BBC America to show raft of Brit shows for Summer of London (TELEVISUAL)

BBC America is running a season of British programming this Summer, from The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June through the London Olympics in August, live event coverage will be accompanied by a raft of comedies, documentaries, dramas and special features across all of BBC America’s branded platforms under the umbrella - BBC America’s Summer of London.

Programming will include live coverage of both the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant for Her Majesty The Queen and Jubilee Day, including Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

As a tribute to the London Olympics, the channel will air the long-awaited Olympic themed Absolutely Fabulous special starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley and Doctor Who’s Matt Smith stars in the drama Going for Gold – The ’48 Games.

The channel will premiere The Brit List, a series of specials hosted by BBC America’s pop culture correspondent Asha Leo, as well as a series of Asha Leo hosted short-form pieces featuring insider highlights of the upcoming summer activities.

The last great British culture invasion will be celebrated with a slate of Beatles programming, including the premiere of the documentary Discovering Lennon and the entire series of The Tudors.

Perry Simon, general manager of BBC America, said, “It feels like we’re in the midst of a new British cultural invasion and this coming summer offers a non-stop series of events and stories that will put London front and centre on the world stage.  If you can’t experience it in person, we want to make BBC America the next best place for Americans to celebrate this historic Summer of London.”

On Sunday, June 3, in recognition of the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign on the throne, BBC America will present an entire day of specials and documentaries including the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant live. The channel will show the US premiere of The Diamond Queen, written and presented by Andrew Marr and executive produced by Nick Vaughn-Barratt.

On June 5th, the celebration carries on with live Jubilee Day coverage including the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, together with other members of the Royal family, will attend a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will be followed by a formal carriage procession.

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