BBC Factual orders new history series, reopens doors to A House Through Time
The BBC has Commissioned Lucy Worsley’s Victorian Murder Club
BBC Factual has ordered four new documentary series for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, including a historical crime series from Lucy Worsley and a Michael Jackson biopic, and commissioned a sixth season of A House Through Time with David Olusoga.
Lucy Worsley’s Victorian Murder Club (3×60’) sees the presenter take on the case of a forgotten Victorian serial killer – dubbed the Thames Torso Murderer – who was never caught. As she examines the historic cold case, she interrogates new theories about the killer’s identity and consults with forensic pathologists and psychologists.
Worsley will also assemble a team of historians and writers to form her own Murder Club, delving into the records to reveal more about the women and the precarious world they lived in, with an aim to unmask one of the 19th century’s most brutal serial killers.
Produced by Wall to Wall Media, it is commissioned by Jack Bootle, head of commissioning, specialist factual. The executive producer is Colette Flight, the series producer is Deborah Lee, the series director is James Ross and the line producer is Shari De Silva.
Escaping Idi Amin (w/t, 2×60’) comes from Banijay UK’s Dragonfly Film & TV and explores the 90-day period in 1972 that all Asians had just 90 days to leave Uganda. Told as a historical thriller, it recounts the story of those 90 days through those who lived it – and how 30,000 Ugandan Asians were British passport holders but not guaranteed entry to a UK that was becoming increasingly anti-immigrant.
The series was commissioned by Simon Young, head of commissioning, history. The executive producers are Nacressa Swan, Ed Coulthard and Will Rowson and the director is Sara Kandasamy.
The third new title, Captured by IS (w/t), comes from the frontlines of the war against the Islamic State group and tells the story of British photojournalist John Cantlie who was kidnapped in Syria alongside his American friend James Foley. The pair were on assignment covering the civil war in 2012 when they were taken hostage and handed over to the infamous gang of British jihadis who became known as “The Beatles.”
Building on original reporting in The Times podcast Last Man Standing by Anthony Loyd and Manveen Rana, the 3×60’ series for BBC Two and iPlayer is a coproduction between Story Films and Basement Films. It was commissioned by Young, the director is Marian Mohamed, the producer is Alec Webb, the editor is Martin McDonnell and the executive producers are Peter Beard and Ben De Pear.
Meanwhile, Legacy: Michael Jackson (w/t) is a three‑part documentary exploring the rise, abuse allegations and enduring legacy of one of the most successful pop stars of all time. With access to rare intimate archive, and revelatory interviews with those closest to him, it is described as the most fully rounded and authoritative portrait of Jackson yet produced – a deeply researched study of a trailblazing musical genius, whose personal life remains a complex enigma.
Made by Fremantle’s 72 Films, it was commissioned by Young, the executive producer is Mark Raphael and the series director is Sophie Fuller. Fremantle is distributing the series internationally.
Returning for a sixth season, A House Through Time sees Professor David Olusoga embark on a new historical investigation as he explores Edinburgh’s spectacular volcanic landscape and equally dramatic history, revealing a new version of our nation’s past through the lives of the ordinary people all living within the walls of a single house.
The 4×60’ production is made by Twenty Twenty Productions. It was commissioned by Young, the executive producer is Rory Wheeler, the series producer is Paul Bradshaw, the directors are Kat Feavers and Jonathan Rowlands, and the commissioning editor is Emma Hindley.
