Â鶹Éç

Introduction

This summer, a full week of the Â鶹Éç ONE schedule will be devoted to bringing the colour and contradictions of African life and culture to UK audiences as the culmination of a unique collaboration between the Â鶹Éç's family of TV, radio and online services.

Ìý

It marks the biggest ever exploration of one continent on Â鶹Éç ONE.

Ìý

From documentary to drama, from news to natural history, Â鶹Éç ONE will turn over its schedules to a season of programmes that will give viewers a new perspective on, and a deeper understanding of Africa in a year when it will dominate headlines.

Ìý

The G8 conference, the Commission for Africa and the 20th anniversary of Live Aid are just some of the events that will push awareness of the continent to the fore this year.

Ìý

It was in November 1984 that Michael Buerk's Â鶹Éç News report shocked the world into action, and those images have defined Africa in the public's consciousness for the two decades since.

Ìý

But they are images that only reveal part of the picture of Africa in the 21st Century.

Ìý

It is due to these terrible events that most of the UK thinks of Africa first and foremost as a land of famine, disease and war.

Ìý

But it is also a land of art, music, dance, drama, amazing sights and unique sounds.

Ìý

The programmes commissioned will offer a more varied view of Africa through the channel and a deeper understanding of the stories and lives behind the issues it faces in the near future.

Ìý

In Geldof on Africa, Bob Geldof takes a personal journey through Africa to learn more about the culture and, through people's experiences, understand the forces that make the continent what it is.

Ìý

In a funny and poignant love story, Richard Curtis combines his comedic touch with a powerful humanitarian message about the willingness of the richest countries to combat poverty in the third world. The Girl In The Café stars Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald.

Ìý

Special editions of popular Â鶹Éç ONE shows will give viewers the chance to experience a number of different views of life and culture from the continent.

Ìý

Ground Force bids a fond farewell with a specially commissioned episode where the team join forces with the Eden Project for one of their biggest challenges yet: building a 'Garden for Africa'.

Ìý

Â鶹Éç News will play a full part in the African season with George Alagiah presenting a series of special news reports from different African countries on the Six O'Clock and Ten O'Clock News.

Ìý

Â鶹Éç Breakfast will be presented daily live from studios in London and South Africa, and David Dimbleby hosts a special edition of Question Time from South Africa.

Ìý

Lorraine Heggessey, Controller of Â鶹Éç ONE, says: "2005 is a year in which Africa will dominate headlines, thoughts and conversations as never before.

Ìý

"People will see the continent being discussed and dissected on television, radio, in magazines and papers - and yet very few of the UK audience will have seen or experienced Africa first hand.

Ìý

"There is a kaleidoscope of different views, opinions and sensations in Africa and the issues and problems we frequently hear about are only part of the picture.

Ìý

"It is with this in mind that we have put together a wide range of programmes to give the viewer a 360 degree portrayal of African life and culture through special editions of favourite shows as well as new commissions.

Ìý

"I travelled there last year and it changed my viewpoint completely.

Ìý

"My hope for this season is that viewers enjoy the programmes and see the continent in a different light afterwards.

Ìý

"If Â鶹Éç ONE's African output manages to whet the UK's appetite for understanding and appreciating more about Africa it will have been a worthwhile exercise.

Ìý

"Â鶹Éç ONE is a window onto the world for the UK. I hope people enjoy the view."

Ìý

Other highlights include:

Ìý

Dr Ric Griffin (Hugh Quarshie) leaves behind his colleagues in Holby City and travels to his native Ghana. Staying with his brother and working in a charity hospital makes him question his return to Holby.

Ìý

The Elephant Diaries will be stripped across the week giving viewers an insight into the work of Kenya's elephant rehabilitation centres, capturing on film the dramatic and moving rescue of orphaned elephants and their reintroduction into the wild.

Ìý

A British family sample life in Northern Namibia, staying with a family of the Himba tribe in Worlds Apart. They soon find that their new lifestyle means more than simply giving up the comforts of their UK home.

Ìý

Rolf Harris discovers the diversity of African art, learning more about the styles and skills before finally producing a painting that reflects the African people and landscapes that have inspired him in Rolf on African Art.

Ìý

Johannesburg, South Africa is one of the most violent cities on earth; Trauma in Africa reveals the extreme conditions local staff battle with in South Africa's busiest hospital, government-run Johannesburg General Hospital.

Ìý

Five celebrities of African origin are each paired with an African dance troupe for intensive training before performing a traditional African dance in Strictly African Dancing.

Ìý

Kwame Kwei-Armah travels to South Africa for Songs Of African Praise to reflect on the pivotal role that music and songs play in people's lives. Archbishop Desmond Tutu talks about the importance of music to South Africans and how they express their spirituality through music.

Ìý

Notes to Editors

Ìý

Â鶹Éç activity across all services

Ìý

Television

Ìý

Â鶹Éç ONE leads the initiative with a full week's schedule given over to African themed programming.

Ìý

Drama, arts, entertainment, news, documentary, natural history, sport and children's programmes will all provide different opportunities for Â鶹Éç ONE's mass audience to build a broader picture of Africa.

Ìý

Â鶹Éç News will play a full part in the season with live broadcasts from the continent and special editions of news and current affairs programmes dedicated to African issues.

Ìý

Â鶹Éç TWO, Â鶹Éç THREE, Â鶹Éç FOUR and CÂ鶹Éç will expand on the Â鶹Éç ONE output.

Ìý

Complementary programming across all channels will provide opportunities for audiences to dig deeper into areas that interest them from documentaries to international films and from music to art.

Ìý

Radio

Ìý

Throughout 2005 Â鶹Éç Radio will bring a huge breadth of programmes focussed on Africa, beginning on Â鶹Éç Radio 3 in February with coverage from Africa Remix at the South Bank Centre and the Africa 05 exhibitions.

Ìý

Themed programmes will incorporate drama, live music, oral culture, debates and an African/Caribbean classical crossover weekend.

Ìý

Across the Â鶹Éç, Radios 1, 1Xtra, 2, 3, 4, Five Live, 6 Music, Â鶹Éç 7 and the Asian Network will between them feature a spectacular range of African themed programmes including live music events, documentaries and features plus news and current affairs.

Ìý

Newly commissioned programmes will be broadcast along with regular network strands and the diverse output will also include new African music, sport, live broadcasts on location in Africa and links to radio stations and schools.

Ìý

Online

Ìý

bbc.co.uk will host the website for the Africa 05 series of events and exhibitions and will provide a central point for viewers and listeners to find out more about the Â鶹Éç season and to engage with interactive content about Africa.

Ìý

The Â鶹Éç's Africa On Your Street website, which celebrates the African music scene in the UK, will be linked to the other web sites.

Ìý

www.bbc.co.uk/africa05

Ìý

Â鶹Éç World Class

Ìý

In addition to the wide range of programming on an African theme, the Â鶹Éç Africa season will also join with current pan-Â鶹Éç initiatives such as Â鶹Éç World Class - a unique and ambitious project to gather together 1,000 British schools in partnership with 1,000 similar schools worldwide.

Ìý

Worldwide

Ìý

Â鶹Éç Prime will aim to simulcast much of the Â鶹Éç Television output across its African service.

Ìý

Nations & Regions

Ìý

Â鶹Éç Local Radio will encourage audience engagement through community events and programmes throughout the year's activity.

Ìý

Using links with Â鶹Éç World Service, Â鶹Éç Local Radio will twin with African radio stations and help drive take-up of the World Class schools project.