BBC Three Teams Up With Professor Green

BBC Three has announced the commission of two new documentaries with Professor Green. The commissions follow the success of BBC Three's Professor Green: Suicide And Me documentary.

The new shows with the rapper, whose real name is Stephen Manderson, will focus on youth homelessness and dangerous dogs.

In Professor Green: Sleeping Rough (w/t) and Dangerous Dogs (w/t), Stephen will experience what it's like to be homeless in Britain, and explore the truth about dangerous dogs in youth culture.

Youth homelessness is now said to be reaching epidemic levels, while dog attacks are also at an all-time high. It it hoped the documentaries will highlight the realities that lie beneath these problems and raise awareness around two issues that affect an increasing number of young people in the UK. Both documentaries will take an intelligent look at these sometimes controversial topics, aiming to be counterintuitive and to challenge perceptions.

Professor Green's first BBC Three documentary, Professor Green: Suicide And Me aired in October 2015 and highlighted the high male suicides rates in the UK, as well as helped raise the issue to national attention.

Professor Green, aka Stephen Manderson, said: "The documentary on suicide I made for BBC Three has really cut through and I'm so proud of the meaningful impact the film has had – and to see what it is still achieving. People are finally talking and realising that we need a change in attitudes to take on the biggest killer of men under 45.

"I want to do more to explore the issues that we often don't know enough about, which is why I can't wait for everyone to see these new projects I'm working on for BBC Three. The difficult subjects that we're bringing attention to this time will take me on another eye-opening journey and I hope to raise awareness around two big social problems that will only continue to grow unless we tackle them head on."

Damian Kavanagh, Controller of BBC Three, added: "Suicide And Me was exactly the kind of thought-provoking film I want on BBC Three and we aim to have a similar impact with Stephen's films on homelessness and dangerous dogs. Stephen has a natural rapport with people and I know he can bring this skill to highlight issues that matter to young people and bring them to wider attention. Highlighting issues like these are exactly what BBC Three will be doing in the future. I’m proud Stephen wants to be part of new BBC Three."

Professor Green: Sleeping Rough (w/t) and Dangerous Dogs (w/t) are currently in production and will be available on BBC Three in 2016.

Both are produced by Antidote Productions and executive produced by Laura Jones and Leila Monks from Antidote.

They have been commissioned and executive produced for the BBC by Danny Horan, Commissioning Editor, Documentaries.

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre

(JP/LM)