BBC Two becomes the official home of BBC Films output this month and is celebrating with a special launch weekend of movies on July 17th including Michael Caine’s Is Anybody There? and The Damned United which stars Michael Sheen as Leeds United manager Brian Clough.
BBC Two’s new status as home to BBC Films follows a strategy review earlier this year which identified a need to show more drama on the channel which in recent years has been best known for a series of comedy panel shows.
Announcing the launch weekend channel controller Janice Hadlow said: “BBC Two is committed to showing more quality fiction on the channel, and we’re delighted that BBC Films will be part of this. It’s wonderful that licence fee payers will be able to see these films for free following their theatrical releases.”
The BBC’s film division co-produces around 8 movies every year in partnership with major studios, the UK Film Council and international distributors.