BBC - Commissioning - Current Affairs on BBC Two

What We Want

• Browse by genre
  • Arts
  • CBeebies
  • CBBC
  • Comedy
  • Current Affairs
  • Daytime & Early Peak
  • Documentaries
  • Drama
  • Entertainment
  • Features and Formats BBC One & BBC Two
  • Features, Formats & Factual on BBC Three
  • HD at the BBC
  • History & Business
  • Learning
  • Open University
  • Music & Events
  • Religion & Ethics
  • Science & Natural History
  • Sport
• Browse by channel
  • BBC One
  • BBC Two
  • BBC Three
  • BBC Four
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
• Service Strategies
• Programme Acquisition
• Nations and Regions

Print this page

Current Affairs on BBC Two

• See all BBC Two briefs

Commissioner: Clive Edwards

Overview

There is a wide range of shapes, topics, treatments and tones for Current Affairs on BBC Two, from Conspiracy Files: Osama Bin Laden, with its novel approach to a highly disputed issue, to the immersive Toughest Place To Be A ..., through to Mixed Britannia, a  compelling series with George Alagiah on the previously untold history of Britain's mixed race community. With this wide range of tone and approach, Current Affairs on BBC2 will continue to both seek out new areas for exploration, and examine life closer to home.

Current affairs on BBC Two should also be looking at unfamiliar subjects. This World continues to bring the world to British audiences. Foreign Current Affairs is an important part of our overall offering.

BBC Two Current Affairs should be as inclusive as possible and take serious issues to as many people as possible 

What's been working well gallery

Toughest Place to be a… achieved a higher than average young profile for the slot. The experiential and immersive approach delivered issues about developing countries in a way that felt genuinely compelling and brought in audiences of 2.0 million. 

Secret War On Terror, an example of gold-plated landmark current affairs which brought in an audience of 1.2 million.

Posh and Posher : Why Public School Boys Run Britain, a topical, investigative domestic landmark which performed well.  

Current Affairs - BBC Two - Accessible pieces with broad appeal - Flexible on shape but no singles - Could be 2 - 3 × 60' short series.

More recently, titles like Toughest Place To Be A ..., India on Four Wheels and The Conspiracy Files have used a different tone and approach and attracted an audience who would not normally be drawn to more traditional Current Affairs output. Finding a way in to Current Affairs for this audience is an ongoing priority for the channel.

This World - BBC Two - Pre and post watershed 60's.

This World films cover people and issues around the world. It covers the major international stories of the year in an engaging, documentary style. Spain's Stolen Babies, Inside the Meltdown and Gypsy Child Thieves are examples of powerful storytelling applied to important subjects. This World generally attracts a much more diverse audience than average.

Current Affairs - BBC TWO - 2 - 4 x 60's Shape flexible. Could be 2 × 60' essay-like or 3 - 4 × 60' series for 2100 or 2000.

We want gold-plated, high-end Current Affairs pieces like Secret Pakistan, as well as broader more accessible titles like Toughest Place To Be A ... which look at new territories or take a new angle on existing territories.  We are also looking for domestic topical landmarks like Posher and Posher : Why Public School Boys Run Britain, which have something new and important to say told in a lively and engaging way.  

Where are the opportunities available? 

There are opportunities in the Inhouse Guarantee and Wocc in 12/13.  Please note that a number of hours have a Regional or Nations quota attached 

How should I submit my ideas and who should I pitch to?

All proposals should be submitted via the e-commissioning system to the relevant genre controller or commissioner. Take a look at the Who's Who for the latest current affairs commissioning team contacts

Want to know more about the broader BBC Two service strategy?

If you would like to know more about Janice Hadlow's BBC Two channel strategy, please visit the BBC Two page.