Teachers Training to Kill is a one-off documentary that explores gun control in America and the disturbing amount of mass shootings taking place in US schools.
The documentary follows a group of teachers from Faster, a controversial summer school where teachers are trained to operate guns and potentially shoot to kill.
The new shows are part of a deliberate drive by the channel to offer distinctive content, in a bid to beat competition from streaming services and other broadcasters.
At the launch of the new slate, Ian Katz, the channel’s Director of Programming, said he wants to focus on “entertaining, mischievous and innovative shows about the big issues and arguments in Britain today.”
He added: “Many of the shows [launching in 2019] are not ones that the global digital giants, even as they plough billions into new content, would be remotely interested in making.”
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.
Filmed over one year, A Year of British Murder is a harrowing documentary that addresses the hundreds of people killed in Britain during 2017.
The programme follows the grieving families of selected cases, including the parents of 15-year-old Quamari Barnes who was stabbed to death just outside his school in London; his killer was the same age.
The Comedy Bus (w/t) will follow six comedians as they travel to each of their hometowns to see how they have changed over the years.
Joining Dommett and Stirling for a trip down memory lane are Mock the Week regular Tom Allen, Suzi Ruffell, Darren Harriott and Kiri Pritchard-Mclean.
The series will be produced by Sacha Baron Cohen and Andrew Newman’s company Spelthorne Community Television
Created by James Graham (A Brilliant Young Mind), Brexit: The Uncivil War explores the inside story behind one of the most divisive campaigns in British politics, Vote Leave.
Set during the pinnacle of the EU referendum in 2016, the chaotic drama follows Dominic Cummings (Benedict Cumberbatch), the less-known mastermind behind the Leave campaign.
One of the panel, Lizzie Kempton, was the assistant producer on the Grierson Award-winning BBC Two film, How to Die: Simon’s Choice, which tells the story of a man with an aggressive form of motor neurone disease who chooses to end his life.
He’ll be joined by some of the top filmmakers in the country including Peter Beard of Story Films whose 2015 film My Son The Jihadi won a Bafta for best Documentary and whose other work includes landmark series 24 Hours in A&E, 24 Hours in Police Custody, and Kids on The Edge and Havana Marking, Sundance winning director of Smash and Grab and Afghan Star and Executive Producer of O
In Louis Theroux’s Altered States, the documentary-maker will look at how changing social attitudes and radical new laws have transformed the way that Americans love, die and raise children.
The Trust is looking for creative young people with a passion for television and documentaries to join its DocLab and Mentoring Scheme for 2018. The prestigious scheme gives participants the chance to take their first step towards a successful career in factual programme making.
