Music
Children In Need’s top selling singles
In celebration of the annual BBC Children in Need appeal, The Official Charts Company (OCC) has compiled a list of the best-selling singles that have been released in support of the campaign.
Phil & Jill reach 50 years of marriage in The Archers
Phil and Jill Archer celebrate 50 years of marriage in a special episode of The Archers on BBC Radio 4 on Friday. The golden couple first met in July 1957 when Phil (Norman Painting) caught sight of Jill (Patricia Greene) at the village fete and, clearly enamoured, filmed her with his cine camera, despite not knowing who she was.
Desperados – New comedy drama for BBC One
Warren Clarke, Anthony Head, Dean Lennox Kelly and Jenny Agutter star in Desperados, a new comedy drama series by William Ivory (A Thing Called Love, The Sins) from Company Pictures for BBC One.
BBC One to show working life of The Royal Family
Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision, today announced that BBC One will go ahead with the planned series about the working lives of The Queen and other members of The Royal Family.
Dom dances out of Strictly Come Dancing
Dominic Littlewood "got done" on Saturday night when he became the fifth person to be voted off BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing – after failing to impress the judges in the dance off.
Zane Lowe lets the music do the talking
BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe is set to let the music speak for itself in Zane Lowe's Masterpieces, a new four-part series to air on Radio 1 this November. In a first for Radio 1, Zane will play four albums, in their entirety and without interruption, live on air over four nights.
BBC Radio benefits from digital listening
BBC Radio has benefited from increased listening via digital platforms, according to data released today by Rajar (Radio Joint Audience Research Ltd). The figures – covering the period from 25 June 2007 to 16 September 2007 – show BBC Radio has increased reach and share in the last year, with 8.5 million people – 17% of the UK population – listening to BBC stations digitally.
Sid Owen returns to Eastenders
Sid Owen is heading back to Walford as Ricky Butcher in BBC One's EastEnders following the return of Patsy Palmer as Bianca, Ricky's former wife. Ricky has done well for himself and has a gorgeous WAG fiancee in tow. With Bianca at rock bottom, could Ricky be the answer to her problems?
Prestige Holidays introduces Music Tours
Independent tour operator, Prestige Holidays, is offering three special interest music tours through the Travellers Club for 2008: A Baltic Experience: Tallinn, St Petersburg and Riga (22 May – 2 June), The Aix-en-Provence Music Festival Tour (9-13 July), and the Puccini Opera Festival at Torre del Lago (7-11 August).
Soybean eating Yorkshire men are brainiest Brits
The next Einstein is likely to be found in Yorkshire and Humberside, be a man in their twenties, and munch on soybeans and blueberries, according to new research released this week which reveals the results of a nationwide intelligence test.
Guitar legends find a sweet home in Chicago
Three years ago, Eric Clapton assembled a who’s who of guitar masters for the first Crossroads Guitar Festival, raising funds for the Crossroads Centre, Antigua, a chemical dependency treatment and education facility which Clapton founded. The sold-out show yielded a double-DVD that has been certified platinum eight times on the way to becoming one of the worlds’ top-selling music DVDs.
Rising R&B star releases first album
Energy charged performances and passionate vocals infuse Desire, the 14-track debut album by singer-songwriter Lauren Tilly. Lauren is a 21 year-old Scot who performs R&B with a twist. When asked for that particular recipe, she quotes “one large measure of R&B, with a good twist of soul, pop and rap, and a liberating vibe”.
Never Mind The Buzzcocks returns to BBC Two
Stand-up comic Simon Amstell returns for a new series of ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks on BBC two from Novermber 10th. Celebrity guests from the worlds of entertainment and music join the team captains (Bill Bailey and Phill Jupitus) as the guest presenter leads them through a series of quiz rounds, finding out if they know their Arctic Monkeys from their Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
Waterloo Road returns for a new term
Waterloo Road is back on BBC One for a brand-new term, and the school is firmly in the spotlight following the murder of drama teacher Izzie Redpath (Jill Halfpenny). Although head teacher Jack Rimmer (Jason Merrells) won a national bravery award, he secretly blames himself for Izzie's death.
The search is on for the ultimate Spice Girls tribute band
VH1 launches a new UK production this autumn; a series in search of a girl group with the talent to fill the sizeable pop platforms vacated by the original Spice Girl line-up.