What's occurring across the BBC this week?
BBC Press Office
News, statements and programme information from the BBC Communications team
Could Celia Imrie trump Alan Carr to become the internet's most celebrated Celebrity Traitors contestant?
From the series' record-breaking start to The Celebrity Apprentice's festive return, Daddy Issues, a Waterloo Road blast from the past and more, here's your rundown of a week so action-packed we had to have TWO newsletters to fit it all in...
Things We Love To BBC
Some thing are just better out than Imrie, as Celia proved in another unforgettable week in the Highlands.
Everybody's talking about what's happening in The Celebrity Traitors castle and that's little wonder given the first episode has already been watched by more than 11.7 million viewers to date and continues to grow, with 2.2 million 16-34 year olds tuning in, breaking its own record for most viewed episode of the programme.
Keep up with what's happening in the castle with our dedicated guide to the series and add The Celebrity Traitors to your Watchlist on BBC iPlayer now.
Hot on the celebrity contestants' heels, another batch of familiar faces are lining up for festive fun in The Celebrity Apprentice.
For the first time ever, Lord Sugar will be partnering with Pudsey for BBC Children in Need to bring viewers two, one-hour episodes set in the snowy setting of Lapland where the task is tougher and the stakes are higher.
A little closer to come, cameras are rolling on a whole host of exciting projects including The Split Up.
Set in the charged world of Manchester’s high net worth divorce circuit, the new drama centres on Kishan Law – a powerhouse British South Asian family firm, and the go-to for the city’s elite. Aria Kishan (Ritu Arya), is poised to step up and take the mantle from her father Dhruv (Sanjeev Bhaskar), but he's begun to wonder if his daughter can, or should, take on this responsibility single handedly.
From fictional father and daughter to fictional mother and son, Sue Johnston and Paul Ready are joining Diane Morgan’s brand new BBC Comedy Ann Droid (working title).
As funny as it is poignant, the series tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Sue (Johnston) and Linda (Morgan) a social humanoid robot, created to keep elderly people company and monitor their health.
We got our first look at Aimee Lou Wood and David Morrissey in the new series of Daddy Issues this week too.
Set in Stockport, series two will see Gemma (Wood) coming to terms with life as a mum while Malcolm (Morrissey) is just thrilled to be a grandad to baby Sadie. You can catch their antics on iPlayer and BBC Three later this year.
And speaking of returns, there's a blast from the past at Waterloo Road as Denise Welch reprises the role of iconic teacher Steph Haydock in the next series.
"Steph is back as a supply teacher. What she is supplying remains to be seen, but I am having a great time stepping back into the shoes of a character I love," says Welch.
"It’s also been great to reunite with some of my old castmates, like Jason Merrells. Steph and Jack go back a long way, but will they move forward?! You'll have to wait and see."
Elsewhere, BBC Factual's ordered a range of new history commissions including a new historical crime series with Lucy Worsley and a sixth series of A House Through Time with David Olusoga.
BBC Asian Network has unveiled a new speech and current affairs programme, Asian Network Trending, as part of a new schedule starting from Monday 27 October.
Oh and in case you missed it, filming's officially started on This City is Ours series two!
What's occurring in the Our BBC, Our Future questionnaire results?
You spoke. We listened. We've published the results of our biggest ever listening exercise - which shows resounding support for our continuing mission to inform, educate and entertain.
The Our BBC, Our Future questionnaire, launched in March this year, received 872,701 responses, with people from across the UK sharing their views on the organisation and its future. The results will play a central part of our planning for the future, now that the Charter Review process with government is underway.
They show people demonstrated support for a BBC that plays a critical role for the UK, with 83% of respondents saying it is important that the BBC’s core mission to inform, educate and entertain continues.
Some Personnel News
Congratulations are in order for Bradley Down who has been appointed the new Head of Development for BBC Drama.
Bradley has worked as the Acting Head of Development for BBC Drama for the past six months and prior to that he was a Commissioning Executive on shows including EastEnders, Cheaters, Just Act Normal and Babies. He's also working on forthcoming dramas Open Water and Honey.
“Daily at the BBC I’m inspired and excited by the depth of talent amongst British producers and creatives. At a crucial time for our industry, it’s an immense privilege to step into this role, and I look forward to continuing our work to discover and create lasting, meaningful, and surprising drama.”
What to Watchlist on BBC iPlayer
🎲 Quiet lives, big hearts. Alex Lawther, Laurie Kynaston and Jamie-Lee O’Donnell star in Leonard and Hungry Paul (from Friday). It's a gentle, meandering tale of friendship, board games and finding your way in the world, narrated by Julia Roberts.
🪩 We're back in the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom for Week Four - and the first Argentine Tango of the series - on Saturday. Check out the song and dance list.
💪 There's live coverage of the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall across the weekend. It's the first time in 20 years that the tournament has been held outside of Japan.
⛰️ How far would you go for family? Haunted by the past, hunted by the truth, Mia must unlock the mystery that surrounds her sister's death. Lauren Lyle stars in twisting thriller The Ridge from Tuesday and the cast promise it "throws you straight into the deep end".
🏰 Return to The Celebrity Traitors castle from 9pm on Wednesday. And remember, the thrills don't stop at the Round Table... uncover more twists and treachery in iPlayer's Your Next Thrill collection
And finally...
When there's something strange in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call? Charlie and Daisy May Cooper!
In their brand-new six-part series the This Country creators and stars reunite on screen to spend the night together in notorious and reportedly haunted buildings across the UK, discovering long hidden secrets about the buildings – and each other.
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