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BBC Four - news archive

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

Sport on TV: Harsh lessons at Bath's school of hard knocks
From The Independent. Posted June 29 2008, 12.00am
They say you should never go back. Not least because you might not recognise anyone. This is especially so at top-flight sports clubs. 'What Happened Next: The Rugby Club' (BBC4, Tuesday) looked back at David Stafford's series about Bath's first season as a professional outfit. Few if any of the original protagonists are still there. After the decision to go pro, most of them found themselves heading for an early bath. (more)

Sport on TV: Old Tricky still has plenty to teach the new dogs
From The Independent. Posted June 22 2008, 12.00am
"Tricky" Russell, the former impresario of the Highgate greyhound track in South Yorkshire, reflects on the decline in interest in the sport. "There's no new blood coming through," he said on 'The Flapping Track' (BBC4, Thursday). "Young lads are more into cars now." They go faster, and they don't poo on the concourse so that Tricky has to get his shovel out. (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)

Multichannel TV ratings: Almost 1m watch Thatcher drama
From Media Guardian. Posted June 13 2008, 10.27am
BBC4's Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley was the most watched multichannel show in the 9pm slot, attracting almost 1 million viewers. By Natalie Whelan (more)

BBC4 rapped by Ofcom over 'unfair' editing
From Media Guardian. Posted June 9 2008, 2.23pm
BBC4 has been reprimanded by Ofcom for 'unfair' editing in an edition of its documentary Crisis at the Castle broadcast in June 2007. By Ben Dowell (more)

Fry to offer thoughts on USA for BBC4
From Digital Spy. Posted May 31 2008, 8.44am
Stephen Fry is making a series inspired by modern America for BBC Four. (more)

BBC4 to air 'Mad Men' season two in 2009
From Digital Spy. Posted May 28 2008, 4.31pm
BBC Four will air the second season of critically-acclaimed US drama Mad Men next year. (more)

BBC4 snaps up second series of Mad Men
From Media Guardian. Posted May 28 2008, 12.22pm
BBC4 is to show the second series of stylised US advertising drama Mad Men. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Award-winning Mad Men to return to BBC Four
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted May 28 2008, 12.00pm
The BBC announces today that Mad Men the sexy stylised and provocative drama that has won multiple awards including the Golden Globe for Best Television Drama Series will return to BBC Four for series two. (more)

William Leith on the weekend's TV
From Media Guardian. Posted May 18 2008, 11.03pm
William Leith on Mad Men (BBC4) and Match of the Day Live (BBC1) (more)

BBC Vision celebrates 100% subtitling
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted May 7 2008, 10.30am
BBC Vision has confirmed that it has reached its target of subtitling 100 of programmes on its main channelsBBC One BBC Two BBC Three BBC Four CBeebies CBBC and BBC News. (more)

Sport on TV: The Republic still carries torch for class struggle
From The Independent. Posted May 4 2008, 12.00am
In 'Chinese School' (BBC4, Tuesday) we are told that "sports days really are like a small Olympic Games". With excitement building as the Beijing Games draw near – and nary a thought for Tibet or Darfur or torch relays – a thousand athletes take part in the three-day event at Haiyang Middle School in the rural province of Anhui, and there's even a proper opening ceremony. But the obvious difference from the real thing is the school motto, "Be honest". In the Olympic village, such principles won't catch on. (more)

BBC4 Medieval 'Mind Trip' TV promo
From UTalk Marketing. Posted April 7 2008, 2.20pm
New historical season (more)

'Steptoe' drama sets BBC Four audience high
From Digital Spy. Posted March 20 2008, 4.57pm
Biographical drama The Curse of Steptoe earns BBC Four its highest ever audience with 1.4 million viewers. (more)

Tibet campaigners criticise BBC
From Media Guardian. Posted March 5 2008, 4.43pm
Campaigners against China's occupation of Tibet have criticised a new BBC4 documentary. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

'Mad Men' impress on BBC Four debut
From Digital Spy. Posted March 3 2008, 1.28pm
New US drama Mad Men draws a strong audience for its debut on BBC Four - beating the first Dexter. (more)

Thatcher doc turns viewers to BBC4
From Digital Spy. Posted February 26 2008, 4.26pm
Michael Portillo's documentary about Margaret Thatcher gives BBC Four an above-average audience. (more)

BBC to air Verity Lambert tribute night
From Media Guardian. Posted February 25 2008, 7.00am
BBC4 is to show a special tribute night of programmes and a profile honouring the work of drama producer Verity Lambert. By Tara Conlan (more)

Michael Portillo: My Life in Media
From The Independent. Posted February 25 2008, 12.00am
Michael Portillo, 54, is a broadcaster and regular commentator on BBC1's This Week. He made his name as a Conservative MP and minister and was one of Margaret Thatcher's keenest admirers and champion of her poll tax. Under John Major he became the Defence Secretary. Tonight he rekindles his admiration for the Iron Lady on BBC4, in Portillo on Thatcher: The Lady's Not For Spurning, at 10pm. (more)

Marshall and James to star in new BBC4 medieval drama
From The Stage. Posted February 22 2008, 4.35pm
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BBC4 to air 'Mad Men' this winter
From Digital Spy. Posted February 22 2008, 11.06am
BBC Four will air Mad Men - the latest series from Sopranos creator Matthew Weiner - this winter. (more)

BBC gets medieval for new season
From Media Guardian. Posted February 22 2008, 6.59am
BBC4 is to follow its Edwardian season with a look at all things medieval in a series of new shows that includes a drama starring Kris Marshall and Geraldine James. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Sport on TV: From kosher Russia with love for the American Dreamer
From The Independent. Posted February 17 2008, 12.00am
Heard the one about the Russian boxer, the rabbi's brother and the American dream? It's in the best possible taste. "Orthodox Stance" (BBC4, Tuesday) by the cut-above "Storyville" strand, told the tale of Dmitriy Salita, the son of Ukrainian émigrés, who is working his way towards a world-title shot in the US while strictly observing his orthodox Jewish faith. (more)

Walliams to play Frankie Howerd in BBC4 biopic
From The Stage. Posted December 17 2007, 3.50pm
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Walliams to play Frankie Howerd
From Media Guardian. Posted December 14 2007, 4.58pm
The BBC has confirmed that Little Britain comedian David Walliams will play Frankie Howerd in a BBC4 biopic of the Up Pompeii star. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

BBC4 to show Steptoe and Son biopic
From Media Guardian. Posted November 27 2007, 6.14pm
BBC4 is to screen a drama based on the actors who played Steptoe and Son as part of a season of shows about renowned British entertainers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

BBC4 makes Frankie Howerd biopic
From The Stage. Posted November 27 2007, 2.15pm
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Stott to star in BBC4 Hancock drama
From The Stage. Posted November 23 2007, 1.05pm
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'Fanny Hill' is most-watched BBC4 show
From Digital Spy. Posted October 23 2007, 3.03pm
The first part of raunchy period drama Fanny Hill becomes BBC Four's most watched programme. (more)

Multichannel ratings: October 22
From Media Guardian. Posted October 23 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: The television adaptation of a raunchy 18th century novel last night won BBC4 its biggest ever audience. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons. (more)

BBC Two and Four could suffer biggest cuts
From Digital Spy. Posted September 27 2007, 12.18pm
Reports suggest BBC Two and BBC Four will be the hardest hit in the forthcoming round of BBC budget cuts. (more)

BBC4 lines up drama classics for autumn schedule
From The Stage. Posted September 25 2007, 12.30pm
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BBC4 season to back Fanny Hill
From Media Guardian. Posted September 25 2007, 1.00am
8am: BBC4 is to air a season dedicated to saucy side of the 18th century this autumn, centred on its Fanny Hill adaptation. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TELEVISION
From Financial Times. Posted September 22 2007, 3.00am
How to be a Good Prime Minister (BBC4 Saturday 7.00pm) is an odd hybrid: a blend of serious political history and low-brow list show. Andrew Marr and his expert... (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)

BBC3 and BBC4 to stay on air, says trust
From Media Guardian. Posted September 19 2007, 1.00am
5.30pm update: The BBC Trust has ruled out the closure of the corporation's digital channels - but has told managers they must make cuts. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

BBC execs criticise calls for channel closures
From Media Guardian. Posted September 5 2007, 1.00am
1pm: BBC Vision executives have hit back at calls for BBC3 or BBC4 to be axed. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Save BBC4
From Financial Times. Posted September 4 2007, 3.00am
John Humphrys, presenter of Radio 4's Today programme, has little doubt where the axe should fall in the BBC's search for cuts. Not on Today, naturally. To avoid a... (more)

Humphrys: BBC cost-cutters should axe new channels
From The Independent. Posted September 3 2007, 7.10am
When they were launched, BBC Three and BBC Four were hailed as being at the heart of the corporation's strategy for the digital age, offering, it was claimed, choice and quality to a new generation of viewers. (more)

Humphreys: BBC cost-cutters should axe new channels
From The Independent. Posted September 3 2007, 1.00am
When they were launched, BBC Three and BBC Four were hailed as being at the heart of the corporation's strategy for the digital age, offering, it was claimed, choice and quality to a new generation of viewers. (more)

'Fry night' a hit for BBC Four
From Digital Spy. Posted August 21 2007, 10.58am
Two nights of TV celebrating the 50th birthday of Stephen Fry prove to be a ratings hit for BBC Four. (more)

BBC to air Dance Britannia - a history of British dance
From Media Guardian. Posted August 10 2007, 1.00am
8am: BBC4 has commissioned a three-part documentary series, Dance Britannia, to form the centrepiece of its autumn season. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Steadman, Speer and Bond unite in BBC4's Fanny Hill
From The Stage. Posted July 13 2007, 12.30pm
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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)

The Thick Of It - BBC4's naturalistic political comedy - is back for a new special
From Media Guardian. Posted June 30 2007, 1.00am
The Thick Of It - BBC4's naturalistic political comedy - is back for a new special. Michael Holden saw the show come together. (more)

Laverne lined up as MGEITF awards host
From Digital Spy. Posted June 18 2007, 12.48pm
UKTV Gold, Sky One, BBC Three, BBC Four, MORE4 and ITV2 form the non-terrestrial shortlist for the event's Channel of the Year Awards. (more)

Edinburgh TV award shortlists announced
From Media Guardian. Posted June 18 2007, 1.00am
UKTV Gold, Sky One and BBC4 have been shortlisted for non-terrestrial channel of the year at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh TV Festival. By Mark Sweney. (more)

BBC4 chronicles classical music
From Media Guardian. Posted June 11 2007, 1.00am
10.45am: BBC4 is to air a landmark series about British classical music. By Ben Dowell. (more)

TV ratings: February 14 - multichannel
From Media Guardian. Posted May 15 2007, 1.00am
TV overnights: Ian Hislop's scouting documentary on BBC4 surprisingly drew more viewers than the catwalk models on Living TV. By John Plunkett. (more)

Wallace to play Marie Lloyd in BBC4 drama
From The Stage. Posted April 20 2007, 5.00pm
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Entwistle given stint as BBC4 controller
From The Stage. Posted April 18 2007, 2.30pm
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BBC Four controller takes six months off
From Digital Spy. Posted April 18 2007, 12.28pm
Head of TV current affairs, George Entwistle, will become acting controller from May. (more)

Acting Controller of BBC Four Announced
From Merry Media. Posted April 18 2007, 12.14pm
Head of TV Current Affairs, George Entwistle, has been announced acting Controller of BBC Four for six months, from the beginning of May.. (more)

George Entwistle appointed acting controller of BBC4
From Media Guardian. Posted April 18 2007, 1.00am
11.45am: BBC head of TV current affairs George Entwistle has been appointed acting controller of BBC4. By Tara Conlan. (more)

George Entwistle announced as acting Controller at BBC Four
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted April 18 2007, 12.00am
Head of TV Current Affairs George Entwistle has been announced acting Controller of BBC Four for six months from the beginning of May. (more)

BBC4 buys in more foreign-language drama
From Media Guardian. Posted April 4 2007, 1.00am
8am: BBC4 has bought an Italian-language drama as well as the second run of French thriller Spiral. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

New Comedies on BBC Four
From Merry Media. Posted February 17 2007, 10.56am
Brand new comedies on BBC Four, with Freezing, HR, Lift and Stuck, see the funny side of being in a Tight Spot, with star performances by Hugh Bonneville, Tom Hollander, Jonathan Pryce, Douglas Hodge, Siobhan Redmond and David Gillespie.. (more)

Reichenbach Falls - Drama for BBC Four
From Merry Media. Posted February 14 2007, 11.15am
Jim Buchan and Jack Harvey were friends. But that was a long time ago. In Reichenbach Falls, the lives of these estranged men are thrown together again, then blown apart. A BBC Four drama in which Kirsty Wark makes a cameo appearance.. (more)

Freeview take-up will increase grey viewers
From Digital Spy. Posted January 26 2007, 2.51pm
The next two years will see more older viewers switch to Freeview, with BBC4 and ITV3 likely to benefit the most. (more)

BBC Four World Cinema Award 2007
From Merry Media. Posted January 26 2007, 11.20am
The Death Of Mr Lazarescu (Moartea Domnului Lazarescu) has been named the winner of the BBC Four World Cinema Award 2007.. (more)

Janice Hadlow in plea for 'serious TV'
From Media Guardian. Posted January 23 2007, 12.00am
2pm: The controller of BBC4, Janice Hadlow, is to call for more ideas-driven 'serious television'. By Owen Gibson. (more)

BBC4 announces line-up for early 2007
From Digital Spy. Posted January 18 2007, 1.32pm
Ex- (more)

Jessie Wallace Stars in BBC Four Drama
From Merry Media. Posted January 18 2007, 2.14am
Jessie Wallace is to star in a new one-off 80 minute drama for BBC Four called Marie Lloyd - Queen of the Music Hall, which is part of BBC Four's Edwardian season.. (more)

Period drama man Davies pens BBC4 two-parter
From The Stage. Posted January 17 2007, 3.15pm
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BBC Four Winter/Spring 2007
From Merry Media. Posted January 17 2007, 2.48pm
BBC Four unveils its Winter/Spring highlights, looking at British society today as well as looking back at a time not so different to now, with a major new season of programmes, The Edwardians – People Like Us?. (more)

BBC4 unveils winter and spring lineup
From Media Guardian. Posted January 17 2007, 12.00am
Jessie Wallace and Kelvin MacKenzie both feature in BBC4's winter and spring 2007 lineup. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

The Thick Of It returns for one-off outing
From Media Guardian. Posted January 17 2007, 12.00am
2.15pm: The Thick Of It is returning to BBC4 for an hour-long special later this year. By Tara Conlan. (more)

Video: 'Don't Watch That, Watch This' clip
From Digital Spy. Posted December 11 2006, 4.39pm
Feast your eyes upon some wickedly funny clips from the stonking BBC4 comedy show. (more)

Hugh Bonneville stars in BBC4's The Diary of a Nobody
From Media Guardian. Posted December 8 2006, 12.00am
8am: Hugh Bonneville is to star in a BBC4 adaptation of the 19th century novel The Diary of a Nobody. By Tara Conlan. (more)

TV ratings: October 31 - multichannel
From Media Guardian. Posted November 1 2006, 12.00am
TV overnights: Plenty of things were going bump in the night on Halloween multichannel TV, with Living TV's Most Haunted Live and BBC4's The Haunted Airman among the most watched offerings. By Jason Deans. (more)

The Thick Of It heads to US
From Media Guardian. Posted October 30 2006, 12.00am
The creator of award-winning US sitcom Arrested Development is to develop a pilot for an American version of BBC4 political satire The Thick of It. By Jason Deans. (more)

BBC gives 'Lead Balloon' to BBC Two
From Digital Spy. Posted October 12 2006, 1.38pm
Jack Dee comedy series Lead Balloon moves from BBC Four to BBC Two thanks to high ratings. (more)

Spike Lee's Katrina film to air on BBC4
From Media Guardian. Posted September 25 2006, 1.00am
BBC4 has acquired the exclusive UK television rights to film-maker Spike Lee's feature-length documentary on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

BBC Four unveils ambitious historical autumn schedule
From Brand Republic. Posted September 13 2006, 11.09am
LONDON - BBC Four is to debut two major culinary-themed period dramas in its forthcoming autumn schedule, with 'Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management', 'Fanny Cradock' and an adaptation of Jean Rhys' classic novel 'Wide Sargasso Sea' among the highlights. (more)

Langham misses Thick of It Christmas special
From Media Guardian. Posted September 13 2006, 1.00am
9.45am: BBC4 is going ahead with a Christmas special of The Thick of It without Chris Langham, who has been charged with making indecent images of children. By Jason Deans. (more)

Corporation comedy push continues on BBC4
From The Stage. Posted September 12 2006, 7.00pm
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BBC4 cooks up autumn treats
From Media Guardian. Posted September 12 2006, 1.00am
10.30am: BBC4 is continuing its single drama offerings this autumn, with a lineup that includes fictional versions of the lives of Mrs Beeton and Fanny Cradock plus seasons devoted to science fiction and anthropology. By Jason Deans. (more)

BBC Knowledge brand to be revived
From Digital Spy. Posted September 7 2006, 5.59pm
BBC Four predecessor BBC Knowledge is to make a comeback as one of a bouquet of new BBC Worldwide channels. (more)

Scottish Drama for BBC Four - The Acid Test
From Merry Media. Posted September 6 2006, 3.14pm
Alec Newman, Alistair Mackenzie and Nina Sosanya head up the cast in the one-off crime drama The Acid Test, written by James Mavor (Split Second) and based on a short story by acclaimed Scots crime author Ian Rankin. Set in the heart of Edinburgh and featuring the underbelly of the capital city, The Acid Test is a psychological thriller. It tells the story of hard-boiled detective Jim Buchan - played by Alec Newman (Angel, Murder Rooms, Enterprise) - whose life starts to unravel as he investigates a 100 year old murder case in the Scottish capital.. (more)

Kudos to make Wide Sargasso Sea for BBC4
From Media Guardian. Posted July 7 2006, 11.32am
10.30am: BBC Wales has commissioned indy producer Kudos to make a BBC4 TV movie based on Jean Rhys's novel Wide Sargasso Sea. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Screen Wipe to return for two more series
From Media Guardian. Posted June 15 2006, 8.14am
Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker's TV review show Screen Wipe is to return for two further series on BBC4. By Jason Deans. (more)

Screen Wipe to return
From Media Guardian. Posted June 15 2006, 8.14am
8am: Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker's TV review show Screen Wipe is to return for two further series on BBC4. By Jason Deans. (more)

Screen Wipe gets two more series
From Media Guardian. Posted June 15 2006, 8.14am
8am: Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker's TV review show Screen Wipe is to return for two further series on BBC4. By Jason Deans. (more)

Big Brother v Laurel and Hardy for channel of the year
From Media Guardian. Posted June 6 2006, 3.54pm
3pm: Big Brother will do battle with Laurel and Hardy at this year's MediaGuardian Edinburgh TV Festival after E4 and BBC4 were nominated for the channel of the year award. By John Plunkett. (more)

WI gets BBC4 treatment
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2006, 9.13am
8am: The Women's Institute is to it take centre-stage in a new BBC documentary series. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Silent Clowns a multichannel hit for BBC4
From Media Guardian. Posted June 1 2006, 1.36pm
Paul Merton's documentary about silent film comedian Buster Keaton is digital arts and culture channel BBC4's most popular factual show, attracting nearly 500,000 viewers. By Jason Deans. (more)

BBC4 goes mad for science
From Media Guardian. Posted May 12 2006, 8.20am
8am: BBC4 will maintain its highbrow credentials with a three-part series on quantum physics. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

BBC star on indecency charge
From Media Guardian. Posted May 11 2006, 4.20pm
3.15pm update: Chris Langham, the award-winning star of BBC4 political satire The Thick of It, was today charged with making indecent images of children. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

Thick of It star on indecency charge
From Media Guardian. Posted May 11 2006, 4.20pm
Chris Langham, -winning star of BBC4 satire The Thick of It, has been charged with making indecent images of children. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

Arts broadcasting: BBC's position comes under threat
From The Independent. Posted May 8 2006, 12.00am
If asked to guess which UK television channel recently marked Mozart's 250th Birthday by running a live feed of Sir Simon Rattle conducting the Berlin Philharmonic and commissioned a 10-part documentary series on the National Trust, most people would be likely to point to the publicly-funded BBC4. In fact, it was Artsworld, the unabashedly highbrow arts channel from BSkyB. (more)

Nighty Night's Davis to play TV chef Cradock
From The Stage. Posted May 5 2006, 11.45am
Nighty Night star Julia Davis is to play Fanny Cradock in Fear of Fanny, BBC4's new drama about television's first screen celebrity chef. (more)

In praise of ... digital television
From Media Guardian. Posted May 1 2006, 12.58am
Leader: Perhaps the best reason to be grateful to More4 is for its invigorating effect on the four-year-old BBC4. (more)

Red Bee gets its hands dirty
From Media Guardian. Posted April 28 2006, 8.54am
7.45am: Red Bee Media, formerly BBC Broadcast and responsible for BBC4's recent rebrand, is advertising for an editor to work on hardcore porn for mobile phones. By Stephen Brook. (more)

Williams wins top BBC4 rating
From Media Guardian. Posted March 14 2006, 2.44pm
TV overnights: Fantabulosa, BBC4's drama about Kenneth Williams was the highest rated programme in the history of the network. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Innovative drama and 'passionate' programming, promises BBC4
From The Stage. Posted January 25 2006, 4.55pm
BBC4 controller Janice Hadlow has pledged that there will be more innovative drama on the channel, billing it as the home for "passionate" programme-makers. (more)

BBC4 boss seeks extra hours
From Media Guardian. Posted January 25 2006, 3.07pm
3pm update: BBC4 controller Janice Hadlow is in talks with Mark Thompson about extending the channel's airtime. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Jack Dee to star as stand-up in BBC4 comedy
From The Stage. Posted January 25 2006, 2.40pm
Jack Dee is writing and starring in a new BBC4 comedy - about a disillusioned stand-up performer. (more)

Dee to star in BBC4 comedy
From Media Guardian. Posted January 25 2006, 12.34pm
12.30pm update: Jack Dee is to make a six-part comedy for BBC4 loosely based on his own life. By Ben Dowell. (more)

BBC4 gets real
From Media Guardian. Posted January 25 2006, 10.44am
10.30am: BBC4 is focusing on drama based on real events over the coming months, including scripts by Andrew Davies on the Lady Chatterley's Lover trial and Francis Wheen on Harold Wilson. By Jason Deans. (more)

BBC4 lines up a little night music
From Media Guardian. Posted January 12 2006, 1.49pm
1.30pm: BBC4 is to broadcast through the night to mark the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. By Ben Dowell. (more)

BBC4: TV for adults who like to think
From The Independent. Posted December 5 2005, 12.00am
Jonathan Ross, already BBC1's premier chat show host, the star of the Radio 2 weekend schedule and the presenter of Film 2005, is set to become a star of BBC4. "Wossy", one of the hardest working figures in the British media, will present a major series on Asian cinema, which will be shown next month. (more)

BBC4 - Welcome to the sanctuary
From The Independent. Posted January 1 1970, 12.59am
Let's get one thing straight from the start - I am a Celebrity Big Brother fan. In its undeniably malevolent way, I believe the show produces the sort of unpredictable, closely observed psychodrama that most television dramatists can only fantasise about. And in sparking protests in Westminster and on the streets of Mumbai by people who have never even watched the show, it is as salutary as Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities. On the other hand, I can fully understand why many cultured viewers agree with Ken Russell and have turned away in disgust. For such as these, Big Brother is symptomatic of the more general disappointment they feel about Channel 4, a broadcaster that started out promising bold, sophisticated programming, and has ended up with Jade Goody haranguing a Bollywood starlet over the correct use of stock cubes. (more)

Jocelyn Hay on Broadcasting
From The Independent. Posted January 1 1970, 12.59am
mong the baby boomers that last night wallowed in the nostalgic joys of Andy Pandy and the Flower Pot Men on BBC Four's look back at the history of children's television, how many were aware that children's television is, today, in crisis? (more)