The long-awaited series will begin on BBC Two on 1 June 2016 at 9.30pm.

The series follows the machinations of Louis XIV, the Sun King, who moves his court away from Paris to the luxurious palace of Versailles.

At first the courtiers are delighted at their secluded paradise, but they quickly come to see the Palace for what it is: a gilded prison.

The series comes from Simon Mirren (Waking the Dead) and David Wollencroft (Spooks) and stars George Blagden as Louis XIV and Alexander Vlahos as Philippe, Duke of Orleans. 

Speaking about the films, to be shows on BBC One, Two, Three and Four, Patrick Holland, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, said: “We are delighted to announce such a diverse and distinctive range of films from such a terrific group of programme-makers. The variety of stories and filmmaking approaches shows the ambition we have at BBC Documentaries. What unites these projects is the desire to find the very best ways to tell the most important and engaging stories."

The BBC holds a Royal Charter which sets out its rules and its roles; however the current Royal Charter expires at the end of the year and hence needs to be renewed.

The government launched a public consultation into the role that the BBC should play going forward following the publication of a Green Paper.

The Culture Secretary John Whittingdale who is in charge of overseeing charter renewal has now unveiled the content of the BBC White Paper.

‘The three duties of the broadcaster are to the subject, to the audience and to the craft.” Huw Wheldon’s achievements and words live on, 30 years after his death. I doubt that there is a BBC Director-General since his day who hasn’t used the great Wheldon incantation about public service broadcasting and its duty “to make the popular good and make the good popular”.

Wheldon himself was never DG – his most senior job was as Managing Director of BBC Television – but the people who did get the top job have seldom achieved his creative impact or his quotability.

At its most basic casting involves finding actors to play roles in TV and film, however there is far more to it as it is one of the few television roles that seems to bridge the creative and the technical sides of television.

“It’s very much a taste-based role” Andy says. “What people don't see is the enormous amount of work that you put into casting a show – in terms of researching and trying to pull the whole thing together, getting the right people seen, managing expectations and then negotiating the artists contracts.”

Between 10 June and 10 July, the broadcaster aims to cover 140 hours of football news during the European Championship, as well as providing extensive material over all their media channels. 

Former England captains Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand will present the cup's matches alongside France's Thierry Henry. Fan-favourite Gary Lineker takes the lead on all television reports, and will appear on digital coverage as well.

Catch these gems before they disappear.

Grace and Frankie

The slick, silver-haired comedy from Friends creator Martha Kauffman is back for a second season.

Straight-laced Grace and free spirit Frankie are both happily married women when their husbands, Robert and Sol, announce that they are leaving them – for each other.

Monday

Posh Neighbours at War

Channel 4

7.30pm

Quite aside from having a title to die for, the documentary offers an insight into some of the most vicious spates between neighbours in some of the most expensive parts of the country.

In parts of London where properties can cost tens of millions of pounds, the residents are unsurprisingly a bit on edge about noisy neighbours and their property.

Targets of the campaign include increasing on screen representation of the LGBT community and reserving more internship placements for disabled people.

The aim is to set new standards for the television industry and better reflect the diversity represented in the general British public.

“The BBC has a breadth and scale that is unique in the UK’s media, and that means what we do has real impact," said Director-General, Tony Hall.