BBC 2

Louis Theroux returns to America’s most hated family

Louis Theroux (Credit: BBC)

The Westboro Baptist Church, a controversial Christian ministry, are known for protesting and picketing high profile events, including military funerals and creating antagonistic homophobic placards.

Having been led by Pastor Fred Phelps, also known as ‘Gramps’ to the congregation, his death in 2014 led to extreme changes within the tight-knit family community.

In a time of Trump’s America, controversial statements are now commonplace and the relevance of the church has been brought into question, threatening to tear it apart.

BBC announces new Factual, Entertainments and Arts programmes

The new commissions are as follows:

The Iraq War (w/t)

A five-part series exploring the reasons and repercussions behind the invasion of Iraq by the UK and USA. Told from the perspective of those who were there the series looks at the scenario from a human point of view; from families on the ground, to soldiers and rebels, the series looks at the impact that this era of war and destruction has left behind.

Black Earth Rising leads raft of new commissions for BBC Two

(Credit: BBC)

Holland outlined the channel’s long history with successful drama programming, commenting: “Blending strong opinions and bold perspectives with brilliant comic voices and finger-on-the-pulse entertainment. Never afraid of provoking, knowing we may upset people along the way… We commission based on passion, on gut feel, on public service purpose”.

Black Earth Rising will explore the prosecution of international war crimes and the West’s relationship with contemporary Africa, through an interracial family with personal experience of genocide.

RTS Student Masterclass: Writing for drama

ITV, BBC Two, television, drama, RTS, student, masterclass, writing, research,

You could be forgiven for thinking that the award- winning screenwriter and producer, Jeff Pope, approaches his work by trying to find the most gruesome story possible.

This is the man who has made TV dramas based on the dark deeds of serial killer, Fred West, Moors murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, and Britain’s most prolific hangman, Albert Pierrepoint.