BBC Northern Ireland is set to offer audiences some welcome escapism in the latter part of 2020 as it announces its new autumn schedule of programming.

With the longer evenings drawing in, laughter, fun, nostalgia and a little bit of magic are coming to BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer in an effort to lift people’s spirits in the run up to Christmas.

This autumn will see a focus on fresh comedy, light-entertainment formats and new talent, as well as hearing from some inspirational famous figures who have helped pave the way for younger generations in their respective fields.

Comedy

Comedian Shane Todd will host Previously With Shane Todd. Broadcast as a one-off pilot programme last year, in this three-part series Shane casts his wry millennial eye over the BBC NI Archive, seeking out prime characters, crimes of fashion and ‘interesting’ pastimes, and unpicking the big news stories of the day.

Following on from his pilot sketch show earlier in the summer, funny man Paddy Raff has also been commissioned for a Christmas Special programme, which will be followed by a three-part series of The Paddy Raff Show (made by Nice One TV) in the New Year featuring many of Paddy’s most popular characters such as Nigel, the snobby social butterfly, and Granny Raff, the sharp-tongued senior citizen. Popular comedy programmes The Blame Game and Give My Head Peace (by The Hole In The Wall Gang) are also set to return to BBC Northern Ireland later in the year.

New Talent
The trickery talents of mentalist and rising social media star Joel Mawhinney will be showcased in the new three-part series Life Is Magic (by Waddell Media), where Joel uses his skills of illusion at a range of events, from a school formal to Baby Gender Reveal party.

Famous Faces
As well as bringing some new talent to audiences with Shane Todd, Paddy Raff and Joel Mawhinney, BBC One NI will also be hearing from a range of established household names from the worlds of broadcasting and sport, who have inspired younger generations.

The four-part series This Sporting Life sees presenter Stephen Watson chat one on one with four of Northern Ireland’s biggest sporting legends. Dame Mary Peters, Norman Whiteside, Dennis Taylor and Phillip McCallen talk to Stephen about the highs and lows of their impressive careers.

In her 80th year, trailblazing broadcaster Gloria Hunniford looks back on her remarkable career in the documentary Gloria - My Life On TV (by DoubleBand Films). Consistently breaking new ground for women in broadcasting, Gloria reflects on a career lasting more than 50 years which has made her one of the most familiar faces on television.

Light Entertainment
BBC One NI will also bring audiences some new light-entertainment formats. The new motoring series, Tricked-Out Tractors (by Green Inc), brings together a dream team of petrol heads who have been restoring beloved vintage tractor models, building custom, one-of-a-kind competitive monster machines, and crafting bespoke builds.

The feel-good film Our Weddings (by Afro-Mic Productions) takes a look back at six decades of getting hitched, as couples of different generations reminisce about their special day, alongside some unmissable archive footage from some of the most memorable celebrity weddings.

True North
This autumn will also see the return of the documentary series True North, giving an insight into contemporary life in Northern Ireland.

True North: When Boxing Ends (by Afro-Mic Productions) tells the story of the Northern Ireland boxers who gave up everything in pursuit of the dream of becoming champion and explores what lies in store for a retired boxer when the fighting comes to an end. Viewers can also peak behind the curtains of a major home refurbishment with True North: Restoring Ormiston (by Below The Radar), which follows entrepreneur Pete Boyle and wife Ciara’s ambitious mission to painstakingly restore the dilapidated Ormiston House - one of Belfast’s most historic buildings - back into a grand family home.

This series also tells the inside story of the Belfast workers who helped rescue Harland & Wolff from closure when it fell into administration in August 2019, told through the eyes of the employees with True North: Saving The Shipyard (by Below The Radar).

True North: The First Generation (by DoubleBand Films) sees Stephen Walker hears from people approaching their 100th birthday as they share memories from their lives, and True North: The Disability Paradox (by Triplevision) meets 38 year-old filmmaker Chris Lynch who has Osteogenesis Imperfecta and has been in a wheelchair since the age of 10.

With some scientific research suggesting that some disabled people report a quality of life as good as, or better than, that of non-disabled people, Chris reflects on his own experiences and meets other people in a similar position to find out how they achieve happiness.

The new schedule of programming follows a busy period of commissioning which saw content being produced during the pandemic and brought to BBC Northern Irelands audiences over the summer, including:

• Suzie Lee: Best Home Cook
• Gardening With Diarmuid Gavin (which was recently broadcast to UK-wide audiences
• The People’s News (by Tern Television)
• Keepin’ ’Er Country At Home (by Alleycats TV)

This content was aimed at keeping people entertained and informed during lockdown and offered support to the local creative sector.

Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland, says: “In early summer we were able to announce a lot of new commissions that were able to be made safely during lockdown.

"Many of these were broadcast over the summer months, with entertaining factual formats such as Gardening With Diarmuid Gavin, Suzie Lee: Best Home Cook and the Paddy Raff’s comedy pilot performing well with our audiences. We’re pleased this also helped support the Northern Ireland independent sector in these uncertain times and that we are continuing to do this with our upcoming autumn schedule of programmes on BBC One NI and BBC iPlayer.

“It’s been a long year, so as we approach the winter months we wanted to provide audiences with content that would bring some humour, warmth, nostalgia and entertainment into their evenings.

"We’re showcasing some great talent to BBC NI audiences in Shane, Paddy and Joel and putting a spotlight on some familiar famous faces such as Gloria and the sporting heroes. The local independent sector has responded well to our call for lighter programmes to help lift people’s spirits and across our content this autumn I think we’ve got a little something for everyone to inform, educate and entertain with a lightness of touch.”

BBC Northern Ireland will also continue its partnership with BBC Three and Northern Ireland Screen in securing factual entertainment pilots for the channel from the local independent sector.