BBC UNVEILS WINTER SEASON PROGRAMMES

FROM the health of the nation to the heart of modern family life, BBC One puts the emphasis on the way we live now for a bold winter season of top comedy, drama and documentary.
As part of a £174 million season, BBC One continues to break new boundaries by becoming one of the first mainstream television channels to produce a comedy with a disabled character at the centre and to devote an entire day to the largest ever survey into the state of the National Health Service. There are new contemporary drama series reflecting different aspects of British life, groundbreaking natural history and a documentary series on the pioneering work of a surgeon who operates on babies while they are still in the womb.
As the Government hints at tax increases to inject new cash into the National Health Service (NHS), BBC One sets out to offer viewers a true snapshot of the state of the NHS across the UK. ‘NHS Special’ will send cameras all over the country to get a real feel of the NHS in operation during one day. A specially commissioned survey will find out exactly what the public thinks are the priority issues facing politicians and NHS professionals. Regional link ups, a live nationwide debate and linked programming from breakfast time to bedtime will make this a significant departure for mainstream broadcasting.
Lorraine Heggessey, Controller of BBC One, said: "BBC One must keep its finger on the pulse of Britain today if it is to stay relevant to the lives of the audience. This season, we have tried to offer a fresh approach to conveying the way we live now through a range of strong new programmes in every genre. We’ve had some great successes over the past few months, but BBC One must continue to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation in a bold and refreshing way."
BBC One continues its tradition of innovation in natural history with ‘Weird Nature’. Three years in the making, producer John Downer has used a brand new filming technique to show animal movement in 3-D. Using this incredible visual imagery, the programme juxtaposes man and animals to see which is the weirdest community on the planet.
BBC One drama also acknowledges the importance friends and colleagues play in 21st century life in ‘Rescue Me’, the story of thirty-something magazine editor Katie (played by Smack The Pony star Sally Phillips), who has to cope with a failed relationship and the trials of being a single woman.
Alternatively, the pressure of living in a small community is set against breathtaking action and beautiful scenery in ‘Rockface’, a programme about the brave and often treacherous work of the fictional Glentannoch Mountain Rescue Service in Scotland. (CD)