BBC iPlayer

BBC announces Killing Eve series three UK air date

The new weekly episodes will be available to stream every Monday from 6am and air on BBC One on Sundays at 9pm, starting from Sunday 19th April. 

SPOILERS AHEAD 

The second series finale ended with a shock twist as Villanelle (Jodie Comer) appears to finally achieve her mission of 'killing Eve' when she shoots Eve (Sandra Oh) in Rome and leaves her for dead.

Production begins for Killing Eve season three

Dame Harriet Walter and Danny Sapani (Credit: BBC)

Based on the Codename Villanelle novels by Luke Jennings, the third installment of the award-winning spy thriller continues from the explosive second series finale.

After a surprising betrayal by Carolyn Martens (Fiona Shaw), Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) is shot by assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer) and left for dead in Rome.

Killing Eve release air date for series two

Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and  Villanelle (Jodie Comer) (Credit: BBC/BBC America/Sid Gentle Films)

RTS award-winner Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh return to lead the series as assassin on the run, Villanelle (Comer), and MI5 officer in pursuit, Eve Polastri (Oh).

“Eve’s journey in season two takes her to a psychologically dark place,” said Oh.

“Her personality starts to change because she foregoes a lot of her friendships to solve a new mystery and ultimately succeed in her job.”

TV picks of the week: 11 February to 17 February

Famous and Fighting Crime

Monday: Channel 4, 9.00pm

New four-part series, Famous and Fighting Crime, sees Jamie Laing (Made in Chelsea) Sandi Bogle (Gogglebox), presenter Katie Piper and comic Marcus Brigstocke working as volunteer police officers.

The four celebrities are put to the test as they chase after thieves, apprehend violent suspects and intervene in a domestic abuse case amid crippling police cuts and rising crime.

Bodyguard snags the top spot on BBC iPlayer

David Budd (Richard Madden) (Credit: BBC/BBC Studios)

In 2018, BBC iPlayer received requests for 3.6 billion programmes throughout the year.

Among the top ten requested shows per series included Bodyguard, Killing Eve, McMafia, Doctor Who, Keeping Faith, The Cry, Dynasties, Our Girl, Bing and MOTD Live.

“In 2018 we saw people who use iPlayer increasing the amount of time that they spend watching programmes on it,” said Dan McGolpin, Controller of Programming for the BBC.

Ofcom reveals the UK’s binge watching habits

The research shows that UK viewers favour binge watching television series over waiting for new episodes each week, with 40 million people watching series back-to-back.

One third of the people binge watching episodes do so every week, and more than half do so monthly.

The study, included in the annual Communications Market Research 2017, has also shown a significant difference in viewing habits between younger and older audiences. 

BBC iPlayer set to stream Planet Earth II footage in Ultra HD and HLG

The four minutes of Planet Earth II footage will be available in Ultra HD and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) on compatible connected TVs from today until early next year.

Planet Earth II's footage follows a jaguar emerging from the shadows to stalk prey and the effects of rain dropping on tiny animals and their habitats, including a range of greens and a frog in a shade of red never before seen on a TV.

The experimental footage is an early but important step towards streaming high-quality Ultra HD programmes on BBC iPlayer in the future. 

New Adam Curtis film HyperNormalisation comes to iPlayer

(Credit: BBC)

HyperNormalisation will explore the time of uncertainty we currently live in, where even those in power don’t know what to do.

The documentary is inspired by the unpredictable events of recent times – from the rise of Donald Trump to Brexit, the war in Syria, the endless migrant crisis, and random bomb attacks.

It seeks to explain both why these chaotic events are happening, and why we and our leaders can’t understand them.

BBC to feature external content on iPlayer

BBC iPlayer

The plans are part of the BBC's aims to encourage the growth of not-for-profit creative institutions, and broaden its cultural offering online. Organisations in the deal are all involved in the Shakespeare Lives festival 2016. 

"We’re experimenting live with digital formats like never before," said BBC Director General Tony Hall. "For the first time, the BBC will be showcasing the great talent we have in our leading cultural institutions on BBC iPlayer. It’s another step towards an open BBC – something we all believe in.”