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Last month I attended the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Drama launch in which controller Ben Stephenson announced a host of new programming for the coming year. One of the first to hit the screen is Peter Moffat’s , an epic take on the life of a small hamlet in rural Derbyshire through the 20^th century. Starring John Simm and Maxine Peake, the first series focuses on the years 1914-1920. Comparisons have already been made with the acclaimed German drama Heimat, which bodes well, for that was certainly one of the most significant television events of the last 30 years.

The strength of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Drama was affirmed at last Tuesday’s Royal Television Society awards, which saw in this field, including wins for Sherlock, Good Cop and The Hollow Crown. Across the genres, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ claimed . Ìý

From drama to comedy now, as with a special episode on Saturday 30 March. Written by Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant, it revisits hapless agent/actor Warwick Davis, as he attempts to expand his showbiz empire, with the addition of Les Dennis, Keith Chegwin and Shaun Williamson to his roster of talent, and to get Willow 2 off the ground with the assistance of one Val Kilmer.

On the music front there have been two rather exciting announcements in the past seven days. Digital radio station, 6 Music, have confirmed their , which includes the naming of the second stage as the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ 6 Music Radio Stage; whilst ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One’s Imagine strand has : the first, a portrait of Beyoncé that features unprecedented access and video diary footage; in the second, Alan Yentob revisits his acclaimed documentary, Cracked Actor, which follows David Bowie on the 1974 Diamond Dogs tour and reveals the icon at his most candid and fragile. The little-shown film is rightly regarded as a classic and this is great opportunity to see it in full.

It’s been a significant week for , which sees the commission of a that will feature exclusively on the on-demand platform – this will include six original short films over two years, written and directed by the best up-and-coming writing and directing talent from across the UK. And it’s also been announced that the called Car Share will premiere on the iPlayer before its run on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One.

And with England’s cricketers currently struggling in New Zealand and this year’s Ashes series looming, there’s been some good news on the county front, with the confirming online, ball-by-ball commentary of every County Championship match available throughout the season, plus all one-day and T20 matches, via the . As a former cricket columnist, this makes me very happy indeed. Let’s hope we actually get some kind of summer in which to enjoy it!

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Ben Murray is Editor of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Media Centre.

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