BBC orders virus-focused factual trio

The BBC has ordered a trio of coronavirus-related factual titles for BBC1’s daytime schedule, including one helmed by former EastEnders star Ross Kemp.

Ross Kemp

Docuseries Ross Kemp: Britain’s Volunteer Army (5×45’) celebrates the efforts of some of the country’s 750,000 volunteers during the coronavirus crisis.

The series is produced by UK prodco Curve Wales, with Charlie Bunce and Sarah Singler exec producing.

The UK pubcaster has also ordered fellow five-parter Saving Our Nurses. The 45-minute series follows an NHS guidance scheme for new nurses as they are paired up with senior staff to prepare to face the pandemic.

Saving Our Nurses is produced by All3Media-owned Betty alongside OMG North. The exec producers on the series are Pam Cavannagh, Dympna Jackson and Alex Menzies, with Steve McConville series producing.

Finally, Our Finest Hours (5×30’) takes a look at other times in history when the UK has pulled together in a crisis. The programme will combine wartime archive and contemporary news footage from across the UK to illustrate its response to extraordinary times.

Each episode will look at the impact of Covid-19 on families, communities and businesses and compare this to how the nation has responded to past crises.

Tomos TV is producing the series, with Gerard Melling as exec producer and David Warren as series producer.

Carla-Maria Lawson, head of daytime and early peak for BBC1, said: “Viewers look to BBC1 daytime programming to offer reassurance and trustworthy content which also entertains, especially in times of heightened uncertainty. We can bring the nation together through storytelling which has integrity, heart and humanity at its core.”