What's under the Red Button?

What's under the Red Button?

BBC Red Button, which launched over 10 years ago, is currently used by 10 million people a week. Pressing the Red Button on BBC channels when watching digital TV, either through satellite, cable or with a Freeview box, will give access to a whole host of extra entertainment and information. As well as the latest news, sport and weather, there's lots of other fresh content, ranging from Digital Text services, such as flight arrival information, to great extras and enhancements to favourite shows. There may be exclusive performances, videos or opportunities to watch and experience live events from different camera angles, with alternative audio tracks or access to behind-the-scenes information.

This dedicated section in Programme Information will keep viewers up to date with the latest information about what can be found under the Red Button, enabling them to enjoy even more fantastic content from the BBC.

George Best Extra

In 1971, George Best was at the top of his game and at the height of his fame, but the demands of his pop-star lifestyle were beginning to tell on the 24-year-old footballer.

When Best failed to catch a train for a game at Chelsea, he was suspended for a fortnight by Manchester United amid a welter of debate and criticism.

In George Best Extra, an archive programme from 1971 available to digital viewers behind the Red Button after the transmission of new drama Best – His Mother's Son, Hugh McIlvanney explores the crossroads that the phenomenon that was George Best had reached, with insights from George and some of his team-mates and friends.

Available on Sky, Virgin and Freeview

Radio 1's Big Weekend

This year, the biggest, free ticketed event in Europe comes to Swindon and BBC Red Button will be there to witness it.

Music fans will be able to experience the festival from the comfort of their own front rooms with a choice of stages across the weekend while, from Monday, round-the-clock highlights will be made available.

The full line-up is still under wraps, but previous acts to have graced the Radio 1 stages have included Hot Chip, Usher, Keane, Black Eyed Peas and Madonna, so this year's event is sure to be packed full of A-list acts.

Live: 9 and 10 May, 4pm-2am

Highlights: 11-15 May

Available on Sky, Virgin and Freeview

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The year 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn's birth and, to celebrate, BBC Radio 3 and Red Button are taking to the stage.

Digital viewers will be able to watch a fully staged production of Shakespeare's comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream, to which the composer set incidental music, while the audio will be broadcast simultaneously on Radio 3.

As the setting for this special event, director Tim Carroll (of the RSC and formerly the Globe Theatre) has selected perhaps the finest Elizabethan hall in the country, Middle Temple Hall in London, the very same room where Shakespeare watched (and possibly acted in) the first performance of Twelfth Night in 1602. Meanwhile, the Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, conducted by Charles Hazlewood, will use period instruments to recreate the sound that Mendelssohn would have imagined.

This one-off performance forms the centrepiece of a weekend of celebratory events to be held across the BBC.

Available on Sky, Virgin and Freeview

Eurovision Party

As Europe's musical alumni head to Moscow for this year's Contest, digital viewers can bring a little of the magic back to Blighty by joining the BBC Red Button Eurovision party.

Viewers can sing along with all of this year's entries, be it Turkey's Düm Tek Tek or Germany's Miss Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, or accompany our very own Jade as she performs Andrew Lloyd Webber's My Time, as chosen by viewers of Your Country Needs You.

Viewers who want to see their name up in lights can share their Eurovision thoughts with fellow partygoers by texting the service. Last year, nearly 15,000 messages were sent in. Viewers can look out for the SMS number when they press the Red Button.

Eurovision Song Contest

Semi-finals: Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 May (BBC Three)

Final: Saturday 16 May (BBC One)

Available on Sky, Virgin and Freeview

Ashes To Ashes Eighties Sing-a-long

Think Ashes To Ashes, and you think of Eighties music. Think Eighties music and you just can't but help join in.

BBC Red Button viewers will be able to do just that after each episode of the BBC One series with the Ashes To Ashes Eighties Sing-a-long.

From Duran Duran's Rio and Human League's Mirror Man, to Bananarama's It Ain't What You Do and Dexy's Midnight Runners' Come On Eileen, if you know them you love them, and you'll want to sing along. If you don't know the songs, you can still join in and have a laugh at the outrageous fashions and hairdos from the time.

Available Monday nights after the show from Monday 27 April (BBC One) on Sky, Virgin and Freeview.

Kerwhizz

The Kerwhizzitor invites CBeebies viewers to join him under the Red Button for a special interactive edition of the quiz with added whizz. Answer his 10 "ker-razy" questions and unlock special credits to build the ultimate pod mod on the Kerwhizz website.

Kerwhizz is designed to be an involving, informative and, most importantly, exhilarating experience for the four to six-year-old age range.

Kerwhizz will be available 6am-7pm from 3-8 and 11-15 May

Via CBeebies, BBC One and BBC Two on Sky, Virgin and Freeview

CBeebies Games

From Big Cook Little Cook's kitchen to Bob The Builder's construction site, the Red Button has something different for CBeebies fans every week.

Here's what's coming up...

27 April-4 May

Sky: Tweenies, Tikkabilla & Tweenies

Freeview: Tikkabilla

Virgin: Roly Mo

5-10 May

Sky: Bob The Builder, Big Cook Little Cook, Tweenies

Freeview: Bill & Ben/Fimbles

Virgin: Tikkabilla

11-17 May

Sky: Postman Pat, Bill & Ben, Tweenies

Freeview: Big Cook Little Cook

Virgin: Roly Mo

Sport Multiscreen

Digital viewers can catch up on all the latest Sport via the BBC Sport multiscreen. Sporting headlines are available around the clock, with up to five additional streams available to cover the best that BBC Sport has to offer.

Coming Up...

Formula 1

Coverage of the new Formula 1 season continues as the drivers and constructors head to Bahrain and then Spain in a bid to establish an early-season advantage over their rivals.

F1 fans can customise their viewing experience via BBC Red Button, with access to all on-track sessions, including Friday and Saturday practice and qualifying.

On race day itself, a choice of three streams will be available, featuring split-screen in-car camera feeds, leaderboards and rolling highlights with the option to listen to either network or BBC Radio 5 Live commentary. Following on from the end of each race on BBC One there is an additional interactive programme analysing the weekend's events and picking up views from the track.

Meanwhile, younger F1 fans will be in pole position as a host of familiar stars provide alternative commentary to each of this season's Grands Prix. Join Michael "Abs" Absalom, Dan Clarkson and F1 expert Perry McCarthy on the Sport Multiscreen for interviews, sketches and up-to-date info on what's going on in each race.

Bahrain GP from Friday 24 April

Spain GP from Friday 8 May

The full F1 schedule is available at:

www.news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/7755219.stm#schedule

Moto GP

BBC Red Button will be trackside in Japan and Spain as the MotoGP season continues apace. This season's coverage has been expanded to include Saturday afternoon qualifying sessions, alongside the existing race-day coverage and post-race MotoGP Extra programme.

Motegi GP from 25 April

Jerez GP from 2 May

Snooker – World Championships

As Ronnie O'Sullivan looks to defend his title, viewers can press the Red Button for live action and highlights from both tables at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.

Coverage can be seen from 18 April-May

London Marathon

From starting gun to finish line, the sport multiscreen will be following this year's marathon runners every step of the way, with separate coverage of the women's race, the men's race, the mini-marathon and a dedicated finish line stream from 12.30pm.

26 April, from 8.30am

Badminton Horse Trials

Once again, this year, equestrian fans will be able to follow the full cross-country event live under the Red Button.

9 May, from 11am

Please note: Sport Multiscreen is available on all platforms including Freesat. However, not all features may be available on Freeview.

The full Red Button sport schedule is available at:

www.news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio