³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Overview of programming from

Peter Johnston, Head of Broadcasting,

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Northern Ireland

"This autumn we will transmit 23 single documentaries and 21 series especially for audiences in Northern Ireland on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ ONE and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ TWO.

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"This range of programmes intends to really get under the skin of this society and this place and to bring people together around diverse issues and interests. We will spend £22m on TV during 2006/2007.

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"In addition to our core services of News and Current Affairs and Sport, there will also be a portfolio of brand new programmes.

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"To begin, our exploration of the elements of life in this community takes us under water and closer to the earth.

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"In Waterworld Darryl Grimason goes 'into the deep' in a passionate and colourful ocean odyssey that explores our vibrant sea life.

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"We also bring back Robert Stenuit, the man who discovered the Girona, to the scene of his triumphant expedition in Girona.

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"Staying submersed, we join the Northern Ireland seamen who make up the crew aboard the cramped, hi-tech conditions of the nuclear submarine HMS Soverign in Officer and Commander while on the water's surface we follow a very different set of sea-farers – The Drifters -the last driftnet salmon fishermen on Lough Foyle.

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"Back on dry land, the realities of rural life are explored through the experiences of young farmers in Grass Roots: Young Farmers while its challenges are showcased in Wanted - Farmers as we follow two families planting their rural roots elsewhere, in Montana, USA.

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"Remember Derek Thornton from our series Farm Lives? He's back to provide us with his earthy, often hilarious wisdom about modern city life in a series of challenges in Derek's Dreams, and our regular series for gardening fans returns in Greenmount Garden with Cherrie McIlwaine and John Cushnie.

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"We've had success with documentary profiles of various interesting characters in our society. Last year we won the RTS Nations & Regions Programme of the Year with the story of Teddy Dixon, one of the first soldiers to liberate Dachau during the Second World War.

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"This season there are a whole range of interesting stories. In A Portrait of Pantridge we profile the incredible story of medical pioneer Frank Pantridge; while the Reverend John Dunlop takes a personal journey in A Pilgrim's Progress to walk in the footsteps of missionary Colin Corkey. Corkey travelled half way across the globe to work in occupied Manchuria, China in 1936.

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"Dickie Best provides a personal reflection on son George in To George With Love, one year on from his death.

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"We also explore the world of Richard Moore who lost his sight when he was struck by a rubber bullet fired by a British soldier in 1972. Blind Vision follows Richard on a special twofold journey - firstly as he meets with the Californian surgeon who believes he can restore Richard's sight with a revolutionary operation; and secondly as he attempts to meet the soldier who shot him.

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"In sport, we look at the life of a professional golfer when Stephen Watson goes On Tour with Graeme McDowell while our new arts programming profiles James Ellis as he approaches his 75th birthday; and the 82-year-old writer and quintessential Belfast man Sam McAughtry in Play It Again Sam.

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"We stay in touch and in tune with a couple of cultural institutions in Northern Ireland. Playing For Time follows the Ulster Orchestra in its 40th anniversary season and The Story of Field Day, authored by Stephen Rea, is the story of the most important theatre company ever to come out of Northern Ireland - Field Day.

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"Artistic endeavour meets the more material side of life in Craft Traditions and we celebrate our material and technical heritage in a major interactive family event - The Big Bumper Science Quiz hosted by Eamonn Holmes.

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"Family interaction continues in a series of schools quizzes with John Daly in Class Distinction - a studio-based quiz which pits teachers against pupils from the same school.

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"Music is important to our overall portfolio and includes exclusive access-all-areas coverage of the Tennent's Vital Festival, brought to you by Across The Line TV, including Snow Patrol playing to an audience of over 20,000.

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"Ralph McLean returns with The Blackstaff Sessions and Proms in the Park returns to the City Hall on 9 September.

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"Childhood experiences will be relived in several social history documentaries. The Lion Game is a story of 'pride' in the Causeway Safari Park which opened in 1969.

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"Barry's is a light-hearted nostalgic rollercoaster ride, telling the story of one of the last great 'show families'; and The Van is a feel-good documentary celebrating a fading Ulster tradition, the Van Man!

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"We'll also go retro to the Sixties and Seventies in Too Late To Stop Now, which mixes the music and events of the times.

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"For Belfast City Hall's hundredth anniversary, we have three programmes; a two-part documentary on the history of Belfast called A Tale of Two Cities and Jim McDowell is back to give his own personal take on the 'The Dome of Delight' in You Thought You Knew... Belfast City Hall.

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"Stepping further back in history, we will have a three-part series documenting The Flight Of The Earls, while actress Flora Montgomery retraces her 400-year family history here back to the Hamilton Montgomery settlement in 1606: The Dawn Of The Ulster Scots.

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"In Ulster Generals, Colonel Tim Collins provides his own personal perspective on the achievements and challenges of the Ulster generals in Africa in the Second World War, relating this to his own experience of Desert War.

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"Contemporary life is showcased in a range of programmes including the experience of US citizens in Northern Ireland in Inside The Consulate.

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"Hear My Prayer is a personal insight into the Clonard Novena and we capture the behind-the-scenes story and emotions of UK's first gay civil partnership in The Wedding.

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"In Tiago and The Tunnel a 10-year-old Portuguese boy captures another aspect of life as society continues to diversify in Northern Ireland.

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"We'll get an unusual understanding of the heartbeat of life across Northern Ireland in an innovative series of short films called Time Lapse Tales.

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"Other more familiar series such as Nolan Live, Inside Out and Getaways, our travel series presented by Joe Lindsay and Jo Scott, are set to return.

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"Coming up in the New Year are some special documentary-based investigations, including the nature of death and dying in Sorry For Your Trouble and a look at the nature of community divisions 10 years on from the first ceasefire in State of Minds.

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"Also for winter is a special documentary called The Garden. It looks at a year in the life of Glencraig and aims to change perceptions of a once-marginalised group in society - those with special needs.

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"And we go backstage as a group of young offenders in Hydebank audition, rehearse and stage the Frank McGuinness play Observe the Sons of Ulster.

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"More comedy and entertainment will also return to form a key part of the schedule, including favourites such as The Blame Game, Folks On The Hill, Day Out With Daly, Give My Head Peace Christmas Special and Dry Your Eyes.

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"A major entertainment event for this autumn includes the re-opening of the Grand Opera House with a special show hosted by Eamonn Holmes, and finally the weird world of Gerry Anderson is brought to life in a creative new way.

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"The series On The Air animates the funniest, most idiosyncratic real-life radio moments from the Gerry Anderson show and places them in a surreal world, featuring a host of colourful Ulster characters.

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"I really hope viewers will enjoy a wide range of these new programmes as much as we and our colleagues in the Independent sector have enjoyed making them and working with the many members of our community involved."

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Peter Johnston, Head of Broadcasting, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Northern Ireland