The Open University

Darren sitting in a school library, slouched at a desk

Brand new OU/BBC series takes an unflinching look at the UK’s public services

26 February 2024

A new three-part series co-produced by The Open University (OU) and BBC will follow writer and rapper Darren McGarvey as he takes an unflinching look at the UK’s public services. Each episode of Darren McGarvey: The State We’re In will follow Darren as he explores the UK’s justice system through the eyes of the people […]

Two OU/BBC co-productions win recognition at key film awards

14 February 2024

The Open University’s Broadcasts and Partnerships team is celebrating after two OU/BBC co-productions won accolades at the Broadcast Awards in the heart of London’s Mayfair recently. The event was staged at Park Lane’s JW Marriott Grosvenor House where it was revealed that ‘Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland’ and ‘Inside Our Autistic Minds’, won […]

OU/BBC documentary series Drugs Map of Britain returns with new episodes

14 February 2024

Four brand new episodes from series two of the hard-hitting OU/BBC series Drugs Map of Britain will air from Tuesday 13th February on BBC Three at 9pm. The series dives into the real world of drug users and dealers in the UK today, cutting through the headlines to lay bare the realities of British youth […]

Listen to new OU / BBC radio series Rare Earth

19 January 2024

Tune into BBC Radio 4 weekly from today (19 January) to listen to the new OU / BBC radio series, Rare Earth, with environmental journalist Tom Heap and physicist Helen Czerski. The radio series digs into some of the biggest environmental issues facing our planet today, with fascinating insights from experts. You can listen on […]

Image shows presenter Greg Wallace standing next to a production line of yorkshire puddings

New series of ‘Inside the Factory’ co-produced by The Open University

24 December 2023

In an exciting new venture, The Open University (OU) has teamed up with the BBC to co-produce the eighth series of the much-loved “Inside the Factory.” The first episode of the new series airs on BBC Two at 9pm on Wednesday 27 December and will be exploring the production of the Christmas dinner staple, Yorkshire […]

Watch this year’s Royal Institution Christmas Lectures: The Truth About AI

22 December 2023

Join Professor Mike Wooldridge for this year’s Royal Institution (RI) Christmas Lectures, as he tackles arguably the most important and rapidly-evolving field of science in the world today – artificial intelligence. Beginning on Tuesday 26 December, the first of three new Open University / BBC co-produced programmes The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures – The Truth […]

Behind the scenes OU/BBC co-production with performance artist Kae Tempest

27 November 2023

English literature academic Professor Nicola J Watson has worked behind the scenes on an Open University/BBC co-production about the acclaimed rapper, poet, playwright and recording artist Kae Tempest. She brought her knowledge of the history of performance poetry to the programme, “Being Kae Tempest”, which will be aired on BBC Two at 9pm on Wednesday […]

OU/BBC win at Grierson awards

24 November 2023

Two Open University/BBC co-productions have been honoured at the prestigious Grierson awards, which recognise innovative and exciting documentary films. Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland won two awards – Best documentary and Best history documentary and Inside Our Autistic Minds, won Best Science Documentary. Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Head of Broadcast and Partnerships at The […]

Stacey Dooley goes behind the scenes at an undertakers in new OU/BBC documentary

8 November 2023

Stacey Dooley: Inside the Undertakers, takes a fascinating and surprisingly uplifting look behind the doors of a funeral director to discover more about the usually hidden side of death. In this one-off OU/BBC co-production, which airs on 9 November at 9pm on BBC ONE and iPlayer, presenter Stacey Dooley immerses herself in the day-to-day work […]

Drugs Map of Britain returns for a gritty new series

8 November 2023

A new series of the hard-hitting OU/BBC co-production Drugs Map of Britain delves into the world of drug users and dealers, laying bare the evolving makeup of Britain’s youth drug culture. Airing on the 8th of November at 10.30pm on BBC Three, the documentary series focuses on how certain drugs are widespread in cities across […]

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