Yes, there’s a Doctor Who special for BBC 100, but what else does Auntie have planned for her big year? 

With 2022 bearing down on us, the BBC have begun to announce details of their centenary plans; they have commissioned a raft of programmes and events to celebrate their one hundredth birthday.

Across the year, they promise ‘special content’. This ranges from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to the Women’s Euros, the World Cup and Commonwealth Games. There will also be new dramas and comedies plus a sequel to the stunning Frozen Planet documentary series, cunningly titled Frozen Planet II.

Additionally, reversing their online-only strategy, the corporation will make good on their promise to turn BBC Three back into a broadcast channel again.

Specials

Of course, we already know about a Doctor Who special, in which the Thirteenth Doctor will take her final bow. However, other well-known shows are getting the special treatment too. We can look forward to specials from Antiques Roadshow, The Apprentice and Masterchef – all apparently “… marking the centenary in their own unique way”.

TV and iPlayer

On television, a comedy show entitled The Love Box In Your Living Room will take a look at the BBC’s last 100 years. Mixing contemporary footage with “genuinely authentic made-up stuff”, it will be presented by Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, in character as “Adam Adamant Curtis” and his brother “Richard Dimbleby Curtis”.

For more serious matters, David Dimbleby’s BBC: A Very British History will trace the impact of the BBC on British life across recent decades. His three-part series will look at “the Corporation’s role in major moments of political and cultural change, its conflicts with governments over the years, its own public controversies and how it continues to engage with the British people and attempts to represent a diverse and changing nation.”

To celebrate the best of children’s programming, former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq will look at the best of the genre, from the very first radio broadcast of Children’s Hour in 1922, via the Magic Roundabout, right through to Saturday morning megahits such as Going Live. Additionally, the Horrible Histories crew will be on hand for a special BBC’s Big Birthday Bonanza! edition.

BBC Three

The return of BBC Three as a linear channel is being heralded with four new series; Superhoe, written by and starring Nicôle Lecky, the Bolton set contemporary horror series Red Rose, Ryan J Brown’s thriller Wrecked and a Sally Rooney novel adaptation, Conversations with Friends.

Radio

Radio 3 programmes across the year will be marking ‘The Sonic Century’, exploring the impact of 100 years of radio. Documentaries and dramas will consider how public broadcasting has transformed our world. Across the weekend of 11-13 February, Radio 3 will broadcast live concerts from BBC Orchestras and Choirs, including classical music from the 1920s and the 2020s

On Radio 4, Past Forward will explore the BBC’s archive, using a random date generator. Historian Greg Jenner will use his finds as a jumping off poinr for exploring links to Britian in 2022. Additionally, they will air The Battle of Savoy Hill, the story of Hilda Matheson, one of the BBC’s first women, and her working relationship with BBC founding Director-General, Lord Reith.

Of the announcements made, BBC Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore says:

“Our centenary year will be a huge treat for audiences of all ages from massive sporting events, comedy, entertainment, drama, arts and music, to documentaries assessing all aspects of the BBC’s history.”

“BBC 100 will celebrate and reflect on the unique role the BBC plays in the lives of audiences across the UK as our much cherished national broadcaster from its creation right up to the present day.”

Apparently, there are more BBC 100 announcements to come – for full details of what’s been announced already, you can check out the press release.

Naturally, CultBox will endeavour to keep you posted.