Richard Hawley

For all you Culture fans - the Culture Show is to return in a new slot and extended format.


Culture Show gets 'enhanced role'

The programme is presented by Lauren Laverne and Mark Kermode
The Culture Show will be extended to 50 minutes and moved to a 7pm weekday slot in a revamp of BBC Two's arts schedule.

In addition to the weekly programme, six hour-long documentaries will be made under the show's banner.

Controller of BBC Two, Janice Hadlow, said the revamped strand would "offer more authority and sometimes, too, more surprise in its coverage"

The team responsible for The Culture Show will also produce Newsnight Review after its planned 2010 move to Glasgow.

Speaking at the launch of BBC Two's spring and summer schedule, Hadlow confirmed that current Newsnight Review presenters Kirsty Wark and Martha Kearney would stay with the programme.

The discussion show will be called on to "extend its remit beyond pure review" although the exact details of the new format are still being worked out.

The Culture Show was originally launched in a 7pm weekday slot in 2004 before being moved to Saturday nights and then to Tuesdays at 10pm.

Hadlow said the programme, currently presented by Lauren Laverne and Mark Kermode, "had done a wonderful job in attracting the interest of younger viewers; now I hope it can expand its appeal".

The first two programmes in the new series will come from the Manchester International Festival, with three later programmes from the Edinburgh International Festival.

Useful information. Thanks for that Baroness.

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The bitter and the sweet

Sounds good, I like the eclectic music and art and stuff that they present. I like their banter too. Looking forward to it...

It used to be on around that time anyway. Basically, it's one of those shows that gets shoved around the schedules because they're not sure what to do with it. A shame, as it can be a great programme.

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Fake it 'til you make it.