PBS announced at its TCA session that period drama “The Bletchley Circle” will receive a second season.
From Guy Burt, “Bletchley Circle” centers on four women who work as code breakers in the U.K. PBS will roll out the four-part second season on Sunday nights next spring.
“We’re thrilled to bring back ‘The Bletchley Circle,'” said PBS’s programming chief Beth Hoppe. “It’s a smart show that features fascinating, strong women characters and superb writing.”
PBS is bringing strong women to its evening news lineup as well, as the net taps Gwen Ifell and Judy Woodruff as co-anchors and managing editors of “PBS Newshour.” Hiring marks the first time a network broadcast has had a female co-anchor team.
“Gwen and Judy have been the heart and soul of ‘Newshour’ for years, so it’s wonderful to formalize these new roles,” said Linda Winslow, exec producer of “Newshour.”
PBS has also added six-part docuseries “How We Got To Now with Steven Johnson” to its fall 2014 slate. From Nutopia, show is hosted by Johnson, an American science author and media theorist who explores how ideas and innovations have happened, including how the search for clean water led to the invention of the iPhone.
“PBS’s science programs explore the big, intriguing questions,” Hoppe said. “With this innovative new series, we’re exploring humankind’s insatiable desire to find answers, invent solutions and make the world a better place.”
Net greenlit a three-part documentary series for May 2014 titled “Coming Back with Wes Moore,” a spesh that personalizes the experiences of returning veterans and celebrates the lives of vets. Special will be hosted by combat vet and New York Times best-selling author Wes Moore.
“As a nation coming off of two of the longest wars in our history, we need to consider what deployment means to the men and women who have left their home lives behind in service to their country,” said Moore, who is also exec producing the series. “This series will highlight some of these national treasures and what they mean to our future.”
