A round-up of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ announcements and press releases and blogs, plus some highlights from our TV, radio and online output this week.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ micro:bit
Tuesday was a big day for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Digital and 12 year olds in the UK: up to were delivered free to every year 7 student in England and Wales, year 8 students in Northern Ireland and S1 student in Scotland.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ micro:bit, launched as part of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Make it Digital initiative, is a pocket-sized codeable computer that allows young people to get creative with technology, whatever their level of experience, and aims to help develop a new generation of digital pioneers.
An event to mark the moment was held at the Stock Exchanged in London. We were there .
Awards
We received the first this week, recognising our efforts to make the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ in Salford an easier place to visit and work in for those with autism.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ also secured 10 wins at the earlier this week including awards for all of our TV networks.
Looking ahead to future awards, Radio 4 launched the . The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio New Comedy Award is a nationwide stand-up comedy competition which has helped launch the careers of comedians such as Sarah Millican, Rhod Gilbert and Peter Kay. You have until Tuesday 19 April 2016 to submit your application.
Arrivals and Departures
On Tuesday . We also announced that , Head of Factual Entertainment at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ for seven years, has taken on editorial control of Top Gear, working alongside series editor Alex Renton and Studio Editor Martin Dance.
Elsewhere, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Newsnight appointed as new Political Editor.
Announcements and blogs
On the About the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Blog, we marked the on Thursday, looked ahead to , and, ahead of her Good Friday documentary about Judas Iscariot, we spoke to Rev'd Kate Bottley about her career has a vicar and the impact of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ sitcom 'Rev.' on the perception of the clergy in the UK. We also published a post originally written for the Indepedent by Head of Religion and Ethics Aquil Ahmed about the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One documentary broadcast earlier this week, 'The Battle for Christianity'.
Elsewhere in TV, we announced a new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four series for former Top Gear presenter James May. '' is a three-part series featuring James in a workshop constructing everyday gadgets we take for granted from scratch and seeing what it takes to get them working.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two published a casting announcement for series two of '' earlier this week. The new series - by See-Saw Films for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two in association with Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ First in Australia, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ UKTV in New Zealand, SundanceTV and Hulu in the United States, ARTE in France and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide - will see Elisabeth Moss reprise her role, joined by Gwendoline Christie.
Also in drama, more details were made available about Peter Moffat's new thriller '' featuring Sophie Okenedo and Adrian Lester. A full press-pack including interviews with the production team are available via the website.
Ahead of chef James Martin's final presenter appearance on Saturday Kitchen today, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One announced the on the much-loved live Saturday morning cooking show including Lorraine Pascale, Michel Roux Jr, John Torode, Rick Stein. James offered an emotional goodbye at the end of his last show earlier on today. , for your ten years on the programme. You will be missed.
In music, Radio 2 announced Mark Knopfler would appear at the . Also, ahead of Radio 1's Big Weekend in Exeter next week, tickets will be released during The Radio 1 Breakfast Show on Monday 4 April - with . Over on The Voice UK blog, the were revealed including series 4 winner , Zara Larsson, and series 5 winner Shawn Mendes.
And finally, keep an eye out next Saturday (2nd April) for - a day celebrating the first year of the Get Creative campaign which sought to inspire creativity amongst the UK population. The on Saturday 2 April, 2016 celebrates a year of Get Creative – a campaign encouraging participation in arts, creativity and culture – initiated by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and cultural movement What Next? and delivered in partnership with key cultural organisations including Voluntary Arts, Fun Palaces and the Crafts Council.
a-ha perform live in the Radio Theatre at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Broadcasting House in London for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2's In Concert and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Red Button.
Broadcast highlights
Twitter was alight when '' returned to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two on Thursday. Jed Mecurio's compelling drama got off to a swift start and had us gripped right up until the end of the first episode. The episode saw the Gogglebox viewers on the edge of their seats, and rightly so.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2 producer Malcolm Prince's much-anticipated got underway on the network with two hour-long episodes. A must-listen for anyone sucked-in to pop in the late 80s, the documentary charts the many albums the pop duo released, cutting much-loved tracks with first-hand accounts of their creation from Neil Tenant and Chris Lowe. The final two parts of the documentary series will be broadcast on respectively. A playlist of the tracks the duo picked for the documentary series is available via .
Whilst we're talking about Radio 2 and the late 80s, be sure to listen to the network's In Concert this week featuring Norwegian pop trio A-Ha. The lucky audience who congregated in Broadcasting House's Radio Theatre bounced along excitedly to the likes of ''. The blissful trip down memory lane is available '' via the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2 website, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Red Button or as a catch-up of the of the gig.
On Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two this week, the first episode of '' in which Britain's most extraordinary jobseekers attempt to prove that they are not unemployable. Also on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two this week in , Professor Uta Frith explored life for those people with autism and asked whether more people are on the autism scale than we assume. The first episode of a new drama series about autism - '' - was broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One on Tuesday.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Three's series saw Sofie Hagen delve into the world of 'super-fans'. All five episodes of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Three's drama '' are now available on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer. Episode 5 will air on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two on 3rd April at 10pm (and 11pm in Northern Ireland).
Some of our Easter programming included '' in which Professor Robert Beckford looked at how immigration, radical social action, conservative morality and charismatic worship are transforming the face of Christianity in the UK. The two-part '' on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two surveyed a range of Easter culinary specialities from of a variety of Christian churches - episode is also available on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer.
And for comedy fans, of the series exploring Jimmy Perry and David Croft's work often chronicled Britain in the 20th century continued by examining how they saw the British in love. Episodes , and are available on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer.