BBC Arts is launching a new strand of single films featuring leading British cultural figures looking back at their life and careers.

The 6 x45 mins films will air next year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and BBC commissioning is currently opening up to suppliers to pitch their ideas for the strand, representing a significant opportunity for production companies to produce content for BBC Arts.

The films will be made up of intimate first-person testimony, mixed with archive and actuality. In My Own Words will take viewers closer than ever before to major creative figures, delivering great arts stories combined with real psychological revelation.

BBC One’s existing arts strand Imagine will continue alongside In My Own Words as Specials once the current run announced last week comes to an end.

Suzy Klein, Head of Arts & Classical Music TV, says: “In My Own Words is an ambitious new arts strand which will deliver fresh new insights into some of Britain’s leading creative artists. This is an exciting opportunity for suppliers to produce content for BBC Arts and we’re looking to work with a variety of programme makers who can bring out the best of the subjects and deliver stylish films that stand the test of time.”

In addition, we look forward to discussing ideas for future Imagine Specials with Alan Yentob. These, alongside this new strand, demonstrate our commitment to bringing audiences the best arts content at the heart of the schedule on BBC One and iPlayer.”

Further details of the pitch process for In My Own Words can be found BELOW.