BBC3 promises new season of suicide, rape and racism in bid to draw in younger audience

BBC3 will explore sensitive subject matter such as rape, racism and murder

BBC3 is planning to shake-up it's content as it has unveiled a new, grittier and more hard-hitting line-up for the upcoming season.

 

Revealing new shows that will demonstrate the channel's "creative risk-taking ambition" at the Edinburgh TV festival, BBC3's upcoming season will explore sensitive subject matter such as rape, racism and murder.

BBC3 has tailored its new series to appeal to younger viewers ahead of the channel's move from TV to an online service in January 2016.

 

The channel have commissioned a documentary, dubbed Suicide And Me, where 31-year-old rapper Professor Green will explore how his father came to take his own life.

Radio host Reggie Yates, 32, will tackle the topic of racism as he returns to Ferguson a year after the shooting of teenager Michael Brown to see how opinions have changed.

 

Professor Green will explore his father's suicide in a new documentary



Reggie Yates will visit Ferguson where teen Michael Brown was shot

Georgina Campbell won a BAFTA for her role in BBC3's Murdered By My Boyfriend

Tess Daly, Maisie Williams and Alex Jones at the TV BAFTAs

Gender and race are dominant themes in the season's line-up, and the blurred line between rape and consent for teenagers will be investigated in Is This Rape? Sex On Trial.

Further shows to be commissioned include a drama documentary about the murder of 14-year-old online gamer Breck Bednar, and an entertainment show called The Fear which aims to find the next big horror director.

"This is a period of unprecedented change for media and particularly media for young people," said BBC3 controller Damian Kavanagh.

"I want BBC3 at the forefront of this change providing content that is relevant to young people in a format they want at a time of their choosing."

"I want us to make content for young people that makes them think about the world around them and raises the issues that matter to them," he continued. 

 

"I also want new BBC3 to entertain and make them laugh. I want BBC3 to be the go-to place for young people to explore and learn about subjects that impact their lives and to be a place where they can be entertained and get daily content in new forms, not just TV."

BBC3 previously won acclaim for heralding new comedy series such as Gavin And Stacey and Bad Education, as well as the Doctor Who sci-fi spin-off Torchwood.

Damian added: "We have much more to talk about over the coming weeks with a range of new British comedy in the pipeline and some exciting developments with our social and online activity to talk about."

The channel had some success at the 2015 BAFTA Television Awards, with acting newcomer 23-year-old Georgina Campbell winning best actress for her portrayal of domestic violence in Murdered By My Boyfriend, and Life On Death Row winning best factual series.