Worsley will oversee an authentic re-staging of the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Aided by experts, Lucy will recreate the most important elements of the ceremony and the celebrations, scouring history books, archives, newspapers and Queen Victoria’s diaries for the details.

Like every good marriage celebration, the film is a heady mix of fine food, fabulous clothes, music, emotion, gossip and intrigue. From the dress and the bouquet, to the tiered cake and the music for the ceremony, each element will be carefully researched, remade, and finally put to use in a re-staging of the big day itself. The team of experts will include food historian Annie Gray, clothing expert Harriet Waterhouse and military historian Jasdeep Singh.

Woven into the recreation of the wedding day will be the story of Victoria and Albert's courtship and engagement. We’ll unpack and explore the hidden iconography and symbolism of this hugely significant wedding and reveal new insights into Victoria and Albert’s relationship, both public and private. They will also shed new light on the wider implications of the wedding, and reveal how this one extraordinary event helped to invent modern marriage.

Victoria & Albert: The Wedding (1x90') is a BBC Studios’ Unscripted production (Bristol). The director is Ian Denyer and the executive producer is Jon Swain. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning Natural History and Specialist Factual. The BBC Commissioning Editors are Abigail Priddle and Jack Bootle.

8 Days

Science, BBC Two

Eight days, three hours, 18 minutes, 35 seconds. That’s the total duration of the most important and celebrated space mission ever flown - Apollo 11 - when we first stepped foot on the moon. Eight days that created some of the most iconic images in human history and changed the way we think about our place in the universe forever. But what was it really like for those three men in that high-tech tin can through each of those extraordinary eight days?

Until now we’ve only glimpsed inside Apollo 11 with a handful of iconic stills and a few precious minutes of movie footage. But what if we could step inside that Saturn V rocket and for the very first time be on the inside to hear every word they said, from moments of high drama to the constant banter on that long and dangerous journey.

In this featur- length drama documentary to mark the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, 8 Days will bring the real story of the mission as it really happened. With access to hours of declassified cockpit audio recorded by the astronauts themselves, 8 Days will use cutting-edge digital effects and dramatised performances to create a stunning 21st century visual journey to bring the original audio to life. This is Apollo 11 as you’ve never seen or heard it before, the ultimate drama documentary of the ultimate human adventure.

8 Days (1x90’) is made by The Science Unit, BBC Studios, co-produced with PBS and NOVA and The Open University. The Executive Producer is Jonathan Renouf. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual.

The Planets

Science, BBC Two

Welcome to the greatest story that’s never been told. In a new, ground breaking series Professor Brian Cox is back to tell the story of the planets as never before. In 2019 The Planets will bring these worlds vividly to life with Academy Award winning VFX company Lola Post.

Along side the most accurate and detailed imagery ever produced The Planets will use the latest planetary science research to piece together the gripping history of each world. These are stories of beauty and creation, violence and destruction that reveal the solar system and our place within it to be far more dramatic then we could ever have imagined.

This is drama on a planetary scale, with characters and plot twists newly revealed. We’ll meet the tragic Mars - once a vibrant water world yet destined by a twist of fate to become the barren, cold desert world we see today. Or the tyrannical Jupiter, which the latest science suggests, wandered through the early solar system using its massive size to create havoc and destruction that could have destroyed the Earth. All the way out to lonely, mysterious Neptune, the last major planet in the cold remote reaches of the solar system. But that is far from the end, because all the evidence points to the fact that we do not know our planets as well as we thought we did. This is an epic story that is still being written and has only just begun.

The Planets (5x60’) is made by The Science Unit, BBC Studios, and is co-produced with Tencent Penguin Pictures and The Open University. The Executive Producer is Andrew Cohen, and it was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual.

Twinstitute

Science, BBC Two

This brand new series will show you how to live you life better. Identical twin doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken have set up a unique centre for science, crammed full with 30 pairs of identical twins - to put rival health theories to the test and find out how we could all improve our lives.

Thanks to their matching DNA, identical twins are the perfect human guinea pigs. Pairs of twins literally compete - one trying out one theory, the other trying out another - to help find out how we could all improve our lives. This is 'New Year New You' tested scientifically. It’s diet vs exercise, planning vs cramming and meditation vs swearing!

Twinstitute (6x30’) is made by Wall to Wall. The Executive Producers are Leanne Klein and Emily Shields. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. The Commissioning Editor is Craig Hunter.

Male Circumcision (w/t)

Religion and ethics, BBC One

This new documentary explores the complex issues around male circumcision. Presenter and journalist Adnan Sarwar takes a personal journey through this issue, dealing with the strong emotions generated by this divisive topic.

In the programme, he meets Jewish and Muslim religious leaders, practitioners and campaigners to hear their wide range of views. As the British Medical Association consults their members on their attitude to male circumcision, Adnan explores the place of circumcision in the 21st century. He asks what the religious basis for circumcision is, whether this will become a new battleground between people of faith and the secular state, and whether, if he had a son in the future, he would have him circumcised.

Male Circumcision (w/t) (1x40') is made by Black Pepper Media and Matchlight Productions. The Executive Producer is Alan Clements. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director, TV Content and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. The Commissioning Editor is Abigail Priddle.

Pilgrimage: The Road To Rome

Religion and ethics, BBC Two

The acclaimed religion series Pilgrimage returns, as eight famous faces are stripped of all luxuries in an attempt to complete the gruelling 1000km ancient Via Francigena Pilgrimage, starting in the Swiss Alps and ending in St Peter’s Square, Rome. TV personality Les Dennis; comedian Katy Brand; Olympic athlete Greg Rutherford; actress Lesley Joseph; dancer Brendan Cole; comedian Stephen K Amos; TV presenter Mehreen Baig; and Eurovision Song Contest winner and politician Dana will travel the ancient roads, each with different religious beliefs and backgrounds, on a journey of personal discovery.

This extraordinary route will test the pilgrims both physically and spiritually as they contemplate their faith and beliefs on this stunning iconic journey, steeped in history and tradition.

Pilgrimage: The Road To Rome (3 x 60’) is made by CTVC. The Executive Producers are Caroline Matthews and Colm Martin. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. The commissioning Editor is Fatima Salaria.

Source BBC One

October 19, 2018 4:00am ET by BBC One  

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