BBC Two (England) - news archive

This is an archive of news about BBC Two (England). Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

Fogle, Cracknell to ski 450 miles for BBC2
From Digital Spy. Posted July 5 2008, 6.34am
Ben Fogle and James Cracknell are to follow their Atlantic rowing adventure with a South Pole ski race challenge. (more)

BBC2 plans property series with Urban Splash
From Digital Spy. Posted July 4 2008, 9.18am
BBC Two will follow a group of amateur designers as they build homes "with a difference" in a street in Manchester. (more)

Andrew Anthony on television: When Tim is sent to commentary
From Media Guardian. Posted June 28 2008, 11.08pm
Andrew Anthony on television: Wimbledon BBC1, Euro 2008 semi-final, Top Gear BBC2, Gok's Fashion Fix C4, Upstairs Downstairs Love C4 (more)

TV ratings - June 24: Murray victory draws Wimbledon viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted June 25 2008, 10.34am
Nearly 4 million viewers watched BBC2's coverage of Andy Murray winning his first round match at Wimbledon. By John Plunkett (more)

French designer to lead BBC2 reality show
From Digital Spy. Posted June 24 2008, 9.13pm
Budding designers will compete to impress a French style guru in an upcoming BBC Two series. (more)

Philippe Starck: French designer to front BBC2 reality series
From Media Guardian. Posted June 24 2008, 3.20pm
Philippe Starck is to front a new BBC2 series in which he will attempt to discover the next generation of British design talent. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

'Top Gear' return puts BBC2 in fast lane
From Digital Spy. Posted June 23 2008, 2.33pm
The return of Top Gear draws a strong audience for BBC Two despite tough competition. (more)

Kathryn Flett on television: Surrogate mothers and secret fathers
From Media Guardian. Posted June 21 2008, 11.10pm
Kathryn Flett on television: Tribal Wives BBC2, The Father, the Son and the Housekeeper BBC4, My Child Won't Eat ITV1 (more)

TV ratings - June 18: Tribal Wives beaten by River Cottage
From Media Guardian. Posted June 19 2008, 1.40pm
BBC2's Tribal Wives debuted with 2.3 million viewers, but Channel 4's River Cottage Spring pulled in 2.6 million in the same slot. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

Uma Thurman to star in BBC2 Hare adaptation
From The Stage. Posted June 19 2008, 12.10pm
(more)

Uma Thurman to star in a BBC2 drama scripted by playwright David Hare
From Media Guardian. Posted June 19 2008, 9.09am
Hollywood star Uma Thurman is to feature in a BBC2 drama scripted by playwright David Hare. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

My media: Giles Coren, co-presenter of The Supersizers Go ... on BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted June 15 2008, 11.03pm
Giles Coren, co-presenter of The Supersizers Go ... on BBC2 (more)

Sam Wollaston on Liverpool and Peep Show
From Media Guardian. Posted June 6 2008, 11.07pm
Sam Wollaston on Alexei Sayle's Liverpool (BBC2) and Peep Show (Channel 4) (more)

Lucy Mangan: Taggart is now in its 852nd year. And guess what - this week they're hunting a murrrderrerrr
From Media Guardian. Posted June 5 2008, 11.11pm
Lucy Mangan on Taggart (ITV1), House (Five) and Heroes (BBC2) (more)

TV ratings - June 3: Culture Show audience hit by switch to later slot
From Media Guardian. Posted June 4 2008, 1.03pm
BBC2's The Culture Show's new slot has dented its ratings slightly, with 800,000 viewers tuning. By Tara Conlan (more)

TV ratings: 2.8m viewers watch Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story
From Media Guardian. Posted May 29 2008, 10.20am
Julie Walters' portrayal of the late Mary Whitehouse brought almost 3 million viewers to BBC2's drama about the redoubtable TV standards campaigner. By Stephen Brook (more)

Grammer in remake of BBC show
From Media Guardian. Posted May 27 2008, 11.04pm
Frasier star Kelsey Grammer in American version of BBC2 comedy Roman's Empire (more)

Frasier star Kelsey Grammer to appear in remake of BBC2 sitcom
From Media Guardian. Posted May 27 2008, 12.06pm
Frasier star Kelsey Grammer is to star in the US version of BBC2 comedy Roman's Empire. ByBen Dowell (more)

Du Beke to front BBC2 cooking series
From Digital Spy. Posted May 23 2008, 12.36pm
Strictly Come Dancing's Anton Du Beke is to front a new cooking competition series for BBC Two. (more)

BBC2 documentary wins Premier Prize at Sandford St Martin Trust religious radio and TV awards
From Media Guardian. Posted May 21 2008, 12.20pm
BBC2 documentary The Boys from Baghdad High has won the Premier Prize at the Sandford St Martin Trust religious radio and TV awards. By Ben Dowell (more)

Video: The Culture Show returns
From Media Guardian. Posted May 19 2008, 3.16pm
Watch a trail for the return of BBC2's The Culture Show, featuring Boris Johnson and Karl Pilkington (more)

Public inquiry: Charlotte Ashton, 25, TV presenter
From Media Guardian. Posted May 9 2008, 11.12pm
The presenter of new BBC2 TV programme Revealed, former SocietyGuardian.co.uk columnist Charlotte Ashton, tells Mary O'Hara about the myths surrounding teenagers (more)

James Nesbitt and Liam Neeson set for Ulster drama
From Media Guardian. Posted May 8 2008, 6.18am
BBC2 has commissioned a major drama about the Troubles in Northern Ireland that will feature James Nesbitt, with Liam Neeson also lined up for a starring role. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Daytime soap Out of the Blue switched to BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted May 7 2008, 3.11pm
Neighbours replacement Out of the Blue is being switched from BBC1 to BBC2 less than a month after it premiered. By Tara Conlan (more)

Meera Syal to star in new BBC2 comedy
From Digital Spy. Posted May 2 2008, 2.30pm
A new sitcom starring Meera Syal and Olivia Colman is in production for BBC Two. (more)

Dave Gorman's Radio 4 show Genius is to be made for BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted April 25 2008, 4.37pm
Dave Gorman's Radio 4 entertainment show Genius is to transfer to BBC2 as a six-part series. By Ben Dowell (more)

Heroes pulls in 3.7 million viewers on BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted April 25 2008, 9.53am
The return of the US sci-fi drama import Heroes pulled in 3.7 million viewers to BBC2. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC2's 'Outnumbered' gets second series
From Digital Spy. Posted April 18 2008, 11.39am
A second series of part-improvised comedy series Outnumbered is on the way to BBC Two. (more)

TV ratings - April 17: Norton holds his own with chatshow return
From Media Guardian. Posted April 18 2008, 10.22am
The Graham Norton Show returned to BBC2 in a 9pm slot with 1.7 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - April 15: The Age of Terror captures 1m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted April 16 2008, 10.35am
The opening episode of BBC2's new Peter Taylor documentary series was watched by 1.1 million viewers in the 9pm hour. By Ben Dowell (more)

Duncan to star as Thatcher in BBC2 drama
From The Stage. Posted April 8 2008, 7.30pm
(more)

BBC2 drama to paint dark portrait of Margaret Thatcher
From Media Guardian. Posted April 8 2008, 8.54am
Lindsay Duncan has been confirmed to play Margaret Thatcher in a BBC2 drama about the former prime minister's final days in office. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Five steams past BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted March 19 2008, 2.56pm
Channel Five's Monster Moves saw the channel triumph over BBC across the peaktime period and the entire day. By John Plunkett (more)

BBC unveils chefs' specials
From Media Guardian. Posted March 17 2008, 4.48pm
BBC2 hopes to whet appetites with two food programmes showcasing autumnal ingredients and how to cook Chinese takeaway dishes. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

BBC2 lines up Chinese, autumn food shows
From Digital Spy. Posted March 17 2008, 12.52pm
BBC Two lines up a new primetime food series about autumnal and Chinese cooking. (more)

Media Diary: Oliver Duff
From The Independent. Posted March 17 2008, 12.00am
Having dumped her vestments outside the charity clothes shop and renounced plans to sit a theology degree, Julie Burchill is returning to journalism. She is also working on her own television films, following 2005's lesbian teen drama Sugar Rush. Burchill says she has completed a TV script, Scars and Stripes, to be made by BBC2. "She seems to know much more about this than we do," claims a BBC drama publicist. "It's not anything we've heard of. Nothing has been commissioned and no one in commissioning has heard of it." It's obviously at an early, pre-publicity stage. So I leave a polite voicemail on Friday morning for the queen of spleen, asking for more details, if appropriate, and wishing her a pleasant weekend. Ten minutes later the mobile rings: "I'm Sara Lawrence. I've just had a cross phone call from my writing partner Julie Burchill. She sounded very angry. What are you leaving her a message for? Why are you asking? Don't you believe her? Why do you want to know? It's part of a massive project called "Decades", alright, 30 films covering 1970 to 2005, each one covers a year. Catherine Tate's doing one, Hanif Kureishi, Ian Hislop. Ours is a love story. Maybe you should do a bit of research. Perhaps you should email Julie to apologise." Two hours on, and I am given an exclusive extract of Ms Lawrence's writing, in the shape of an unprompted email. The missive informs me I am "an absolute prick" and "an asshole" for enquiring about the Scars and Stripes project. She continues: "Why don't you fuck off and get an ACTUAL story. Moron." Dear Sara! Slow down, don't gabble. (more)

BBC2's working class heroes draw 1.7m
From Media Guardian. Posted March 10 2008, 1.31pm
The launch of BBC2's controversial season about the white working class averaged 1.7 million viewers on Friday. By Ben Dowell (more)

It's not a job I've ever aspired to
From Media Guardian. Posted March 10 2008, 12.02am
The BBC2 controller tells Owen Gibson that he was never interested in running the flagship channel, why the trailer for the White season 'absolutely' isn't racist - and that Top Gear will be staying put (more)

Reckitt faces inquiries over 'plan' to maintain Gaviscon's dominance
From The Times. Posted March 7 2008, 11.40pm
Reckitt Benckiser faces a series of investigations by competition and health regulators over an alleged secret plan to maintain a monopoly in the supply of Gaviscon, the lucrative heartburn medicine. Internal documents show that executives at Reckitt, the Hull-based drug and cleaning products company, plotted under the codename “Project Eric” to block rivals from selling cheaper generic copies of Gaviscon. One former senior executive said Reckitt had “cheated the NHS”. It is thought that a cheaper, generic version of Gaviscon could have saved the health service £40 million a year. E-mails between executives discuss how to “drag out as long as possible” the process of other companies being allowed to manufacture generic versions, and their intention to create “a further barrier to competitors” and “restrict entry for new competitors”. The company announced an internal investigation into the allegations, made by BBC2’s Newsnight, insisting that it was “a responsible company in the way it conducts its business”. A spokesman for the Office of Fair Trading said: “We are aware of the story and are considering whether there may be a competition case to answer.” The NHS Counter Fraud Service is also considering whether an inquiry falls within its remit, and the House of Commons Health Select Committee may also investigate. Kevin Barron, MP, chair of the committee, said he was “disturbed” by the e-mails. “I will be taking it back to the committee to look at,” he said. However, it is not clear whether any laws have been broken. One regulatory source said: “Members of the public might not find it particularly wholesome. It might be sharp practice and they may be sailing close to the wind, but that doesn’t mean it’s illegal.” Before a rival company can create a generic drug, the British National Formulary must give it an official title. Reckitt tried to claim Gaviscon was unique and such a title could not be issued. It objected in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006. The drug company also successfully lobbied the British Pharmacopoeia Commission (BPC), part of the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, that for health and safety reasons, a detailed quality specification known as a monograph was needed. One Reckitt executive wrote: “Should we not drag it out as long as possible . . . £9 million of business is at stake”. The e-mails talk of “a clever idea” - to make a near-identical product with a different name. “There must be something we can dig out of the cupboard!” one executive wrote. Reckitt also tried to persuade doctors to prescribe the new Gaviscon Advance. In 2005 the industry’s watchdog found it guilty of unethical behaviour. The news comes shortly after the European Commission began an inquiry into whether pharmaceutical companies were employing illegal tactics to delay generic versions. In January, it raided the offices of some of the world’s largest drug companies, including Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Astrazeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co and Sanofi-Aventis. In 2005 AstraZeneca, the Anglo-Swedish drug manufacturer, was fined €60 million for trying to delay rival versions of its ulcer drug, Losec, thereby keeping prices artificially high. A spokesman for Reckitt said: “We are shocked by the allegations . . . and by the inappropriate sentiment expressed in some of the internal correspondence of 2003.” A spokesman for the BPC said it was “aware that the company would want to protect its market”. He added: “When Reckitt sought to protect the monograph being published with a legal challenge, the BPC rejected this request and proceeded with its publication.” (more)

Spartacus slayed by opposition
From Media Guardian. Posted March 3 2008, 1.24pm
A new adaptation of the Spartacus tale failed to set the ratings alight for BBC2 on Friday night. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Viewers' compliments to MasterChef
From Media Guardian. Posted February 29 2008, 12.24pm
MasterChef cooked up a ratings treat for BBC2, peaking at 5.7 million and wiping the floor with its rivals. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Viewers savour MasterChef run-in
From Media Guardian. Posted February 26 2008, 11.29am
The start of the final week of BBC2's MasterChef saw the cooking show hit its highest ratings of the series so far with 4.3 million viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Whicker returns to the small screen
From Media Guardian. Posted February 25 2008, 9.18am
BBC2 has commissioned the pioneer of the personality-led documentary, Alan Whicker, for a four-part series. By Maggie Brown (more)

Meera Syal: Why TV makes me depressed
From The Independent. Posted February 25 2008, 12.00am
Later this year, Meera Syal will return to our screens in a new comedy – but viewers should not expect a sitcom involving an Asian character. Syal's part in the BBC2 show was originally written for a white woman. (more)

Muted return for Mitchell and Webb
From Media Guardian. Posted February 22 2008, 1.42pm
The second series of That Mitchell and Webb Look opened with a disappointing 1.4 million viewers on BBC2. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

John Torode and Gregg Wallace
From Media Guardian. Posted February 21 2008, 12.06am
The presenters of BBC2's Masterchef, know their stuff when it comes to food. But do they ever stop shouting? (more)

My Mentor: Dan Snow on Peter Snow
From The Independent. Posted February 18 2008, 12.00am
People say to me: "Oh, it's really unfair. Your dad got you into television." Yes, he did. But not by ringing up (former BBC2 controller) Jane Root and saying he wanted to do a programme with his son; he would have been laughed at. (more)

Simon Reeve: My Life in Media
From The Independent. Posted February 4 2008, 12.00am
Simon Reeve, 35, is an author and broadcaster. Presenting BBC2's Equator, part-travelogue and part-current affairs programme, earned him comparisons to Michael Palin. He returns to our screens on Sunday with Tropic of Capricorn, a journey from Namibia to Australia and on to Argentina and Brazil. Reeve's first book, The New Jackals, predicted the rise of al-Qa'ida and became a New York Times bestseller. He grew up in Acton, west London, and lives with his wife Anya in north London. (more)

The Restaurant to serve second course
From Media Guardian. Posted January 28 2008, 7.03am
BBC2 is bringing back Raymond Blanc's culinary hit The Restaurant, but with some changes to the format. By Tara Conlan (more)

BBC boss unveils strategy
From Rapid TV News. Posted January 26 2008, 3.47pm
Roly Keating, the BBC's controller responsible for BBC1 and BBC2 has revealed the latest thoughts from within Television centre. He talks candidly about the fall-out over the Peter Fincham (the previous BBC1 controller) and the now notorious Queengate affair, and confidence within the BBC and the public perception of what the BBC is doing. Listen to a complete audio recording of his comments, given at a lunch for the Broadcasting Press Guild. {mgmediabot2}path=images/sto ... (more)

Three BBC comedies get another series
From Media Guardian. Posted January 24 2008, 5.37pm
BBC1 and BBC2 have recomissioned comedies Lead Balloon, Armstrong and Miller and The Omid Djalili Show. By Tara Conlan (more)

Weakest Link to replace Neighbours
From Media Guardian. Posted January 17 2008, 4.00pm
The BBC has confirmed that it will shunt its BBC1 children's programmes to an earlier slot so BBC2 quizshow The Weakest Link can replace Neighbours. By Leigh Holmwood and Tara Conlan (more)

Sher and Graves to star in BBC2 Auschwitz drama
From The Stage. Posted January 17 2008, 1.55pm
(more)

Review: Who knew post-modern telly could be such fun?
From The Independent. Posted January 13 2008, 1.00am
It's all about the involuntary exclamations. Your critical response to a TV programme never gets more honest than the noise you make while watching. This week it was a high whine of disbelief when Jamie Oliver gassed the fluffy chicks on Channel 4. It was a small hiss at Geraldine James's evil stepmother in Rapunzel (BBC2), a fun show that felt like a made-for-TV panto. And a snort of pleasure at ITV1's Moving Wallpaper/Echo Beach. They matter, those little sighs and expectorations, particularly when TV is getting all slippery and self-conscious, putting distance between its actions and its intentions like a ship drifting from its moorings. Moving Wallpaper/Echo Beach are twin programmes: a soap about the making of a soap, followed by the soap itself. Faced with this clever-clogs chimera, all you can do is trust your gut. (more)

Cheesed off with the world? Charlie Vandergaw was, so he went to live with some bears
From Media Guardian. Posted January 4 2008, 7.00am
Sam Wollaston on The Man Who Lives With Bears (Five) | Cold Blood (ITV1) | Lead Balloon (BBC2) (more)

North Pole charge warms BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted December 31 2007, 1.17pm
A repeat of Top Gear's controversial polar expedition gave BBC2 a healthy ratings boost. By Jemima Kiss (more)

Dragon James Caan eyes troubled Erinaceous
From Daily Telegraph. Posted December 20 2007, 12.01am
James Caan, the entrepreneur who sits on the panel of BBC2's Dragons' Den, is studying the possibility of making an offer for some or all of embattled property services company Erinaceous. (more)

Right-wing research group threatens to sue 'Newsnight'
From The Independent. Posted December 15 2007, 12.40am
A right-wing think-tank whose research came under fire on BBC2's Newsnight has threatened legal action against the current affairs programme. (more)

BBC2's royal line ends on 2.2m
From Media Guardian. Posted December 10 2007, 11.54am
BBC2's historical romp The Tudors, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII, finished its 10-part run with 2.2m viewers. By John Plunkett (more)

Heroes finishes with a flourish
From Media Guardian. Posted December 6 2007, 1.24pm
The series finale of US drama Heroes attracted 3.3 million viewers to BBC2. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

TV ratings - December 2: Hamilton drives up Top Gear ratings
From Media Guardian. Posted December 3 2007, 12.54pm
Lewis Hamilton's appearance on Top Gear accelerated the BBC2 show's audience up to a series high of nearly 8 million viewers. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

TV ratings, November 22: Arrange Me a Marriage attracts 1.8m
From Media Guardian. Posted November 23 2007, 12.21pm
BBC2 wedding show Arrange Me a Marriage was watched by 1.8 million viewers, according to unofficial overnight ratings. By Tara Conlan (more)

Lucy Mangan: Wouldn't it be fun to own a zoo? That's what Ben thought. So he bought one, just like that
From Media Guardian. Posted November 22 2007, 12.47am
Lucy Mangan on Ben's Zoo (BBC2), Coronation Street (ITV1) and Ugly Betty (E4) (more)

TV ratings: November 20
From Media Guardian. Posted November 21 2007, 1.35pm
BBC2's natural history series Earth - the Power of the Planet debuted with a healthy 2.8 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

'Marginalised working class' a focus for BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted November 20 2007, 11.39pm
White working-class life in modern Britain is to be the focus of an "unflinching and provocative" BBC2 season (more)

Maxwell Martin to star in BBC2 winter/spring line-up
From The Stage. Posted November 20 2007, 6.40pm
(more)

BBC2 season to examine white working class
From Media Guardian. Posted November 20 2007, 12.58pm
BBC2's winter and spring lineup will include a season focusing on the white working class in modern Britain. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

The cliché and the genius
From Financial Times. Posted November 17 2007, 2.00am
Stephen Poliakoff, the TV dramatist - or film-maker, according to your view - had a large swathe of his work showcased this week on BBC2. This occasioned an outpouring... (more)

Horizon rapped over biased episode
From Media Guardian. Posted November 16 2007, 6.22pm
BBC2 science strand Horizon has been censured by the BBC Trust over impartiality. By Tara Conlan (more)

TV ratings: November 10
From Media Guardian. Posted November 12 2007, 1.54pm
BBC2's Stephen Poliakoff night proved no match for Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons. (more)

My Mentor: Will Wyatt on Brian Wenham
From The Independent. Posted November 9 2007, 6.05pm
I met Brian Wenham when he was the BBC's head of current affairs and I was a producer. He didn't give me a job there, but he did when he became the controller of BBC2. (more)

Weakest Link is tipped to replace Neighbours
From Media Guardian. Posted November 8 2007, 4.53pm
BBC2 quiz The Weakest Link has been tipped to replace Neighbours when the soap leaves BBC1 next year. By Tara Conlan. (more)

Top Gear stays on BBC2, says Jeremy Clarkson
From Media Guardian. Posted November 1 2007, 11.33am
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has scotched speculation that BBC2's top-rating show could move to BBC1. By John Plunkett. (more)

Whitehaven wakes up to digital switchover
From Media Guardian. Posted October 17 2007, 1.00am
12.30pm: Around 2,000 homes in Whitehaven can no longer watch BBC2 after the channel's analogue signal was switched off at 2am. By John Plunkett. (more)

The final countdown: Cumbrian town gets set to lead TV revolution
From Media Guardian. Posted October 16 2007, 1.00am
In the early hours tomorrow, the BBC2 analogue signal will disappear in Whitehaven. By Martin Wainwright and Owen Gibson. (more)

Wisdom to feature in BBC2 documentary
From The Stage. Posted October 9 2007, 4.10pm
(more)

Timewatch safe, says BBC2 controller
From Media Guardian. Posted October 5 2007, 1.00am
Roly Keating, the controller of BBC2, has scotched rumours that history series Timewatch is to be axed. By Mark Sweney. (more)

Roly Keating name acting BBC1 controller
From Media Guardian. Posted October 5 2007, 1.00am
3.15pm update: BBC2 controller Roly Keating has been named as the acting controller of BBC1 until a successor to Peter Fincham is found. By Ben Dowell and Leigh Holmwood (more)

Roly Keating named acting BBC1 controller
From Media Guardian. Posted October 5 2007, 1.00am
BBC2 controller Roly Keating has been named as the acting controller of BBC1 until a successor to Peter Fincham is found. By Ben Dowell and Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings: October 2
From Media Guardian. Posted October 3 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: Stephen Fry's personal look at HIV and Aids attracted 2.5 million viewers to BBC2. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

BBC2 and BBC4 to stay separate
From Media Guardian. Posted September 21 2007, 1.00am
BBC Vision director Jana Bennett has insisted that BBC2 and BBC4 will not be merging. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Roly Keating secures Heroes for BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted September 3 2007, 1.00am
3.45pm: BBC2 has secured exclusive rights to hit sci-fi show Heroes from series three onwards. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TV ratings: Supernanny and Silent Witness take lion's share
From Media Guardian. Posted August 30 2007, 1.00am
Supernanny returned to Channel 4 with an average of 2.9 million viewers, beating BBC2 reality contest The Restaurant. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TV ratings: August 1
From Media Guardian. Posted August 2 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: BBC2's US drama Heroes fell back to earth with a fall of 900,000 viewers compared with its debut. By Tara Conlan (more)

Heroes triumph for BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted July 26 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: The BBC2 launch of US drama Heroes helped power the channel to an historic ratings win over BBC1. By Tara Conlan. (more)

New series of Torchwood is set to light up BBC2
From The Stage. Posted July 16 2007, 7.05pm
(more)

BBC2 snaps up media satire Freezing
From Media Guardian. Posted July 6 2007, 1.00am
8am: BBC2 has picked up BBC4 media satire Freezing and is making two new episodes later this year. By Tara Conlan. (more)

BBC looks into Blair speech gaffe
From Media Guardian. Posted June 29 2007, 1.00am
4.15pm: BBC executives have investigated why BBC2 left live coverage of Tony Blair's farewell speech to parliament on Wednesday. By Stephen Brook. (more)

TV ratings: June 27
From Media Guardian. Posted June 28 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: There were 700,000 viewers watching BBC2 yesterday lunchtime when the network cut short Tony Blair's emotional farewell at the despatch box. By Jason Deans. (more)

BBC2 cuts short Blair ovation
From Media Guardian. Posted June 27 2007, 1.00am
4.30pm: BBC2 cut short its live coverage of Tony Blair's last prime minister's questions today to show a promo for its drama series Rome. By Stephen Brook. (more)

BBC2 denies Blair standing ovation
From Media Guardian. Posted June 27 2007, 1.00am
4.30pm: BBC2 cut short its live coverage of Tony Blair's last prime minister's questions today to show a promo for its drama series Rome. By Stephen Brook. (more)

Terrestrial TV ratings: June 25
From Media Guardian. Posted June 26 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: Tim Henman's epic first round match at Wimbledon helped BBC2 double its normal Monday 9pm audience. By John Plunkett. (more)

Stephen Fry joins BBC2 autumn lineup
From Media Guardian. Posted June 26 2007, 1.00am
10.30am: Stephen Fry is to follow up his documentary on manic depression with a personal look at HIV for BBC2. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

TV ratings: June 5
From Media Guardian. Posted June 6 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: Trinny and Susannah's return to ITV1 was overshadowed by BBC2's Springwatch. By Mark Sweney. (more)

TV ratings: June 4
From Media Guardian. Posted June 5 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: Peter and Dan Snow's 20th Century Battlefields attracted 1.7m viewers to BBC2. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TV ratings - May 28
From Media Guardian. Posted May 29 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: Springwatch returned to BBC2 with nearly 4m viewers in the 8pm hour. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TV ratings: May 22
From Media Guardian. Posted May 23 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: Andrew Marr's BBC2 documentary series made a promising start. By Jason Deans. (more)

Tennant to star in Einstein drama for BBC2
From The Stage. Posted May 18 2007, 5.15pm
(more)

I'm out: Dragons' Den drops Richard Farleigh
From Media Guardian. Posted May 18 2007, 1.00am
12.15pm: Dragons' Den panellist Richard Farleigh has been dropped from the next series of the BBC2 show. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Long Way Round sequel to air on BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted May 15 2007, 1.00am
8am: BBC2 has snapped up the sequel to Sky One's motorcycle travelogue Long Way Round. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TV ratings: May 7
From Media Guardian. Posted May 8 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: BBC2's coverage of John Higgins' triumph in the World Snooker Championship attracted 3.9m viewers. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TV ratings: May 3
From Media Guardian. Posted May 4 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: BBC2 sitcom Roman's Empire drew fewer viewers than ITV2's Katie and Peter: the Next Chapter. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TV ratings: April 28
From Media Guardian. Posted April 30 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: One-off special The Return of 'Allo 'Allo! on BBC2 gave ITV1's Millionaire a run for its money. By Ben Dowell. (more)

David Suchet for Maxwell drama
From Digital Spy. Posted April 24 2007, 2.50pm
David Suchet will play corrupt media tycoon Robert Maxwell in a new BBC2 drama. (more)

Andrew Davies to adapt Speak for England for BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted April 20 2007, 1.00am
8am: Andrew Davies is to adapt satirical novel Speak for England for BBC2. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Actress Walters to play Whitehouse in BBC2 drama Filth
From The Stage. Posted April 18 2007, 2.30pm
(more)

US Henry VIII drama to air on BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted April 16 2007, 1.00am
10.45am: BBC2 has won the rights to lavish American mini-series The Tudors. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Terrestrial TV ratings: April 1
From Media Guardian. Posted April 2 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: Louis Theroux's latest foray into crackpot America proved a ratings hit for BBC2, attracting 4.3m viewers. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

BBC2 to air Alistair Campbell diaries series
From Media Guardian. Posted March 22 2007, 12.00am
3.45pm: BBC2 is to show a factual series on the diaries of former government spin-doctor Alastair Campbell. By Tara Conlan. (more)

BBC2 show to help independent shops
From Media Guardian. Posted March 22 2007, 12.00am
8am: BBC2 is to lend a hand to independent boutiques in a show starring retail expert Mary Portas. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

Newsnight appoints Crick as new political editor
From Press Gazette. Posted March 21 2007, 3.21pm
Michael Crick has been appointed political editor of BBC2's Newsnight, it was announced today. (more)

Analogue switch-off set for October
From Media Guardian. Posted March 15 2007, 12.00am
10am update: The BBC2 analogue signal will be switched off in Whitehaven on October 17 in the first stage of the UK's digital switchover. By Jason Deans (more)

TV ratings: March 13
From Media Guardian. Posted March 13 2007, 12.00am
TV overnights: Panorama's new weekday outing on BBC1 couldn't get past BBC2's MasterChef Goes Large. By John Plunkett. (more)

TV ratings: March 4
From Media Guardian. Posted March 5 2007, 12.00am
TV overnights: BBC2's Top Gear ended its current run in style on Sunday. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

TV ratings: February 22
From Media Guardian. Posted February 23 2007, 12.00am
TV overnights: Graham Norton's new chatshow debuted modestly last night on BBC2. By Stephen Brook. (more)

Parish to lead BBC2's city scandal drama
From The Stage. Posted February 19 2007, 3.45pm
(more)

BBC2 rolls out new idents
From Media Guardian. Posted February 16 2007, 12.00am
1pm: BBC2 is retiring its fluffy '2' promotional clips in favour of idents based on the idea of a 'window on the world'. By Mark Sweney. (more)

TV ratings: February 12
From Media Guardian. Posted February 12 2007, 12.00am
TV overnights: BBC2's new legal reality show The Verdict launched with 2m viewers. By Jason Deans. (more)

TV ratings: February 7
From Media Guardian. Posted February 8 2007, 12.00am
TV overnights: BBC2 show Dragons' Den has returned for a new series with just over 3 million viewers. By Jason Deans. (more)

Toby Stephens to star in BBC2 Wild West drama-doc
From The Stage. Posted February 7 2007, 12.45pm
(more)

Jane Root promoted in Discovery reshuffle
From Media Guardian. Posted February 6 2007, 12.00am
Former BBC2 controller becomes president and general manager of the Discovery Channel and takes charge of the Science Channel. By John Plunkett. (more)

Twelve angry celebs
From Media Guardian. Posted January 13 2007, 12.00am
Controversial reality courtroom show The Verdict will be broadcast on BBC2 next month. Stuart Jeffries reports from the set. (more)

TV ratings: January 11
From Media Guardian. Posted January 12 2007, 12.00am
TV overnights: BBC2's The Truth about Food came within a whisker of beating Celebrity Big Brother. By Jason Deans. (more)

Monkey goes to BBC2's World Professional Darts Championship
From Media Guardian. Posted January 11 2007, 12.00am
A trip to the BBC's world darts championship is a bit like an episode of Life on Mars. (more)

BBC rules New Year's Eve
From Media Guardian. Posted January 2 2007, 12.00am
TV overnights: BBC1 and BBC2 dominated the ratings on New Year's Eve. By Jason Deans. (more)

TV ratings: December 28
From Media Guardian. Posted December 29 2006, 12.00am
TV overnights: Dracula on BBC1 and a kids' TV nostalgia fest on BBC2 relegated ITV1 to third place. By Stephen Brook. (more)

Absolutely Vyle: Saunders takes role as TV host
From Media Guardian. Posted December 13 2006, 12.00am
Jennifer Saunders is to play a daytime confessional TV host in a BBC2 comedy next year. By Lee Glendinning. (more)

Jeffery Archer joins jury for BBC2 reality show The Verdict
From Media Guardian. Posted December 12 2006, 12.00am
Jeffrey Archer is to join a celebrity court jury for a BBC2 reality show. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Jerffery Archer joins jury for BBC2 reality show The Verdict
From Media Guardian. Posted December 12 2006, 12.00am
11am: Jeffrey Archer is to join a celebrity court jury for a BBC2 reality show. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

BBC requesting more money for Dutch cable delivery
From Media Network Weblog. Posted December 11 2006, 9.25am
The BBC is looking to make far more money from the provision of BBC1 and BBC2 to cable systems in the Netherlands and Belgium. Up to now, the cable operators have paid an amount to cover copyright issues, as part of an agreement covering all foreign TV channels provided on cable. But with effect from 1st [...] (more)

TV ratings: December 7
From Media Guardian. Posted December 8 2006, 12.00am
TV overnights: BBC2's new Monty Don show almost beat the final instalment of BBC1 drama The State Within. By Jason Deans. (more)

TV ratings: Nov 28
From Media Guardian. Posted November 29 2006, 12.00am
TV overnights: The controversial tsunami drama gave BBC2 a ratings win over BBC1 with 2.3 million viewers last night. By John Plunkett. (more)

BBC2 to air US drama hit Heroes
From Media Guardian. Posted November 24 2006, 12.00am
11.15am: BBC2 has snapped up US drama Heroes, one of this year's surprise hits. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

TV ratings: November 23
From Media Guardian. Posted November 24 2006, 12.00am
TV overnights: BBC1's political thriller The State Within sank to a new low last night, allowing BBC2 to triumph. By Stephen Brook. (more)

BBC films documentary on long-running farm soap
From Media Guardian. Posted November 20 2006, 12.00am
2pm: It has tackled Bob Dylan, Dennis Potter and Elvis Presley's addiction to burgers. Now BBC2's Arena is to take on The Archers. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC strike dents live news
From Media Guardian. Posted November 15 2006, 12.00am
8am: BBC1's 10 O'Clock News and BBC2's Newsnight scaled back their live reporting last night following the start of a 24-hour strike by technicians. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Bennett and Fry among British icons in BBC2 poll
From The Stage. Posted November 13 2006, 5.30pm
(more)

TV listings: November 9
From Media Guardian. Posted November 10 2006, 12.00am
TV overnights: BBC1 conspiracy drama The State Within shed more than 2 million viewers compared with its launch episode, with BBC2's Catherine Tate Show being the main beneficiary. By Jason Deans. (more)

Interview: Dragons Den's Doug Richard
From Media Guardian. Posted November 9 2006, 12.00am
Doug Richard has breathed fire at would-be entrepreneurs on BBC2's Dragons' Den, but has also helped them and others get started. By Sean Hargrave. (more)

The secret of good comedy writing
From The Independent. Posted November 6 2006, 12.00am
n an industry strewn with bumper egos and bust-ups, back-stabbing and creative differences, Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, together with David Mitchell and Robert Webb, have mastered the intricacies of a functional creative relationship, and come up with what seems like a winning formula. Mitchell, with his side-parting and middle-aged tendencies, and Webb, the blond with slight goblin-like features, are the front men. They are the public face of Channel 4's Peep Show and BBC2's That Mitchell and Webb Look. (more)

TV ratings: November 2
From Media Guardian. Posted November 3 2006, 12.00am
TV overnights: BBC1's new conspiracy thriller The State Within debuted with 5.7 million viewers, while The Catherine Tate Show on BBC2 lost 700,000 viewers from its launch last week. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Madonna defends baby adoption in interview
From Media Guardian. Posted November 2 2006, 12.00am
Madonna accused David Banda's birth family of abandoning him in an interview with Kirsty Wark on BBC2's Newsnight. By Jeevan Vasagar. (more)

Madonna on BBC2 to defend adoption
From Media Guardian. Posted November 1 2006, 12.00am
Madonna gave her first British interview over her controversial adoption of an African baby to Newsnight's Kirsty Wark. By Jeevan Vasagar. (more)

This Life: Life goes on
From The Independent. Posted October 29 2006, 12.00am
Up close it looks like a normal, if rather high-powered, literary event. We're in the hall of the British Library. On stage is Mark Lawson, the nation's undisputed master of cultural ceremonies, holding aloft a new book and chatting breezily to the thirtysomething celebrity author sitting alongside him. In the audience, a hundred or so metropolitan sophisticates listen keenly to the discussion, occasionally raising their hands to ask questions. And yet, the author sitting on the podium is no household name, at least not in this life, but Edgar Cook, better known to you and me as Egg, the character played by Andrew Lincoln in This Life. And some of those faces in the audience look familiar: the tall, slim, Glaswegian woman who asks a question about "post-feminism", the earnest Welshman in the front row enquiring about gay representation, and the aloof, monied playboy at the back. For I'm on the set of this Christmas's most hotly anticipated reunion, BBC2's 90-minute drama special - This Life: Ten Years On. (more)

TV ratings: October 26
From Media Guardian. Posted October 26 2006, 1.00am
TV overnights: Torchwood transferred successfully from BBC3 to BBC2 last night, attracting nearly 3 million viewers. By Jason Deans. (more)

Raymond Blanc set for new BBC2 reality show
From Media Guardian. Posted October 24 2006, 1.00am
1.30pm: Chef Raymond Blanc is making a bid for Gordon Ramsay-style TV fame with a new BBC2 reality show in which nine couples must open a restaurant. By Jason Deans. (more)

TV ratings: October 10
From Media Guardian. Posted October 11 2006, 1.00am
TV overnights: Rutting red deer on BBC2 proved a bigger draw than ITV1's Trinny and Susannah. By Julia Day. (more)

TV ratings: October 3
From Media Guardian. Posted October 3 2006, 1.00am
TV overnights: BBC2 wildlife show Autumnwatch debuted with an impressive 3.8m viewers. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

'Top Gear' presenter in 300mph jet-car crash
From The Independent. Posted September 21 2006, 1.06am
Richard Hammond, the television presenter for BBC2's Top Gear, was in a stable condition last night after a jet car he was driving crashed during a land-speed record attempt. (more)

This Life resurrected
From Media Guardian. Posted September 20 2006, 1.00am
A decade after it hooked legions of fans, BBC2 is to catch up with the lives of Milly, Egg, Miles, Anna and Warren in a 90-minute special of This Life. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

TV ratings: September 13
From Media Guardian. Posted September 14 2006, 1.00am
TV overnights: BBC1 may have found an answer to its Wednesday night woes with a show half-inched from BBC2 - genealogy format Who Do You Think You Are?. By Jason Deans. (more)

TV ratings: September 11
From Media Guardian. Posted September 12 2006, 1.00am
TV overnights: The last part of The Path to 9/11 pulled in 2.2m viewers for BBC2. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

TV ratings: September 7
From Media Guardian. Posted September 7 2006, 1.00am
TV overnights: Barbara Windsor helped Who Do You Think You Are? make the successful transition from BBC2 to BBC1. By Tara Conlan. (more)

Primetime move for BBC2's Return to Tuscany
From The Stage. Posted August 17 2006, 4.30pm
(more)

Louis Theroux back on TV
From Media Guardian. Posted August 11 2006, 1.00am
8am: Louis Theroux is to return to TV with a film set in Las Vegas as part of his new series for BBC2. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

TV ratings: August 3
From Media Guardian. Posted August 4 2006, 1.00am
TV overnights: BBC2's new lineup had mixed success, with Dragons' Den scoring well while comedies disappointed. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

BBC2 snaps up Kath & Kim movie
From The Stage. Posted August 1 2006, 2.15pm
BBC2 has acquired a television movie special of popular Australian series Kath & Kim, which follows the life a mother and daughter in suburbia. (more)

Will The Apprentice be fired?
From Media Guardian. Posted July 28 2006, 1.00am
8am: The revelation that BBC2 has signed up for only one more series has fuelled speculation The Apprentice's future may be in doubt. By Ben Dowell. (more)

My Mentor: Peter Salmon on Alan Yentob
From The Independent. Posted July 24 2006, 12.00am
Alan Yentob, for all his infuriating ways, including his chronic lateness, name-dropping and often intimidating manner, has been quite simply a beacon of inspiration. During his time as controller he reinvented and reinvigorated BBC2. (more)

Stephen Fry: my battle with manic depression
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2006, 8.16am
Stephen Fry has spoken of his battle with manic depression for a new BBC2 show he hopes will break the taboos surrounding mental health. By Owen Gibson. (more)

'I couldn't meet the gaze of anyone I loved' - Stephen Fry tells of his suicide attempts
From The Independent. Posted July 21 2006, 12.00am
In two revealing films for BBC2, Stephen Fry is to give the most frank account yet of the manic depression that led him to twice attempt suicide. (more)

Stars join Extras for BBC2's autumn schedule
From The Stage. Posted July 20 2006, 6.00pm
Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Ronnie Corbett and David Bowie have been confirmed to feature in the new series of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's Extras. (more)

Fry tackles mental health for BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted July 20 2006, 2.14pm
A Stephen Fry documentary about manic depression will be one of the highlights of BBC2's autumn season. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Fry tackles mental health for 2
From Media Guardian. Posted July 20 2006, 12.06pm
10.30am: A documentary about manic depression made by Stephen Fry will be one of the highlights of BBC2's autumn season unveiled today. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TV ratings: July 18
From Media Guardian. Posted July 19 2006, 1.07pm
TV overnights: ITV1's Love Island sunk to a new low when it was beaten by BBC2's Grumpy Old Holidays. By John Plunkett. (more)

BBC revives TV series to rescue heritage sites
From Media Guardian. Posted July 11 2006, 8.17am
Scotland's oldest surviving purpose-built lighthouse is among the buildings selected for the next series of BBC2 Restoration. By Owen Gibson and Maev Kennedy. (more)

Now 'Restoration' aims to save our rural heritage
From The Independent. Posted July 11 2006, 12.00am
An Edwardian swimming baths in Manchester and a timber-framed school set against the tower blocks of Birmingham have already benefited from the publicity it generated. Now, back after a year's break, Restoration, the BBC2 series that has raised millions of pounds to rescue crumbling buildings, has a new focus - the village. (more)

Newsnight's car stunt sparks police inquiry
From Media Guardian. Posted July 9 2006, 1.40pm
What began as a lighthearted journalistic stunt by BBC2's Newsnight has resulted in viewer complaints, a motion in parliament and a police inquiry. By David Smith. (more)

TV ratings: June 19
From Media Guardian. Posted June 20 2006, 1.36pm
TV overnights: Steve Coogan's new comedy Saxondale made a respectable debut on BBC2, pulling in 2 million viewers. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

'3pm ladies' talk art for BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2006, 8.10am
8am: BBC2's The Culture Show has unveiled its answer to the 3am girls - the 3pm ladies. By Ben Dowell. (more)

BBC2 bags O'Briain for 'life-changing' chatshow
From The Stage. Posted June 7 2006, 4.00pm
The BBC is continuing its search to find the next big chatshow host by signing up comedian and Mock the Week talent Dara O'Briain for a twist on the traditional format titled Turn Back Time. (more)

TV ratings: June 1
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2006, 1.08pm
TV overnights: Springwatch with Bill Oddie, one of BBC2's surprise hits of last year, has performed even more strongly on its return this week, attracting nearly 4m viewers last night. By Jason Deans. (more)

'God slots' embrace the spirit of the age
From The Independent. Posted May 22 2006, 12.00am
In May of last year, an episode of BBC2's religious "reality" series The Monastery beat ITV's Celebrity Love Island in the ratings. Having pushed the boundaries with food, sex, and sport, it was only a matter of time before producers gave faith the reality treatment as well. (more)

Angry Coogan back on BBC
From Media Guardian. Posted May 17 2006, 1.34pm
12.30pm: Steve Coogan is to return to BBC2 as an ex-roadie with anger-management issues. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TV ratings: May 10
From Media Guardian. Posted May 11 2006, 12.17pm
TV overnights: Nearly 6 million viewers tuned in for the finale of The Apprentice, the BBC2 series' best audience. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

Real winner of The Apprentice is the BBC
From Media Guardian. Posted May 11 2006, 11.30am
Quiet achiever Michelle Dewberry triumphed in all-female final of the BBC2's hit show The Apprentice. By Owen Gibson. (more)

'Beauty and the Badger' battle for the chance to be Sugar's apprentice
From The Independent. Posted May 10 2006, 12.05am
They have been dubbed "Beauty and the Badger". Tonight, viewers will find out which of the two finalists in the BBC2 show The Apprentice will hear Sir Alan Sugar utter the immortal words "You're hired". (more)

Making waves: How do we view sex on TV?
From The Independent. Posted May 10 2006, 12.00am
It's the shot of the tube of lubricating gel that may well prove the final straw for some newspapers. The offending item appears at a climactic moment of what the screenwriter Andrew Davies is already calling "the bushes scene", a feverish sexual encounter near the beginning of BBC2's three-part dramatisation of Alan Hollinghurst's Man Booker Prize-winning novel, (more)

Dimbleby explores Russia for BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted May 8 2006, 5.15pm
Jonathan Dimbleby is set to present a major new factual series for the BBC following the end of his long-running ITV political interview show. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

TV listings: May 3
From Media Guardian. Posted May 4 2006, 12.43pm
TV overnights: The Apprentice got its biggest audience so far for BBC2 as Sir Alan Sugar fired former footballer Ansell Henry and headhunter Paul Tulip. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

TV listings: May 1
From Media Guardian. Posted May 2 2006, 1.36pm
TV overnights: Nearly 3 million people stayed up until 1am to watch Graeme Dott clinch the World Snooker Championship on BBC2. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

Jones plucked from Dragons' Den
From Media Guardian. Posted April 27 2006, 6.51pm
ITV has signed up entrepreneur Peter Jones, star of BBC2's Dragons' Den, and plans to turn him into a major face of the channel alongside Simon Cowell and Ant and Dec. By Owen Gibson (more)

TV ratings: April 26
From Media Guardian. Posted April 27 2006, 12.32pm
TV overnights: Sir Alan Sugar finally came to his sen

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