Q&A: BBC Worldwide's Jon Farrar on the BBC channels' portfolio in South Africa: Downton, Dine With Me, and catching up with the Doctor.

After the recent BBC Worldwide channels winter upfront for South Africa for 2013 I asked Jon Farrar, the head of branded services for Western Europe and global editorial strategy at BBC Worldwide Channels more about the BBC channels seen in South Africa.

Jon Farrar spoke about Come Dine with Me South Africa, The Fall and others, BBC Knowledge staying on brand, BBC Lifestyle's trip to the spa, the possibility of more South African produced shows for the BBC channels, closing the broadcasting window gap - and why there's been the delay with Downton Abbey which started its third series in South Africa yesterday.

Recently in the news were the comments that BBC Worldwide will be looking at ending its so-called "non-performing" international channels. What is the future of BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies in South Africa?  Are they strong TV channels and brands and will they remain ongoing channels in South Africa?
Jon Farrar: The international channel portfolio that BBC Channels Worldwide (BBCWW) owns and distributes reaches over 356 million homes across every habitale continent. We'll always be looking at our channels' brands within the portfolio, but all our channels in South Africa are strong performers and with our new season line-up we are confident that they will continue to grow.

Downton Abbey's 3rd series starts in South Africa very late after it was shown elsewhere globally and comparatively longer after the second series which was shown in South Africa, compared to when that series was shown globally. The 4th series of Downton Abbey will start early in 2014 in America. 
Might the 4th series also be on BBC Entertainment, and would the gap be smaller, or how does the roll-out of this series works?
Jon Farrar: We saved Downton Abbey's third series so we could launch it as the lead into Mr Selfridge later this year, offering drama lovers two of the biggest British period dramas of the last decade every Sunday night from August, one after the other.
We're not ready to talk about series four yet, but we will keep you posted.

With the proliferation in the number of channels and within this genre of lifestyle television, how do you feel about the performance and growth of BBC Lifestyle and what gives this channels its edge?
Jon Farrar: BBC Lifestyle has had a trip to the spa and has come back refreshed and invigorated. It is still the number one lifestyle channel in South Africa with a big lead in primetime over its nearest competitor.
The schedule is packed full of sumptuous food programming which the viewers in South Africa continue to live and enjoy.
The success of the channel is down to the viewers coming back day in and day out to shows like MasterChef UK, Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery, The Great British Bake Off and Come Dine With Me. We try and bring the best of the British food programming to South Africa like Food Glorious Food.


Doctor Who and Graham Norton and other shows have definitely helped to turn BBC Entertainment into a much more vibrant and current channel with episodes of several shows now so close to the UK broadcasting date. How difficult was or is that to achieve and what has been the response from viewers on this narrowing of the gap of when shows are seen on BBC Entertainment?
Jon Farrar: The overall response to this has been positive. With the latest series of Doctor Who we were able to go within 24 hours of the BBC showing it in the United Kingdom. Each show has its own challenges but the ambition is to get closer to the UK broadcasting dates with as many shows as possible. Top Gear for instance is ten days after the United Kingdom broadcasting date.

I was asked would The Fall [hugely buzz and attention getting and critically acclaimed new British drama series] be on BBC Entertainment soon. Is that new show a possibility for a channel such as BBC Entertainment or is that not a property viewers should have hopes to see on BBC Entertainment?
Jon Farrar: We haven't made a decision over The Fall, but the latest series of our biggest crime franchises - Sherlock and Luther - are coming back to BBC Entertainment soon, so we certainly look at bringing the best of original British drama to our South African audiences.

BBC Knowledge is really the most "cleverest" channel on television available in South Africa. It has remained cerebral and didn't dilute its offering and been "dumbed down" or moved away from its original channel positioning. 
With many other channels in the factual and documentary genre and game, how challenging or difficult or intricate is it to remain true to the ethos of what BBC Knowledge is? Where does all the programming come from to constantly be able to package and programme a vast array of high quality documentaries without losing the channel's focus?
Jon Farrar: The challenge for BBC Knowledge is still to stay true to its brand without becoming a niche channel.
We want to be broad and mainsteam with intelligent programming. Fortunately there is a fantastic supply of programming from our public service parents that covers an exciting, diverse range of subjects, from the stunning natural history of Polar Bear Family and Me, to the jaw-dropping real life stories of Unsafe Sex and the City, and the brilliantly intimate portrait of the world's most famous woman in Our Queen.


With the huge success of Come Dine with Me South Africa and such great production values, could BBC Worldwide possibly commission another type of format show or type of series made specifically for or within South Africa, or will Come Dine with Me SA remain the singular focus production wise?

Jon Farrar: Come Dine with Me South Africa has been a huge success in South Africa and one that we are very proud to be part of. We have started commissioning more content for our global portfolio of channels - Million Dollar Intern and Best in Town will be airing later this year and the ambition is that some of these could graduate to South African formats with South African talent.
Come Dine with Me South Africa's third series starts in September but the hope is that it doesn't just end there.

2013 BBC Winter upfront: Mr Selfridge to BBC Entertainment, Polar Bears and unsafe sex on BBC Knowledge.

BBC Worldwide Channels which runs BBC Entertainment (DStv 120), BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174), BBC Knowledge (DStv 184) and CBeebies (DStv 306) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform unveiled its upcoming programming across the channels to ad buyers, TV critics and ad sales executives at its 2013 BBC South Africa Winter Upfront which was only done in Johannesburg.

"We know that viewers have a personal relationship with the programmes they love," said Joel Churcher, the  account director for BBC Worldwide Channels for the Central Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMA) region about the BBC's four channels "each of which is specifically tailored, shaped and fine-tuned to suit South African tastes".

"Our aim is to grow each of our BBC channel brands and we remain committed to bringing the very best of British programming to South Africa to attract a quality audience," said Joel Churcher.

"We're living through a golden age of British creativity," said Jon Farrar, the head of branded services for Western Europe & Global editorial strategy. "British TV is fizzing with brilliant ideas, captivating talent and dizzying ambition and I'm thrilled that we are able to bring the best of this to our channels in South Africa."

BBC Worldwide announced that the new drama Mr Selfridge is coming to BBC Entertainment about a man setting up London's most famous department store a century ago. The Chase is a new gameshow, and on the factual side there is Polar Bear - My Family and Me.

BBC Lifestyle has the United Kingdom's latest food competition Food Glorious Food coming to South African screens and the channel is adding Bill's Kitchen: Notting Hill to the line-up in which Bill Granger cooks his trademarkvibrant flavours in London's most fashionable neighbourhood.

Two further factual entertainment series coming to South Africa include Best in Town and Million Dollar Intern. "They are themed around the workplace, but it's the characters, conflict, and moments of unbelievable drama that will have viewers coming back each week. We're still in production on them, but early cuts are hugely exciting," said Jon Farrar.

"They are packed with the same sort of jaw-dropping moments that made Come Dine with Me SA such a hit." He said Come Dine with Me SA which will return for a third season to BBC Entertainment "is guaranteed to be the biggest topic of conversation on Monday nights from September".


Here's the BBC channels' upcoming programming:

BBC Entertainment
Mr Selfridge, coming soon
An ITVStudios co-production with Masterpiece distributed by BBC Worldwide. Jeremy Piven is Harry Selfridge setting up a department store in London in 1909.

The Chase, starts Thursday 11 July at 21:00
Bradley Walsh is the presenter of this new quiz show game show.

Glastonbury festival, Sunday 30 June at 18:00
Open air and performing arts festival coverage.

Come Dine with Me South Africa III, starts in September
12-part third season of the show in which four strangers take turns to host a dinner evening and all get graded to find a winner during snark filled dinner parties.

Endeavour, coming soon
A gripping prequel drama series to Inspector Morse. Four new mysteries follow Endeavour Morse (Shaun Evans), whose early days as a detective constable with the Oxford City Police see him risk everything to solve mysteries.

Fool Brittania, coming soon
Dom Joly unleashing pranks, tricks and hidden camera set-ups on the unsuspecting British public.

BBC Lifestyle
Food Glorious Food, started Thursday 6 June at 20:00
A competition for budding cooks.

Marbella Mansions, starts Sunday 14 July at 18:00
An insider's view of the multimillion dollar mansions on the Southern Spanish coast, following estate agents, interior designers and property managers working in the top end of Marbella's housing market.

Bill's Kitchen, coming soon
10-part series in which Bill Granger creates delicious dishes with just a few ingredients.

BBC Knowledge
Top Gear Week, coming soon
A televisual treat for petrolheads everywhere with Top Gear 41, Top Gear Festival, Top Gear: The Worst Car in the History of the World and Top Gear: Top Fails.

Unsafe Sex in the City, starts Wednesday 28 August at 21:00
An honest and unflinching look at the dangers of unprotected sex looking at the sexual health of Britain's youth as seen through an STD treatment clinic in Manchester.

Polar Bear - My Family and Me, coming soon
A BBC/Animal Planet co-production in which wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan gains the trust of a family of polar bears to observe a year in the life of these animals.

Penguins - Spy in the Huddle, coming soon
A BBC and Discovery Channel production in which animatronic cameras disguised as penguins infiltrate a colony of emperor penguins in Antarctica.

CBeebies
Old Jack's Boat, starts Monday 5 August at 17:50
Sarah & Duck, coming soon

Doctor Who on BBC Entertainment on DStv in South Africa to show episodes from now on only one day behind the United Kingdom broadcast.

Fixing problems in time really is possible: After years of being far behind, the Doctor intervened - South African viewers will henceforth now see episodes of Doctor Who virtually at the same time as it's being shown in the United Kingdom.

South African viewers will see episodes of Doctor Who from the end of March on BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) just one day after it is shown on the BBC in Britain.

When the second part of series seven of Doctor Who consisting of 8 episodes start in the United Kingdom on 30 March, South African viewers will start to see it from the very next day on BBC Entertainment on 31 March thanks to BBC Worldwide Channels which manages the BBC's portfolio of international TV channels.

Cutting the lag period of this long-running cult science fiction British drama to now make it extremely current and aligning British pop culture ever closer with that of South Africa where viewers will now be able to join in real-time on social media, is a huge improvement for BBC Entertainment.

"It's a very important part of our programming strategy to bring acquired content to air as close to its UK transmission as possible," says Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region (EMEA) for BBC Worldwide Channels about finally closing the international broadcasting delay cap of the iconic Doctor Who.

"Doctor Who is a hugely popular programme and I'm delighted we are able to bring the Doctor's latest adventures to South African audiences just one day after the United Kingdom premiere transmission," says Jon Farrar.

Doctor Who will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in November this year which makes the alignment even more noteworthy and apt.

Liam Keelan appointed in the newly created position of global editorial director for BBC Worldwide.

Liam Keelan has been appointed in the newly created position of global editorial director for BBC Worldwide.

He will be responsible for developing an editorial and creative vision for BBC Worldwide across its set of global TV channels such as BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies which are seen on MultiChoice's DStv platform in South Africa.

Liam Keelan will oversee the editorial direction of BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies and shape the editorial vision for new channel brands.

Liam Keelan will be reporting to Helen Jackson, chief content officer.

Numtums Adventures coming to CBeebies as a new kids show, embedding maths learning into comic adventures.

Numtums Adventures is a brand-new children's show for kids between 4 and 6 which is being produced by BBC Worldwide Channels for CBeebies (DStv 306) and which South African viewers will get to see on the kids channel from later in 2013.

BBC Worldwide Channel unveiled Numtums Adventures today as a new title for the international CBeebies channel. Numtums Adventures is produced by the CBeebies in-house team and animated by A Productions in Bristol.

There will initially be 52 episodes and the show embeds maths learning in a range of comic adventures.

"We've created some groundbreaking and popular shows with CBeebies in the United Kingdom across a range of formats and I have no doubt that Numtums Adventures will be just as popular with fans of the channel around the world," says Henrietta Hurford-Jones, the director of CBeebies Investment, BBC Worldwide Channels in a statement announcing Numtums Adventures.

2012 Christmas wishes received from BBC Worldwide Channels ... and a Downton Abbey 2013 calendar.

Bill's Kitchen: Notting Hill commissioned for BBC Lifestyle for June 2013 and Stargazing Live coming to BBC Knowledge in early 2013.

BBC Worldwide Channels has commissioned two new TV shows, Bill's Kitchen: Notting Hill for BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174) which South African viewers will see from June 2013, and Stargazing Live for BBC Knowledge (DStv 184) which South African viewers will see early in 2013.

Bill's Kitchen: Notting Hill is ten 50 minute episodes following Bill Granger, an Australian cook who travels the globe looking for culinary inspiration for his restaurant in London.

Stargazing Live will be broadcast on BBC Knowledge early next year as an astronomical event for global audiences, anchored by Dara O Briain. It will comprise three themed episodes, each 50 minutes long, broadcast from the control room of the Jodrell Bank radio observatory in Cheshire.

Each of the episodes will focus on a different area of astronomical interest and discussion – Mars, Earth and The Big Bang. Professor Brian Cox, the renowned astronomer Mark Thompson and Liz Bonnin will report on different topics from around the world.

"These two new projects are prime examples of our strategy to produce programming with global appealwhich complements our current slate," says Tracy Forsyth, the vice president of commissioning for BBC Worldwide Channels.

"Stargazing will be a great way for our viewers around the world to share in a landmark event, presented by some of Britain's best talent. We are one of the only networks in the world that can deliver these global moments and I'm glad to be working with the BBC's in-house team to give a worldwide platform to one of the United Kingdom's biggest television events."

"Bill Granger is a great talent who can truly represent a global style of cooking. An Australian, now based in West London, who constantly traverses the world in search of inspiration, Bill will fire our international audiences' imaginations with his distinctive brand of fusion food. I'm delighted to be working with Furneaux and Edgar productions who will do a great job of bringing the flavour of Bill's lifestyle to the small screen," says Tracy Forsyth.

BBC and Discovery Channel's new natural history series, Africa, with David Attenborough coming to BBC Knowledge in 2013.

BBC Knowledge (DStv 184) will bring South African viewers Africa in 2013, the 7 episode natural history series which has been a co-production between Discovery Channel and the BBC, narrated by David Attenborough.

The new natural history series will bring viewers images of new species, animal behaviours and secret natural wonders on the continent.

For Africa which has been 4 years in the making, the production team spent more than 1 500 days on location across 79 separate expeditions in 27 African countries. More than 21 different types of cameras were used, filming more than 2 000 hours of footage for the breathtaking new documentary series.

The episode "Making of Africa in the series has David Attenborough narrating how the series was filmed and the final episode will look at the rapid change Africa as a continent and its people are experiencing.

BBC Worldwide Channels grows the viewership of the BBC channels seen in South Africa on DStv by 5,7% in 2012 compared to a year ago.

BBC Worldwide Channels says its portfolio of channels available and seen in South Africa increased its share of commercial viewing year-on-year by 5,7% in 2012, marking the highest commercial share (4,5%) out of all international broadcasters according to DStv-i tracking data.

BBC Worldwide Channels runs the TV channels BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Knowledge and CBeebies on MultiChoice's DStv platform in South Africa.

Calling 2012 a "great year for the BBC channels portfolio in South Africa in an ever competitive market," Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide Channels says "a growing audience have enjoyed the diversity, quality and depth of programming which our BBC channels have to offer".

"Our viewers will have even more to look forward to in 2013 as we continue our commitment to bringing the very best of British television and on-screen talent, original and exclusive commissions and global TV viewing events to our South African audiences."

According to BBC Worldwide Channels, the BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174) channel consistently ranks as the number one lifestyle TV channel on DStv despite tough competition.

The channel's viewership was helped in 2012 by The Great British Bake Off which increased the timeslot average viewership by 62% on the channel compared to the previous 3 months and averaging 80 000 viewers for the semi-final as well as Big Fat Gypsy Weddings which reached 1,4 million viewers over the course of the series.

According to BBC Worldwide Channels, BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) rankeda s the number 2 international TV channel under DStv Premium subscribers in 2012 despite fierce competition thanks to shows such as Top Gear, Downton Abbey and Come Dine with Me South Africa.

Downton Abbey boosted BBC Entertainment viewership by a whopping 270% during its timeslot making BBC Entertainment the number 1 international general entertainment TV channel on DStv in South Africa.

Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee increased viewership by 216% on BBC Knowledge (DStv 184) compared to the channel's average viewership.

BBC Entertainment in 2013 will have more Top Gear for viewers (series 19), the next third series of Downton Abbey and the critically acclaimed new drama Call The Midwife.

BBC Lifestyle will continue to deliver exclusive access to some of the best British talent around with shows such as Ramsay’s Ultimate Cookery, the return of The Great British Bake Off for a second series, as well as original commissions including Food and Drink.

BBC Knowledge in 2013 will have new original commissions such as Stargazing and Dara O’Briain’s Science Club along with the beautifully shot wildlife documentary Africa narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

BREAKING. George Entwistle resigns as the director general of the BBC as the British public broadcaster is mired in growing scandal.

You will never see anything remotely resembling this happening at the SABC where no top executives ever step down due to scandal: George Entwistle, the new director general of the BBC has resigned after a widening scandal at the British Broadcasting Corporation.

George Entwistle just resigned after he admitted that the latest - the second - lapse of journalistic integrity and journalism standards at Newsnight, the BBC's version of Carte Blanche, has caused a crisis of trust between the British public and the BBC.

"I have decided that the honourable thing to do, is to step down from the post of director general," George Entwistle said. Wrong journalistic decisions and shoddy journalism at the BBC and the Newsnight programme has done terrible damage to the BBC's reputation.

George Entwistle was only appointed in July and is now out the door at the BBC after seven weeks due to his bad handling of the BBC's journalistic lapses amidst mounting pressure on himself and the BBC.

"In the light of the fact that the director general is also the editor in chief, and ultmate responsible for all content; and in the light of the unacceptable journalistic standards of the Newsnight film broadcast on Friday 2 November, I have decided that the honourable thing to do would be to step down from the post of director general."

"The BBC should appoint a new leader."

The acting director general will now be Tim Davie as the BBC looks for a new permanent director general. Why is this important? Well Tim Davie, currently in charge of the BBC's radio output and who joined the BBC in 2005, was supposed to take over from the beginning of December as the new chief executive of BBC Worldwide, the BBC's commercial arm.

BBC Worldwide of course supplies the channels such as BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies to MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV service in South Africa. That will clearly now not be happening.

BBC Worldwide Channels commissions new in-house productions for the BBC Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle.

BBC Worldwide Channels has commissioned brand-new shows for BBC Knowledge (DStv 184) and BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174) and which will be in-house productions for the BBC with the BBC's terrestrial BBC Two TV channel.

It's BBC Worldwide Channels first co-productions with the BBC's in-house team since the major announcement at the end of last month that BBC Worldwide Channels wants to treble the number of original programme hours ordered for its international audience such as South African viewers on MultiChoice's DStv platform.

Coming to BBC Knowledge will be six 50 minute episodes of Dara O Briain's Science Club, a brand-new science magazine format with the Irish comedian as presenter. The show will be seen in South Africa and Africa in 2013.

The new science series will take a single subject each week and examines it from lots of different and unexpected angles - from extinction to sex, Einstein to space exploration and brain chemistry to music. The programmes will plug viewers into the latest thinking on hot topics.

He will be joined by materials scientist and engineer Mark Miodownik, neuroscientist Tali Sharot, physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski and science writer Alok Jha.

Coming to BBC Lifestyle is an international version of the newly revived Food and Drink series, presented by the Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux Jnr. Food and Drink is BBC Worldwide's first ever original production for BBC Lifestyle. There will initially be six 30 minute episodes.

Each episode of Food and Drink will feature mouth-watering recipes cooked by Michel Roux Jnr and a stellar cast from the world of food and drink who will join him in the kitchen. 

Food and Drink will play host to the latest debates and discussions from the world of gastronomy, and will showcase the hottest food trends - delivering up-to-date news, views and consumer issues. The series will be vibrant and relevant, providing a fascinating look at what, how and why we eat and drink today.

Both shows have been ordered by Tracy Forsyth, the vice president for commissioning at BBC Worldwide Channels.

"Both Dara O Briain's Science Club and  Food and Drink are great examples of the high quality programmes that I am seeking for BBC Worldwide's international channel portfolio," says Tracy Forsyth. "As well as these popular science and culinary formats holding broad appeal for our viewers around the world, I believe the shows have the potential to be returning series which can be built into global brands."

BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith leaving the Britcaster after 8 years; replaced by Tim Davie from 1 December.

BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith (left) is leaving after 8 years at the helm of the commercial arm of the BBC (and 18 at the BBC in total); he will be replaced by Tim Davie.

BBC Worldwide runs the channels such as BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Knowledge and CBeebies in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv and also produces format shows which are shown globally. BBC Worldwide has become the world's largest owner of TV channels and the largest TV distributor outside of US companies. The channels operation now attracts over 360 million subscribers around the world to its BBC-branded portfolio of channels.

Tim Davie (right), currently the BBC's director of audio and music will take over on 1 December 2012. John Smith told staff he is leaving the BBC to pursue new opportunities in the commercial sector.

"Tim will now take the BBC's commercial arm into the next chapter of its development," says George Entwistle, BBC director-general in a press statement.

"I look forward to leading BBC Worldwide through its next phase of growth, delivering further dividends to the BBC and championing great British content around the world," says Tim Davie in the same statement.

BREAKING. Jana Bennett out as president of BBC Worldwide Networks as BBC Worldwide restructures into 7 geographical worldwide regions.

Jana Bennett is out as the president of BBC Worldwide Networks which runs the BBC's commercial portfolio of channels such as BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies in South Africa and across the world.

Jana Bennett is leaving BBC Worldwide Networks later this year as BBC Worldwide Networks announced a major restructure with a bigger focus on international markets which will come into effect on 1 October.

BBC Worldwide will be doing away with its five global divisions and move to 7 geographical regions with South Africa and Africa falling in a new CEEMEA (Central and Eastern Europe; Middle East and Africa) region which BBC Worldwide sees as being part of a "high growth group".

The other regions will be North America, UK, Australia/New Zealand, Western Europe, Asia and Latin America. Each of these 7 regions will report into 4 presidents, all of whom will report to John Smith, the BBC Worldwide CEO.

"The new organisation is designed to help us capture untapped opportunities for high quality British content and BBC branded services across the world in order to sustain our track record of strong growth into the future," says John Smith in a statement. "It has been worked out over a number of months, with inputs from across the world, and throughout our company. I believe it will accelerate delivery of our global portfolio, and help us drive future growth and returns for the BBC."

In a separate statement from BBC Worldwide Jana Bennett says "My time at BBC Worldwide has been exciting and stimulating. I am delighted to have grown the BBC's international channel portfolio at a time when global markets are so highly competitive and to have brought quality British programmes and events to new audiences around the world."

She said that with the restructuring she feels "this is a good moment for me to work outside BBC Worldwide".

ICING ON THE CAKE. BBC Lifestyle launches Love Baking season on the channel with delectable new TV shows.

BBC Lifestyle (DStv 180) is launching a "Love Baking" season with a cake and bake programming extravaganza for viewers including new shows such as The Great British Bake Off (described as MasterChef meets British cake cornucopia), the delectable new cooking show Baking Made Easy and the documentary series Choccywoccydoodah.


Besides Jamie Oliver's new show on BBC Lifestyle the channel is premiering the have-to-watch The Great British Bake Off with kitchen drama and extreme cake baking activity as British amateur cake makers and bakers try to outdo each other with their over creations.

The hot new Lorraine Pascale (right) is also making her exclusive debut appearance on South African television in Baking Made Easy.  Having left the modelling world to become a qualified chef, baker and pâtissier, the glamour girlshares delicious sweet and savoury recipes with her audiences. From quick and easy to daring, dazzling and inspiring dishes with a real wow factor, Baking Made Easy offers helpful shortcuts and professional kitchen secrets whilst offering large slices of glamour and baking know-how.

"I am thrilled to announce the launch of the new Love Baking season on BBC Lifestyle, and to continue to offer our viewers exclusive access to some of the best British talent and programming around," says Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide Channels.

"Baking is currently one of the hottest global cooking trends, and as well as serving up some of the freshest new talent and television from Lorraine Pascale and The Great British Bake Off, we are delighted to offer our viewers the opportunity to get involved themselves by entering the Love Baking competition."

The Master Pâtissier Eric Lanlard.will be judging the Love Baking competition BBC Lifestyle will be running.

In The Great British Bake Off 10 British bakers have their baking skills put to the test through a series of challenges judged by Britain's finest professional bakers. Each week The Great British Bake Off will test the contestants on different baking disciplines and will head out on a nationwide tour of Britain to do it.  The bakers will see their cake, biscuit, bread and pastry skills carefully scrutinised to see if they've got what it takes to be crowned ''Great British Bake Off’s Best Amateur Baker".


The quirky 10 part documentary series Choccywoccydoodah will start on Sunday 18 June at 20:00 on BBC Lifestyle. The series takes audiences behind the scenes of this internationally acclaimed Brighton based cake shop and provides access to the talented staff responsible for creating some of the most ambitious and technically demanding chocolate masterpieces ever seen.  With cakes ranging from £9 000 and a client base that boasts A list celebrities such as Madonna and Kylie, viewers will be kept captivated by the Choccywoccydoodah team and their spectacular creations.

BBC Entertainment once again doing its Sport Relief fundraiser from March in South Africa along with special programming.

Sport Relief, the fundraising initiative of BBC Worldwide Channels which has successfully been introduced in South Africa and been done through the BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) channel, will be going global this year from March.

This annual British fundraising initiative which has successful caught on in South Africa, will this year not just involve Britain and South Africa but be going global. ''BBC Entertainment: Sport Relief goes global for the first time ever with a special package of programmes for our viewers around the world,'' BBC Worldwide Channels just announced.

Stephen Fry will kick off a whole season of programming on BBC Entertainment from 18 March in South Africa with ''This is Sport Relief'' a specially produced programme explaining how the event raises laughs, raises money and changes lives with highlights from Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear team, England footballer David Beckham and Little Britain's David Walliams.

It will also include David Walliams' fundraising swim along the 140 mile length of the Thames and a comedy special in which celebrities compete in ancient Olympic events.

The special programming will end with a special 4 hour broadcast entitled Sport Relief Goes Global done from The Mall in London which will include comedy highlights from Sport Relief 2012 and will include entertainment and sketches from the stars of Outnumbered, Top Gear, Doctor Who and Smithy from Gavin and Stacey.

''Global viewing events are going to be a big part of our activity tis year and I'm thrilled that we can kick off with Sport Relief,'' says Jana Bennett, the president of BBC Worldwide Networks.

''Sport Relief is a uniquely inspirational event, which harnesses the passion for sport to unite viewers behind a great cause. I'm thrilled that we at BBC Worldwide can pull the force of our branded noetwork behind Sport Relief this year, bringing out viewers one of the year's biggest entertainment events and giving them the chance to get involved.''

CBeebies readying 8 short film stories starting from February; read by Sid Sloane for the preschool kids channel in Africa.

BBC Worldwide which runs the preschool kids channel CBeebies (DStv 306) in South Africa, Africa and around the world, has concluded deals to bring 8 well-known tales to television which will be read by CBeebies presenters in their respective territories.

The CBeebies presenters - spanning from Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America and Poland - will each give the stories their own ''distinct local flavour'' to create a range of individually produced story films - 40 short illustrated films in total.

Stories include Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Magic Porridge Pot, Cinderella, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Shopping With Dad, The Gigantic Turnip and Emily's Tiger.

''These stories are a lovely addition to the CBeebies’ international portfolio,'' says Henrietta Hurford-Jones, director of CBeebies Investment at BBC Worldwide in a statement. ''It's very important that children in all our markets can relate on a very personal level to what they see on screen and these stories bring them universally loved tales with the added familiarity of their local presenters.''

CBeebies for Africa will have Sid Sloane as the narrator. The stories will start from February and some are already available on the CBeebies website for South Africa.

BBC Worldwide signs HBO deal for made-for-TV movies, series and doccies for BBC Entertainment and BBC Knowledge.

BBC Worldwide Channels has signed a deal for an HBO drama as well as comedy shows for BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) and BBC Knowledge (DStv 251) in Africa.

BBC Entertainment will broadcast the movie length dramas Stephen Poliakoff's Capturing Mary and The Affair, a Second World War movie. BBC Entertainment will also broadcast the high end drama Rome as well as the risque sketch show Little Britain USA.

In 2011 BBC Knowledge will broadcast the HBO biography Winston Churchill: The Gathering Storm as well as the sequel, Into the Storm. The mini-series Conspiracy with Kenneth Branagh about the Nazi's are also on the slate.