Tag Archive: iPlayer

1. BBC TWO TO AIR THE DEFINITIVE 7/7 LONDON BOMBING STORY

   12th December 2024 12:41 pm Comments Off on BBC TWO TO AIR THE DEFINITIVE 7/7 LONDON BOMBING STORY

   Twenty years after the first suicide bombings to take place on English soil, BBC Two and iPlayer are to air the definitive story of the attacks and their aftermath, in 7/7: The London Bombings.

   Made by the team behind the multi-award-winning BBC documentary, 9/11 Inside: The President’s War Room, this 4 x 60-minute series is the story of the biggest police investigation in British history – the three-week hunt to catch all the bombers, which included a tragic police mistake.

   7/7: The London Bombings starts on Sunday 5 January and Monday 6 January at 9pm, on BBC Two. The entire series streams on BBC iPlayer from Sunday 5 January.

   On 7 July 2005, four bombs were detonated on London’s transport system, blowing up three trains and a bus. 52 people were killed. Hundreds injured. From the worst attack of its kind in the UK, began one of the most chaotic and significant moments in the history of our capital city and the police and security services who protect it. Another series of attempted bombings followed and in the subsequent manhunt, the police shot dead an innocent man – Jean Charles de Menezes.

   This series follows the investigation forensically and painstakingly, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. 

   It tells the story from the perspective of the victims on the ground, revealing how survivors had to reconcile themselves with life-changing injuries, and it pieces together the emergency response as first responders scrambled to act in the epicentre of the crisis.

   Through interviews with Prime Minister Tony Blair, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair, then Home Secretary Charles Clarke, together with key members of the police investigation team, this story uniquely examines how they struggled to deal with the repercussions, reassure a nation, and find out what had happened before bombers could strike again.

   This definitive history of three weeks that changed Britain forever also hears from those seriously injured at the attack sites and family members of the victims, as well as frontline rescuers.

   Simon Young, BBC Head of Commissioning, History, says: “It’s difficult to comprehend just how febrile and frenzied those weeks felt like in London and across the country, nearly twenty years ago. This series painstakingly pieces together the chain of events, moments of resilience and hope, as well as tragedy and horror. The result is a frank portrait of how the nation responded, when our streets became a new kind of frontline.”

   Adam Wishart, Joint Series Director and Producer, The Slate Works, says: “After telling the story of President George W Bush on 9/11, we wanted to understand what happened to the British state when faced with a huge crisis of its own. What does it feel like to run the police or the country, when faced with the biggest attack on English soil? And what is it like when you or your family are caught in the blasts? How does anyone cope with the emotional consequences and the political repercussions?”

   7/7: The London Bombings – 4 x 60 minutes – is a The Slate Works production for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.  It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, BBC Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual.  The Commissioning Editor is Simon Young, BBC Head of Commissioning, History.

2. Dame Mary Berry makes evening meals effortless

   19th July 2024 11:33 am Comments Off on Dame Mary Berry makes evening meals effortless

   The nation’s much-loved cook, Dame Mary Berry, is taking the stress out of dinner by making every meal effortless in this delightful new series, Mary’s Foolproof Dinners, on BBC Two and iPlayer.

   Across six sumptuous episodes, produced by Sidney Street, Mary brings a lifetime of culinary knowledge to the table, making dinner a pleasure as she joins a host of famous friends – both old and new – who each face their own challenges with making the main meal of the day. In each of the half hour episodes she shows them how creating dinners can be completely foolproof.

   If they want comforting family classics, clever ideas for alfresco dining or something truly celebratory, Mary’s ingenious recipes are guaranteed to succeed every time, giving her guests the confidence to try new dishes at home.

   Each episode features a famous face including comedian Alan Carr, who loves classic comfort food but doesn’t know where to start; Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors presenter and a great friend of Mary’s, Claudia Winkleman, who loves a lazy weekend entertaining with the family; wildlife cameraman and photographer Hamza Yassin, a cautious cook who is happier preparing food for animals rather than himself; Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Sara Davies who has just celebrated her 40^th birthday and is planning a host of dinner parties to mark the occasion; Mary’s dear friend, presenter and comedian Sue Perkins, who can be slightly wild in the kitchen; and furniture restorer and star of The Repair Shop, Will Kirk who’s keen to learn some barbeque skills for al fresco dining.

   Mary will share mouth-watering recipes, from her own version of a speedy Beef Chow Mein for Alan to an effortless Pastry-free Quick Quiche for Claudia; a foolproof Rhubarb Plate Pie for Sue, crowd-pleasing spicy Sriracha Chicken Wings and Miso Trout for Will; a Rugby Lamb Stew for Hamza and for Sara’s birthday celebrations, a selection of dishes from Mini Lemongrass Crab Cakes to her spectacular Langoustine Paella.

   Mary said: “We had so much fun with the series last year, I’m delighted we’re returning with six more fabulous friends to change their thoughts about cooking with new foolproof recipes. Dinner is often the meal where we need most inspiration at the end of a long day or to step out of the same old recipes that we can get stuck in a rut cooking. And what’s more – these really are foolproof – I can’t wait to share them with you.”

   Ricky Cooper, BBC Commissioning Editor, said: “We’re delighted that Mary is sharing her incredible foolproof recipes with audiences all over the UK, and in the process helping some of the nation’s biggest names build confidence in the kitchen.  Whether you call it dinner, tea or supper, viewers everywhere are in for a real treat.”

   Karen Ross, Executive Producer, Sidney Street, said: “This was such a joyful series to make – Dame Mary cooking her heart out with some of our most beloved celebrities who are desperate not to let her down in the kitchen. Entertaining and delicious!”

   Mary’s Foolproof Dinners is a 6 x 30’ series made by Sidney Street for BBC Two and iPlayer. It was commissioned by Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment, and the Commissioning Editor is Ricky Cooper. Karen Ross and Kelly Sparks are Executive Producers, with Rose Wilkinson as Series Producer, Sarah Myland as Series Director and Clare Bunting as Production Manager.

   A book of the same name will be published by BBC Books and will be available from October 10^th.