Bbc Week 12, 19
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BBC WEEK 12, 19 - 25 March 2016 Programme Information, Television & Radio BBC Scotland Press Office BBC Media Centre (Scotland) BBC iPlayer (Scotland) BBC Scotland BBC Scotland on Facebook @BBCScotland on Twitter General / Carol Knight Hilda McLean Jim Gough Julie Whiteside Laura Davidson BBC Alba THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS TELEVISION & RADIO / BBC WEEK 12 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ MONDAY 21 MARCH This Farming Life BBC Two Trusadh - Slainte na Sgire - Alderney / A Southern Island Practice NEW BBC ALBA TUESDAY 22 MARCH This Farming Life BBC Two WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH This Farming Life BBC Two Scotland: The Promised Land NEW BBC Two Scotland THURSDAY 24 MARCH Leaders Debate NEW BBC One Scotland FRIDAY 25 MARCH Easter Rising - Ar-a-mach na Caisge, Ep1/4 NEW BBC ALBA _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Viewers outside Scotland can access BBC One Scotland on Sky 141 (HD) & 951, Freesat 108 (HD) & 960, Virgin Media 108 (HD) & 862. BBC Two Scotland can be viewed on Sky 142 (HD) & 970, Freesat 970. BBC ALBA is on Sky 143, Freesat 110, Virgin Media 188, Freeview 8 (Scotland only). BBC Radio Scotland can be accessed on Sky 0116, Freesat 712, Freeview 719 (Scotland only). BBC One Scotland, BBC Two Scotland and BBC ALBA are also available on the BBC iPlayer bbc.co.uk/iplayer & BBC Radio Scotland on bbc.co.uk/radioscotland EDITORIAL 2016 / BBC WEEK 12 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Andy Gray leads new cast set to debut in BBC Scotland’s award-winning River City Much-loved actor of the stage and screen, Andy Gray, is among the new faces set to debut in BBC Scotland’s popular soap River City, taking on the role of silver-tongued trickster and entertainer, Peter Griffiths. Perth-born actor Andy (Canned Laughter, City Lights) will make his screen debut in River City in July as the wayward father of troubled teen Drew McLean (Benjamin Nugent). The life and soul of any party, Peter Griffiths is a charming rogue with all the patter, a serial womaniser who shows up in Shieldinch to reconnect with the son he walked out on when he was a baby. However, while Drew is delighted to finally find out the identity of his father, Peter’s ex-partner Caitlin McLean (Gayle Telfer Stevens) is none-too-happy with the shock family reunion. Andy will film his first River City scenes at BBC Scotland’s Dumbarton Studios in April in episodes which will air in the summer of 2016. Andy Gray is thrilled to be joining the cast of River City: “I’m very excited about the whole idea of being part of this Scottish institution. My character Peter is someone who has an outward appearance of being ‘Mr Happy’ but there’s a darkness to him which will be great to investigate. I’m really looking forward to getting down to Dumbarton and learn more about Peter Griffiths – he sounds like quiet a character!” Other new cast joining the drama include Edinburgh-actress Jenny Hulse and Sophia Kolinas from Canada. Jenny takes on the role of Lenny Murdoch’s daughter, Amber, who arrives back in Shieldinch in April after serving five years in prison for murdering one of her father’s criminal associates. However, gone is the girl-next-door Amber used to be. Once the apple of her daddy’s eye, Amber is now a much darker, tougher character who is set to make her mark on Shieldinch. TV newcomer Sophia Kolinas will play Cassie Evans, an unconventional new love interest for the recently bereaved, viewers’ favourite, Angus Lindsay (Scott Fletcher). Cassie makes her River City debut in May this year. Sara Harkins, River City’s Creative Director welcomes the new additions to the popular drama series: “River City is delighted to have such wonderful established and emerging acting talent joining the show. Andy Gray is much-loved by audiences of all ages and has a tremendous pedigree in theatre and TV and new faces Jenny Hulse and Sophia Kolinas are sure to make a big impact with the River City fans. The show is going from strength to strength at the moment. Unmissable storylines and an ensemble cast which is second to none, has made River City the jewel in Scotland’s drama crown. Bringing talent like Andy, Jenny and Sophia to the show will, I’m sure, give the fans something to look forward to in the coming weeks and months.” BBC Scotland’s popular weekly soap has attracted critical acclaim in recent months. In January, one of the show’s longest running writers, Louise Ironside scooped the ‘Best Long Running TV Series’ award at the prestigious Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, beating off stiff competition from Emmerdale and Holby City. On-screen talent, actor Jordan Young (who plays Alex McAllister) has also been nominated for the ‘Best Actor’ award at next months’ Scottish Variety Awards in Glasgow which will be hosted by River City’s Leah MacRae. River City is part of BBC Scotland’s commitment to produce distinctive Scottish output and complements productions including Shetland (BBC One), One of Us (BBC One), Sunset Song, Katie Morag (CBeebies), Murder (BBC Two) and landmark series, Highlands (BBC One). JW EDITORIAL 2016 / BBC WEEK 12 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Audience Debate Kicks Off BBC Scotland 2016 Election Coverage BBC Scotland launches its multi-platform 2016 Scottish election coverage this month with the first of two leader debates. The BBC’s Pacific Quay studios in Glasgow will see the first televised Leaders Debate of the campaign on Thursday, March 24, filmed in front of an audience and chaired by political correspondent Glenn Campbell. The panel will be comprised of the leaders of the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, the Scottish Green Party and UKIP Scotland. Scotland Editor Sarah Smith will then host another televised debate before an audience, just five days before polling takes place, when the party leaders will put their final pitches to the armchair voters. On the panel will be the leaders of the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Green Party. Details of the venue for this second Leaders Debate on Sunday, 1 May, will be announced at a later date and both debates will be on BBC One Scotland. BBC Scotland will also release the results of a poll that is being commissioned on the issues that matter the most to the electors as they weigh up their options. The party leaders will also be put on the spot in late March on Good Morning Scotland (GMS) when Gary Robertson asks the questions which the public want answered while listeners get their chance to question directly those vying for power in special Kaye Adams programmes. GMS will also tour the country to get to the heart of the local issues that are dominating constituency contests. As part of the wide-ranging coverage, Reporting Scotland will be extended to an hour from Monday April 25; Scotland 2016 will host a series of issue debates; and Gordon Brewer will explore with leaders the main talking points that emerge during the campaign on Sunday Politics and on his Big Debate on Radio Scotland every Friday. Radio Scotland will also host a number of constituency debates in Shetland, Orkney, Aberdeenshire, Inverness, Dumfries, and Selkirk, and BBC Scotland online will be a key destination for interviews, features and breaking news stories throughout the campaign. BBC Scotland will also feature a range of shareable content to engage with audiences who look to social media for all the news and views in the run-up to polling day. BBC ALBA will kick off their campaign with special Sunday evening coverage in An Taghadh on April 3, with the emphasis on the community views of key election issues. In Radio Nan Gaidheal’s news and current affairs programming, and on its online service, there will be extensive coverage throughout the campaign period. Full details of election night programming and results service from BBC Scotland, Radio Nan Gaidheal and BBC ALBA will be confirmed at a later date. Gary Smith, Head of News and Current Affairs, BBC Scotland, said: ‘We are developing an in-depth and compelling range of content for our audiences across all our platforms. Voters are centre-stage and we’ll be giving them all the breaking news and views from the campaign trails, as well as expert analysis on the issues that count, as they prepare to go to the polls.’ JG EDITORIAL 2016 / BBC WEEK 12 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Coming Soon…Beechgrove Garden & Landward It must be spring in Scotland as Beechgrove Garden and Landward will shortly be back on our screens. Jim McColl, Carole Baxter, George Anderson and Chris Beardshaw will be back with Beechgrove to dispense horticultural advice whatever the weather on BBC Two Scotland on March 31 (network BBC Two the following Sunday). Carole Baxter, who this year marks 30 years on screen with the series, will have a new strand Garden on a Budget, which will showcase the very best tips on how to have a pretty and productive garden on a tight budget. While this year, Jim McColl will have a new strand How to Grow a Gardener, looking at opportunities for young people to develop practical gardening skills as a viable career option, with visits to the Breadalbane Academy in Aberfeldy, Dumfries House near Cumnock and Douneside at Tarland. After the success of last year’s Roadshows in Bute and Aboyne, there will be three Roadshows in 2016 in Nairn, Strathkinnes – near St Andrews - and Gairloch. 2016 also sees the 1,000th edition of Beechgrove, which is made by Tern TV, and 20 years in its present garden, where alpine specialist Brian Cunningham, Head Gardener of Scone Palace, will be rejuvenating the alpine section, while Chris Beardshaw is setting about the heather garden.