BBC - Commissioning Briefs - Science & Natural History on BBC Two

What We Want

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Science & Natural History on BBC Two

See all BBC Two briefs

Controller: Kim Shillinglaw

Overview

Science and Natural History on TWO must be absolutely fascinating: Programmes should offer genuine factual insight, real substance and push their subject matter forward.

They should feel open to everyone. BBC TWO is a mainstream factual channel, so we want to attract viewers of all ages, backgrounds and genders to a variety of content.

Key priorities for Science:

Build the channel's strength in deep content with an invitational tone in landmarks such as Wonders of the Universe and Story of Science.
Increase focus on serious science, through choice of both subject matter and passionate presenters with real credentials including female experts as with Do We Really Need the Moon? with Maggie Aderin Pocock, but also look to more male skewing subjects such as engineering as in How to Build.
Look for treatments that genuinely surprise, either because they collide science with other genres (history? docs?) or innovate in shape, form or talent (Snow Watch, Unsprung, or Stargazing Live). Alternatively, they have surprising use of technology at their core or revelatory access or journalism.

And in Natural History:

Continue to build the channel's reputation for UK natural history and science of the natural world, but with a stronger human persepctive as in The Bear Family and Me. Look for further developments in the lifestyle meets natural history terrain.
Continue to develop distinctive tones for BBC2 natural history landmarks and international series to differentiate from other channels.
Look for programmes that innovate in shape and form, such as Snow Watch or Stargazing Live.

What's been working well gallery

How to Build - Engineering, but with a strong streak of warmth, character and community.

How To Build
Stargazing Live - Hands on science, presented with verve in humour, in a striking new form

Stargazing Live

Commissioning slots

Science & Natural History - BBC Two - Events - variable shapes

Pieces centred on an event and use new forms to explore a subject. Examples include Stargazing Live, Hitchhikers' Guide and James May in Ten Things You Need to Know.

Science & Natural History - BBC Two - Innovative 60' Natural History - 1-3 x 60'

There is limited space on the BBC TWO Natural History slate for one-offs or short series that innovate for the genre.

The more distinctive the proposition on TWO, the better it does with the audience. So, beyond the 3 classic approaches to Natural History - Habitat, Behaviour, Species - what can we offer?

A cross-genre approach could be a good starting point as can pieces which focus on appealing stories of people and their relationships with nature. Recent successes have included The Bear Family and Me, and Simon King's Shetland Diaries.

We think there's a particular opportunity to resonate with family audiences at 8 here, so think about propositions which might bring them together around the TV. Diaries and expeditions generally find traction in this area, so that might be the starting point for innovation.

Science & Natural History - BBC Two - Science Series - Up to 3 x 60'

BBC TWO science pieces should feel fresh, distinctive and genuinely invite viewers to see something they've not seen before. Whatever the approach, it mustn't get in the way of a rich factual offer.

1 - Science in the real world

BBC TWO is looking for real-world science that is relevant and useful the audience, but which also delivers a strong narrative and sense of scale or adventure. Examples include Do We Really Need the Moon? and the upcoming Frontline Medicine. We are also interested in building on the success of How to Build and finding other subjects/approaches that will appeal to more male-skewing audience.

2 - Science of the natural world

Pieces with a personalised and distinctive take on the natural world have being working well on BBC TWO with programmes like Simon King's Shetland Diaries, The Private Life of... Cows and The Bear Family And Me. The channel would like to continue to strengthen this story.

A broad variety of natural subject matter can work here as programmes find a way to reach out to audiences who might not naturally watch science or natural history, with both novelty and accessibility in approach or the importance of the subject matter.

3 - Significant science

BBC TWO hopes to feature more titles that bring harder sciences to a confident factual audience. These pieces should not feel exclusive, but rather feel like they are inviting audiences into topics like physics or maths.

Strong talent, humour, new filming techniques or adventurous immersive formats can all work towards this invitational aim.

The highly successful Iain Stewart piece How the Earth Made Us shows just how entertainment, personality and compelling content are a heady mix.

4 - Fast Turn Around Science

We are always interested in reactive films that delve into the science behind the headlines. Both Horizon and Bang Goes the Theory have recently produced very succesful programmes on the Japanese tsunami, but we are always open to approaches and ideas from Indies on areas that have hit the headlines.

Where are the opportunites available?

Opportunities exist in the Independent Quota, the WoCC and in-house guarantee in 12/13.

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.

BBC - Commissioning - Science & Natural History on BBC Two