BBC Four

RTS East explore the British talent behind the original Star Wars trilogy

Robert Watts and David Whiteley

Watts was one of the contributors to presenter/producer and Star Wars superfan David Whiteley’s affectionate look at the British talent behind the Star Wars phenomenon.

An audience of more than 75, including two stormtroopers, enjoyed a screening of the original 60-minute version of The Galaxy Britain Built, winner of RTS East’s Best Factual Programme and Best Post-Production awards earlier this year. 

Sound masterclass with Matt Bacon and Kate Davis

Matt Bacon and Kate Davis (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

Davis received a Bafta nomination this year for her work on the BBC Four documentary Amy Winehouse: Back to Black. Bacon specialises in formatted and entertainment series such as Channel 5 reality show The Bachelor and the BBC’s Masterchef.

Documentary makers discuss the making of Last Breath with RTS West of England

Sam Rogers, Kate Beetham, Richard da Costa and Alex Parkinson (Credit: Jon Craig)

Four years in the making, the film has been described as “Gravity meets Touching the Void – 100 metres underwater” and tells the story of a commercial diver, Chris Lemons, who is stranded on the seabed with five minutes of oxygen left – but no chance of rescue for more than half an hour.

TV picks of the week: 6 to 12 May

Sex on Trial

Monday: Channel 4, 10.00pm

Sex on Trial examines high-profile student sexual assault cases in the US and explores the impact they have had on the people making the accusations and the accused.

The first episode investigates the claims made by Nikki Yovino, who accused two fellow students of assaulting her at a university party.

 

Reggie Yates’ diversity documentary among new BBC commissions

Reggie Yates (Credit: BBC/Ellis Parrinder)

The BBC Two documentary will be joined by a host of specialist programmes that range from the artistry of dance to new series The Novels That Shaped Our World (w/t), which will mark the 300th anniversary of Robinson Crusoe and the origins behind the British novel.

“This year we’ll be giving you a front-row seat to the best in arts and culture from celebrating the novel and the art of poetry with landmark programing, to encouraging participation in the arts with the return of Get Creative,” said Jonty Claypole, Director of Arts at BBC.

New international dramas land on BBC Four

Ryan Gallagher (Ewen Leslie) and Damien Pascoe (Joel Jackson) in Safe Harbour (Credit: BBC/Hulu)

The selection of dramas includes new thriller Safe Harbour and returning favourites Trapped, Follow the Money and Cardinal.

Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor of BBC Four commented: “As the original home of contemporary international drama on British television, BBC Four continues to fire on all cylinders, bringing choice new titles and returning favourites back to its established Saturday night slot.”

 

BBC Four announces season celebrating British diversity

(Credit: BBC)

Four part series A Very British History will tell the stories of various communities around Britain, including the Jewish community in Leeds, Afro-Caribbeans in Birmingham, Ugandan Asians in Leicester and Romany Gypsies in the home counties.

Photojournalist Don McCullin will travel the country, capturing its diversity in Don McCullin: Looking for England. After sixty years as a photographer, 83 year-old McCullin will visit communities around the UK, from inner cities to seaside towns, and lets TV cameras inside his darkroom for the first time.  

Moving on up: the rise of TV dance shows

The Greatest Dancer presenter Jordan Banjo (Credit: BBC/Syco/Thames/David Ellis)

When the BBC spiced up one of TV’s oldest formats to create Strictly Come Dancing, few thought it would create the holy grail of TV – a genuine pop-culture phenomenon that glued all ages to the box.

That was almost 15 years ago. Come Dancing, the show that inspired Strictly, first appeared in 1950, surviving in all its flouncy glory until 1998. It remains to be seen if even Strictly can last that long.