BBC Factual announces three new History commissions for BBC Two and iPlayer

BBC Factual affirmed its commitment to a broad and exciting range of History output with three new commissions for BBC Two and iPlayer: The Diary of Anne Frank (wt), Brexit: How Britain Voted Out (wt), and an additional episode of the acclaimed series The Elon Musk Show, with Musk: The Next Chapter (wt).

Simon Young, Head of Commissioning, History, says: “We want BBC History to reach the widest possible audience, from those seeking deep specialist expertise and insight, to those curious about the events of the recent past that are shaping the modern world. The programmes we are announcing today do just that - whether it is understanding the specific brutality of the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Holland during WW2, the tectonic forces that led to Brexit, or the very recent historical shifts shaping modern America. In a world where misinformation is on the rise, and viewer trust is fundamental, this slate of programmes demonstrates that the BBC’s dedication to inform and educate is second to none.”

Brexit: How Britain Voted Out (w/t)

Brexit: How Britain Voted Out (w/t), produced by Norma Percy for Zinc Media Group’s Brook Lapping, tells the story of the year that changed the course of British history. It will air on BBC Two and iPlayer later this year to mark the tenth anniversary of the Brexit vote.

On the morning after the 2015 general election David Cameron emerged victorious after winning a surprise majority, and Nigel Farage, having failed to win a seat, resigned as UKIP leader. 13 months later the tables had turned. Britain’s vote to leave the EU had shocked the world, and it was David Cameron’s turn to throw in the towel. This series tells the story of how it happened.

In classic Norma Percy style, the story is told only by those who were on the frontline of the campaign, inside the room when the key decisions were taken. The two-parter features interviews with key players involved including David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage, Michael Gove, George Osborne, Gordon Brown, Marina Wheeler, Bob Geldof and Seumas Milne.

Brexit: How Britain Voted Out will unravel the rivalries, conflicts and betrayals that tore apart both campaigns. The series uncovers the meetings and conversations that took place behind-closed-doors at a time when careers and reputations were both made and destroyed.

Series Producer, Norma Percy says: “As the 10-year anniversary of the referendum approaches, it’s a wonderful opportunity to tell the story of the campaign. We’re lucky to have assembled an amazing cast of characters, some speaking publicly for the very first time, who tell us what it was like during this extraordinary period in British politics”

Brexit: How Britain Voted Out, a 2 x 60’, for BBC Two and iPlayer, is made by Brook Lapping. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual and the Commissioning Editor is Simon Young. The Executive Producer is Angus Macqueen, the Series Producer is Norma Percy and the Series Director is Max Stern. The series is being distributed by Zinc Distribution.

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The Diary Of Anne Frank (w/t)

On July 6, 1942, Anne Frank, a 13-year-old Jewish girl goes into hiding with her family in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. For two years, she keeps an extraordinary and intimate diary of their lives inside the ‘Secret Annexe.’ What she wrote is now recognised as a powerful record of one of the darkest periods in modern history.

Working in association with the Anne Frank Fonds, founded by Anne’s father Otto Frank, and with exclusive access to her diary and family archive, this premium history boxset will use Anne’s deeply personal first-person testimony to tell the story of how 75 per cent of the Jewish population was murdered by the Nazis in this corner of Europe. [Source: annefrank.org]

This series will connect Anne’s personal perspective, limited by the confines of the “Secret Annexe”, to the broader atrocities unfolding just outside her walls - from the streets of Amsterdam as the Nazis’ grip on the Jewish population tightens, to the battlefields of Europe as Allied forces advance.

Powerful, dramatised testimony from other eyewitnesses and survivors will combine with a young actress taking on the role of Anne to create a moving and comprehensive picture of these horrifying war years and rarely seen archive and interviews with leading experts will bring these piercing accounts to life.

Executive Producer, James House, says: “Many of us think we know Anne Frank but I’m not sure we do. She’s funny, mischievous, whip-smart and resilient even in the darkest of circumstances. The words and experiences of a child are a particularly sobering reminder of what can happen when a dangerous ideology takes hold.”

The Diary of Anne Frank (w/t), a 3x60’, is being made by BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions for BBC Two and iPlayer, and PBS in association with Skai Greece. It was commissioned for the BBC by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Simon Young, Head of History, and Zara Frankel is the Executive in Charge at PBS. Executive Producer is James House; Series Producer is Helen Sage; Consulting Executive Producer for BBC Studios is Andrew Cohen. BBC Studios is handling global sales.

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Musk: The Next Chapter (w/t)

Musk: The Next Chapter (w/t) is the next instalment of BBC series The Elon Musk Show from 72 Films, a Fremantle Company, and brings up to date the story of one of the most polarising, enigmatic and consequential figures in the world today. This film will track Musk’s life since his tumultuous takeover of Twitter/X in 2022, his new political agenda, his very public backing and break-up with Donald Trump, and the roller-coaster ups and downs of his complex personal life.

Interviews with those close to him and people who have watched him at close quarters chart new insights into Musk's beliefs and personality, and the decision-making processes of a multi-billionaire who profoundly affects the world we live in. We’ll also delve back into his past to look for the real motivations that drive him to be the richest, most powerful and one of the most famous people on the planet.

Is Musk a visionary who wants to save free speech, the ultimate humanitarian, or an unelected superpower willing to burn it all down for his own benefit? The film gives viewers a front-row seat as the world’s richest man tests just how much influence one individual can wield over the world.

John Douglas, Executive Producer says: “Elon Musk remains one of the most talked-about and controversial figures in the world today. In this film, 72 Films returns to his rapidly unfolding story, from the takeover of Twitter/X, his growing political influence and to his complex personal life, the time is right to explore how the actions of one individual can reverberate across media, technology and global politics.”

Gussy Sakula-Barry, Director, says: “Elon Musk is exponentially richer than anyone else in the world, with a unique position of power and a huge amount to say about our future. It is essential to explore his motivations and the people we’ve interviewed have given real insight into how Elon Musk became who he is today.”

Musk: The Next Chapter (w/t) a 1x60’ for BBC Two and iPlayer, is made by 72 Films, a Fremantle Company. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual and the Commissioning Editor is Simon Young. The Executive Producers are John Douglas and Mark Raphael, the Producer is Yasmine Permaul and the Director is Gussy Sakula-Barry. Fremantle will handle global distribution.

lucy@zilberkweitpr.com 

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