BBC Two

Peter Bowker and Christpher Eccleston make real reality television

Peter Bowker doesn’t “do diversity”. Yet, over the past couple of decades, this RTS and Bafta award-winning screenwriter has become TV’s “go-to guy” for dramas featuring people with disabilities.

A comic and compelling double act, of Bowker and his long-time collaborator the actor Christopher Eccleston, entertained the RTS North West’s capacity audience at the Lowry in March. They traced the development of Bowker’s work as he has, increasingly, challenged stereotypical representations of people affected by learning disabilities.

Working lives: Quiz editor

What does the job involve?

You need to know how to put together good quiz rounds, balancing easier and harder questions. And, literally, you need to edit questions – rewording, reframing or even flipping them. You then have to get questions and answers verified. You also need a deep understanding of the show, so you can bring its character out in the questions.

 

How did you become question editors?

We did a lot of question writing in the quiz world and put on quizzes through our company, QuizQuizQuiz, and made connections.

Inside No. 9 renewed for two more series

Creators Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton will stick to their award-winning formula of six stand-alone half hour films, full of twists, turns and genre bends.

They said: “Little did we know when we started Inside No. 9 in 2014 that we would end up with as many episodes of it as Countryfile.

“We are delighted and exhausted in equal measure at the prospect of two more series-worth of tall tales and fearsome fables.”

Who's taking part in Race Across the World series two?

Credit: BBC

The second series has been extended by two weeks and will now air for eight weeks, with contestants competing to get from Mexico City to the most southerly city in the world, Ushuaia in Argentina.

Like series one – where contestants travelled from London to Singapore – they will need to travel thousands of miles without taking any flights or using a smartphone and with a limited set amount of money.  

The 10 travellers will work in pairs to navigate across 16 countries via horse, foot, boat and bus to reach the finish line.

Nadiya Hussain to front two new BBC shows

Nadiya’s American Melting Pot

The former winner of The Great British Bake Off will travel to North America for her two-part documentary series Nadiya’s American Melting Pot.

Travelling to two of North America’s most diverse vibrant hubs, California and Louisiana, she hopes to discover how generations of immigrant communities have cultivated and adapted American cuisine.

BBC Two announces natural history series Baby Chimp Rescue

Baby Chimp Rescue (credit: BBC)

The three-part series will follow the work of wildlife vet Jimmy Desmond and his wife Jenny, who run a home for orphaned baby chimpanzees.

Starting with just two baby chimps rescued from the illegal pet trade, the Desmonds now house and care for 21 orphans.

Sharing close quarters with a pack of adopted dogs, the baby chimps cause mischief with their new adopted animal siblings.