BBC bolsters iPlayer, axes Atlantis

The BBC has ordered a raft of comedy programming for its VoD service iPlayer as part of an upcoming Funny Valentine season of shows.

The shows will be available from February 13 and star various comedians discussing their experiences of and views on Valentine’s Day, including two offerings from Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer’s Pett Productions.

Wild Love is a sequel to Matt Berry’s wildlife show Lone Wolf, with his latest offering featuring the courtships and mating rituals of animals. Pett’s other show, A Tale of 2 Roms, explores seduction techniques for first dates.

Elsewhere, musical comedian Bill Bailey will reimagine one of his compositions in Love Song, a spoof music video poking fun at the earnestness of romantic rock, while other shows include Dear Jean-Pierre, which explores a relationship gone wrong and is being produced by Steve Coogan’s prodco Baby Cow.

The UK pubcaster has also launched Private View, an iPlayer exclusive strand that sees celebrities such as musician Tinie Tempah hosting tours of art exhibitions, and has ordered three drama shorts including Oakwood, written by Simon Longman and directed by Andrew Cumming, which explores the formation of a punk band.

Victoria Jaye, head of TV content for iPlayer, said the shows were “a glimpse of iPlayer’s next wave of innovation.”

In related news, the BBC has axed fantasy drama Atlantis after two seasons. The show, from Urban Myth Films, Cymru Wales and the BBC, started its second and now final run in November.