PBS has inked a co-production deal with BBC and BBC Worldwide, PBS’s president and CEO Paula A. Kerger announced during Monday’s Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena.
Additionally, the broadcaster has ordered a new Civil War drama series produced by Ridley Scott (“Gladiator”) and two new “Masterpiece” series. Also, PBS will produce two new documentary specials focusing on nuclear weapons.
Under the BBC pact, the companies plan to produce eight to 10 new specials to begin premiering as early as this summer.
The programs will span a wide range of topics including natural history, science, history, religion and the arts. The specials will air as standalone programs, as well as part of current series such as Thirteen/WNET’s “Nature” and “Great Performances” and WGBH’s “Nova.”
Titles already planned include “Earth’s Natural Wonders,” which will take a tour of landmarks around the world and how they intersect with nature, animals and humans that live there. Also, “Super Nature: Flight Revealed,” a three-part series using the latest technology to reveal the secrets of flight. And also “Waking Giants,” produced by Sir David Attennborough, which will explore history’s biggest dinosaur findings.
The untitled Civil War medical drama is based on a true story of two volunteer nurses on opposite sides of the conflict. Executive-produced by Scott, David W. Zucker (“The Good Wife”) and Lisa Q. Wolfinger, the series will be written by David Zabel (“ER”).
Currently ordered for six episodes to debut in Winter 2016, the series will shoot in Virginia and join the PBS Sunday night drama lineup.
Additionally, the two documentary specials focusing on nuclear weapons are titled “The Bomb” and “Uranium — Twisting the Dragon’s Tail.” “The Bomb” covers a history of nuclear weapons and how they shaped our world. And “Uranium” takes an in-depth look at the chemical element used in nuclear weaponry, hosted by physicist and YouTube star Dr. Derek Muller. The documentaries are timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the first explosion of an atomic bomb and the bombing of Hiroshima, universally recognized as the dawn of the nuclear age. Both programs premiere in July.
Earlier on Monday, PBS announced that it has added two new series to its “Masterpiece” lineup for 2015: “Arthur & George” and “Home Fires.”
“Arthur & George” stars Martin Clunes (“Doctor Martin”) as world-famous author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A three-part adaptation of Julian Barnes’ acclaimed novel follows the separate but intersecting lives of a half-Indian son of a vicar who is framed for a crime he may or may not have committed, and Doyle, who investigates the case. It is a co-production of Buffalo Pictures and “Masterpiece” for ITV. It’s distributed internationally by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.
“Home Fires” stars Samantha Bond (“Downton Abbey”) and Francesca Annis (“Reckless”) as part of a remarkable group of women living in a small rural village during World War II. Separated from husbands, fathers, sons and brothers for years at a time — some permanently — they find themselves under extraordinary pressures in a rapidly fragmenting world. It is a co-production of ITV Studios and “Masterpiece” for ITV, and is distributed internationally by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.
The Scene at TCA: Funny, Frank and Flippant Quotes From the 2015 TV Press Tour (Photos)
“I love Debra Messing, but I don’t want her face going across the screen: The Mysteries Of Laura." – Tina Fey, on moving "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" to the ad-less Netflix.
Getty
"Do we really need to see that? She was a mother, sister, friend. We forget that she just wanted to live a normal life." – Angela Bassett on why she decided not to depict Whitney Houston's downward spiral in Lifetime movie's "Whitney."
Getty
"I am not a bitch. I'm honest. There's a difference." – Constance Zimmer on her "Unreal" TV producer character.
Getty
"When you shake hands with him you can't shake the feeling that this was a guy who admitted to dismembering his neighbor." – Director Andrew Jarecki, on billionaire and accused murderer Robert Durst.
Getty
"We know Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day. Who knows when Jesus was born?" – Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, host of NatGeo's first ever late night show.
Getty
“We have to be careful not to overpromise." – Discovery Channel President David Zaslav on the network's failed anaconda stunt.
Getty
"I'm obviously not a serial murderer in real life. You have to find something human in them you like." – Jamie Dornan on playing a serial killer in "The Fall"
Getty
"The only difference between us and a pair of 14-year-old pyromaniacs is we call the police and fire department to help us." – Mythbusters Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage
Getty
"The most spastic and hilarious human being on the planet." – "Togetherness" creator and writer Jay Duplass, on star Amanda Peet
Getty
"Well, she doesn't always use an axe." – Christina Ricci on whether Lizzie Borden will have any more axes to grind in Lifetime's "Lizzie Borden Chronicles."
Getty
"We want to be your coffee this morning." – Marti Noxon, executive producer of Lifetime's "Unreal," on her pink streaks and matching frock.
Getty
"To be on a horse firing a gun, that's not a bad way to spend your day." – Actor Jeffery Dean Morgan, about working on History Channel's "Texas Rising."
Getty
"It didn't work in Scotland, but it's going to work in Texas." – Texan actor Bill Paxton on History Channel's "Texas Rising" sparking a secessionist movement.
Getty
"I went through the actors directory and everybody else was working." – "Shitt's Creek" Actor and writer Eugene Levy on why he called fellow actor Chris Elliot to join the cast.
Getty
"You come out and what do you see on your podium, is this a good omen? HBO water they’ve served me. That’s great." –AMC president and GM on being served water branded with the competition.
Getty Images
"Yeah, I’m thrilled that it’s ending. So looking forward to being unemployed for as long as I’ll be unemployed. I’m so happy not to see any of these people ever again. And all of that is really great. Hashtag sarcasm." – AMC's "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm on whether there's any reason he's happy series is ending.
Getty
"The idea at the center of the show is a zombie you can fall in love with... a zombie you want to date. We were calling the show 'ZILFs' at one point" – The CW's "iZombie" showrunner Rob Thomas. on his new show
Getty
"The fans are so polarized in what they are rooting for that to appease all of them, the show would be gobbledygook." – "The Vampire Diaries" executive producer Caroline Dries.
“We should’ve had more women up here today. That’s on me. That’s my fault.” – "Arrow," "The Flash" EP Greg Berlanti on the composition of the panel.
Getty
"It's not a show about religion; it's a show about faith." -– "The Messengers" executive producer Trey Callaway.
Getty
"The gelatin doesn't taste too bad on its own, but covered in fake blood, is disgusting." – star of the upcoming series "iZombie," Rose McIver.
Getty
"[Italia Ricci's] even prettier than Robbie Amell." – Victor Garber talking about his "Flash" co-star's new fiancee.
''We were calling the show 'ZILF,' because the star's a zombie you want to date (the polite way to say it)" – "iZombie" executive producer, Rob Thomas.
"We're most interested in telling stories that tell light in the darkness" – "The Dovekeepers" executive producer Roma Downey Jr.
"Wouldn’t it be nice if all the networks were more representative of the complexions of America?" – Oscar Winner Cuba Gooding Jr., on diversity on television.
"When we did the original 'Odd Couple' we weren't allowed to have women writers." – Director Garry Marshall, on consulting for the CBS "Odd Couple" remake.
"When you start on TV, it's almost fear based. When you start online, you just try stuff" — TMZ founder Harvey Levin on his company's move to television.
Getty
"Funny story, I have no say in anything" — Joe Dirt 2 star David Spade on why he allowed his iconic wig from the first film to be sold.
"We’ve encouraged millions of people to take out wine and popcorn really enjoy what is water cooler television — ABC Entertainment Group chief Paul Lee on the network's "TGIT" programming.
Getty
"Asians have money. If you want their money, make things for them" — "Fresh Off the Boat" creator Eddie Huang on his new show.
Getty
"When something is salacious, how it is presented by the media becomes the perceived 'truth'" — Ryan Phillippe on his new upcoming ABC show "Secrets & Lies."
Getty
"He's uncovering things as [the show] is uncovering things" — actor Milo Ventimiglia on his character in ABC's upcoming "The Whispers."
Getty
"Maybe I've got my wife hidden away in the attic" — actor James D'Arcy on his character Jarvis' unseen spouse in "Agent Carter ."
Getty
"What it would be like if Princess Diana had become Queen of England?" — actress Elizabeth Hurley about the inspiration for her character on E!'s "The Royals."
Getty
“When we realized there was so much more, we realized we couldn’t go forward” — NBC Entertainment chair, Robert Greenblatt, on the network's decision to cancel a Bill Cosby comedy series.
Getty
"Whether people like it or don't like it, I'm not changing. NBC has never said anything to me, once" — "Celebrity Apprentice" host Donald Trump on his unabashed political views.
Getty
“I think by the year 2030 we’re going to have an entire lesbian cast with one token heterosexual. We’re not there yet” — Ellen DeGeneres joking about recent accusations she's been promoting a "gay agenda."
Getty
"It's like playing a human being with a heart, and a sense of humor, and a great collection of blazers" — "One Big Happy" star Elisha Cuthbert on playing a lesbian character.
Getty
"This is a story that millions have died for and billions have lived for" — "AD: The Series" executive producer Mark Burnett, about the follow up to his successfulmini-series, "The Bible."
Getty
1 of 46
TV stars and executives offer pearls of wisdom at the annual Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour