BBC Studios Acquires ‘Inside The Factory’ Producer Voltage TV

PBS and the BBC are combining on a landmark documentary series about the rise and fall of disco, while the BBC has revealed its Christmas schedule including new natural history commissions.

Censorship concerns in China have reached boiling point as protests rage after a BBC journalist was “beaten and kicked by police” and footage showed the state broadcaster altering World Cup coverage to avoid showing mask-less crowds.

Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery is to lead Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s personal drama This Town for the BBC.

The BBC is to profile the only Mormon training center in Europe via a documentary on its religion and ethics slate.

BBC Studios powerhouse Natural History Unit (NHU), which makes Frozen Planet, Blue Planet and Jon Favreau’s Prehistoric Planet, has nearly doubled employment in the Bristol creative industries over the past few years, according to a BBC report that says almost 50,000 jobs will be forged outside London by 2027. The news comes with the BBC under significant financial pressure, made worse by inflation, according to a speech by Nations Director Rhodri Talfan Davies earlier today.

Lewis Capaldi has been announced as the latest artist to play the ‘Radio 2 In Concert’ series. Meanwhile, BBC One has announced that its annual New Year’s Eve concert will be performed by Sam Ryder.Capaldi will play in front of a small audience at the BBC’s Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House in London next month.“I absolutely love Lewis Capaldi”, says Jo Whiley, host of ‘Radio 2 In Concert’.

England’s fiery World Cup opener against Iran, which ended 6-2, was watched by a peak of 8M viewers yesterday lunchtime in the UK. The peak was similar to that of host Qatar’s opener with Ecuador.

Workerbee, the UK indie behind Idris Elba’s Fight School, is reshaping to focus on features and formats.

New DNEG Studio In Sydney Lands ‘Mad Max’ Prequel ‘Furiosa’ VFX Work

EXCLUSIVE: YouTuber and Strictly Come Dancing finalist Joe Sugg is among the talent signed up to appear at the TellyCast Digital Content Forum in London later this month.

Rupert Friend To Star In New Podcast Series From QCODEContent studio QCODE today announced a new science fiction thriller podcast series titled The Mysterious Master M, starring Rupert Friend (Anatomy of a Scandal). Friend will also act as an executive producer on the six-episode podcast series, which will debut in Spring 2023. Mike Lesslie (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds) and his Storyteller Productions banner will produce with Laure Eve (Blackheart Knights) attached to write and executive produce. Tomer and Asaf Hanuka, Sammy Kattan, Automatik, and QCODE will also serve as Executive Producers on the series. “This is a gripping story that shows how messy yet beautiful it is to be human, and I truly can’t wait to share it with all of you,” Friend said of the show.

The BBC has appointed an independent safeguarding expert to assist its investigation into what was known about DJ Tim Westwood’s conduct while he worked at the broadcaster, with a call for evidence period now extended to allow more people to come forwards.

Amanda Holden and Jimmy Carr walked off the set of BBC One show I Can See Your Voice after one contestant made a cutting remark.

EXCLUSIVE: Louis Theroux’s Mindhouse Productions is making a premium Sky documentary about the tragic Lockerbie bombings as the celebrated documentarian and his Mindhouse co-founders talk moving into scripted, “leaning into the U.S. market,” future investment and the BBC’s controversial Jimmy Savile drama.

Stormzy has announced this morning that he’s teaming up with Adidas to launch a football focused work placement programme called #Merky FC. It will offer young people of black heritage the opportunity to get experience of working in football industry roles off the pitch, in a bid to improve diversity on that side of the sport.Although 39% of roles on the pitch are taken up by players with black or mixed black heritage, behind the scenes only 6.7% of senior roles are, according to research carried out by Adidas and the FARE Network.

Eagle Pictures Seals Italy Distribution & Production Deal With Sony

ITV Studios has acquired a majority stake in Australian producer Lingo Pictures — marking its first acquisition in the country.

EXCLUSIVE: Initial Co-Managing Director Cat Lynch is joining Amazon Studios in the UK, Deadline can reveal.