BBC Press Office

We’re pleased to announce that Iain Bundred will join the BBC as the new Director of Policy and Public Affairs. Iain, currently the Head of Policy for YouTube UK and Europe, is due to start in March next year. He will lead engagement with the UK Government, Devolved Administrations and the Metro Mayors, alongside Ofcom, trade bodies and other partners. Before joining YouTube, Iain worked for PR Consultancy Ogilvy and the Labour Party, including serving as an adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Downing Street. Iain says: “I’m delighted to be joining a brilliant team at such a crucial time. “The BBC has been at the heart of our society for more than a century and I’m thrilled to be playing a part as we plot a course for the future. "I look forward to making the case for the creativity, strength and growth of the BBC and the whole of the industry.”

Congratulations to all the winners for the BBC News Ukraine Book of the Year 2024! 📚 Launched by the BBC’s Ukrainian service in 2005, the BBC Book of the Year award has witnessed two decades of spectacular growth of Ukrainian literature, book publishing, and readership. Bringing to the fore previously unknown writers, the accolade has contributed to promoting the culture of reading in Ukraine to the wider public. Head to the link in the comments to discover the winners and find out more #BBCNews

Sir David Attenborough has shaped TV as we know it 📺 Before he became a familiar face on our screens, David Attenborough was Controller for BBC Two... His legacy extends beyond natural history – pioneering colour TV and shaping iconic moments in sport, music, and comedy. Discover the untold stories on the BBC History website as we celebrate 70 years of David Attenborough on our screens. More here: https://lnkd.in/eB6wwt-C #SirDavidAttenborough #BBCHistory

Congratulations to Jonny McGuigan, who has been appointed as BBC News Executive News Editor, Growth and Social. Jonny has been Senior News Editor for Streaming, where he has supercharged innovation – leading the creation of single story live news streams, new iPlayer formats, curation of news on iPlayer and empowering agile teams to work across the BBC to deliver essential streaming for all the big moments – including the local, UK and US elections and more. Jonny led the team’s recent win at the Broadcast Tech Innovation Awards 2024 for the ‘Watch Your Count Live’ initiative, in which BBC News filmed every UK Election count with mobile phones. In this news role as Executive Editor, Growth and Social, Jonny will spearhead the digital growth of BBC News in the UK and internationally. He will lead interdisciplinary teams in the Cardiff BBC HQ of Wales, overseeing social strategy and collaborating with BBC News teams to innovate and grow digital journalism using data and analysis. As part of his remit Jonny will have a particular focus on developing the BBC News’ Under 25s strategy in collaboration with other teams focusing on younger audiences. Jonny McGuigan: “I could not be more excited to take on this exciting role - working with colleagues across the UK and around the world to ensure BBC News continues to reach and grow our audiences, particularly those under 25, in the coming years. Continuing to build on and enhance our innovation will be key to ensuring BBC News remains at the forefront of serving all audiences.” “Having started my time at the BBC in a regional newsroom in Leeds it’s a real pleasure to be championing the growth of BBC News once again, from our national and regional centres, in our Cardiff HQ.”

⏰ It's occurrin'! Ruth Jones, James Corden and the cast of Gavin & Stacey are taking over the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on 23 December Find out all about BBC Radio 2 Breakfast: A Gavin and Stacey Takeover in the comments.

A milestone in TV history: Sir David Attenborough’s first broadcast on the BBC was 70 years ago 🌱 Inspiring generations to cherish and protect the natural world, we’re celebrating his incredible journey this month. Explore exclusive features and rare archive materials on the BBC History website, head to the link in the comments to find out more. #SirDavidAttenborough #BBCHistory

Gladiators fans! Are you ready? BBC Children’s is bringing you three brand new series packed with inspiration, drama, home grown stories and plenty of laughs! 🔥 Gladiators: Epic Pranks – Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes? Secret prankster Nitro is on a mission to pull off outrageous pranks – with a little help from his Gladiator teammates. Behind the scenes at the live Gladiators shows in Sheffield expect pranks and epic battles of Rock, Paper, Scissors and Charades! 🎭 Stage Stars – Step into the world of aspiring singers, actors and dancers at a UK school. Follow exceptionally talented students as they balance boarding school life with hard work to earn their place in the spotlight. ✨Gifted – Set in the breathtaking city of Edinburgh, this action-adventure series tells follows a diverse group of young Scottish teens who discover they each have unique superpowers, from telekinesis to invisibility and mind reading. What will they do with their newfound gifts? Patricia Hidalgo Reina, Director BBC Children’s and Education, reflects “We continue to showcase homegrown dramas and series which aim to give our young viewers an insight into the diverse lives of children, characters and settings from across the UK with unique stories to tell which will resonate with them and with their families.” Epic Pranks and Stage Stars was commissioned by Sarah Muller (Senior Head of BBC Children’s Commissioning 7+) and Patricia Hidalgo. Find out more about the new series ➡️  https://lnkd.in/dkMnyqEM

"Disability itself isn’t a barrier; but not considering the environment is.”    BBC journalist Claire Harris FRSA explores why amplifying disabled voices in journalism is essential and how we can break down barriers in the industry in an article first published on the Press Gazette website. Join the conversation at the BBC Rethink Disability Conference on 4 December, focusing on inclusion, representation, and reclaiming the narrative in media. Find out more on the BBC Rethink Disability page: https://lnkd.in/eVXCFFX7 #RethinkDisability #InclusiveMedia

🎄 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas with exclusive Wallace & Gromit themed Christmas idents on the BBC Aardman have created three festive idents featuring Wallace, Gromit, Wallace’s newest invention, the ‘smart gnome’ Norbot, and supervillain Feathers McGraw, which will appear across BBC One throughout December. Head to the comments to find out how to sneak a peek at them all now!

🏰 Claudia’s recruiting… The Traitors returns to iPlayer and BBC One on 1 January 2025   Who’ll be adding Traitor to their CV?   Head to the comments to find out more.