MUMBAI: Proving to kids that science definitely isn?t boring, CBBC and CBeebies have revealed their brand new science shows for 2013, featuring established BBC children?s stars and introducing new presenting talent.

?Dick and Dom? investigate the lives of people whose genius ideas have helped shape the modern world in Absolute Genius; Fierce Earth examines the true power of planet Earth and a new series of Nina And The Neurons explores amazing feats of engineering.

BBC Children?s director Joe Godwin said, "The best children?s programmes educate and inform kids without them even realising! I hope our new raft of science-themed shows will not only entertain children but inspire the next generation of scientists and inventors."

Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom takes the CBBC audience on a journey to explore the work of some of the most important inventors and scientists in history. From da Vinci to Watt and Archimedes, this series will fuse thrilling experiments and animation to explore the theories and inventions that have shaped the world we live in.

CBBC?s ?Fierce Earth? explores the true power of planet Earth. Shot on location, and combining archive footage, experiments, experts and personal stories, each episode sees the Fierce Earth team travel the globe to tell the stories and science behind incredible and awesome natural phenomenon from hurricanes to earthquakes and tsunamis to lightening strikes.

Also on CBBC, presenter Tim Fitzhigham searches the world for people with real life super powers in ?Super Human Challenge?. With the aid of the Mission Doctor, Dr Megan John, he pits himself against them to find out just how super they really are. Using animation, science and technology this show astounds viewers with just how amazing the human body is and what it can achieve. These are real life Super Human that defy science with super strength, extraordinary stamina and other unbelievable physical abilities.

Meanwhile ?Junior Vets? is a new CBBC show that gives six ordinary school children the chance to become the first ever juniors to enrol at Edinburgh University?s super high-tech Vet School. They?ll work alongside the school?s top vets, treating poorly pets, wounded wildlife and farm animals that are feeling unwell.

And, new for CBBC, ?Deadly Mission: Madagascar? takes eight young teenagers to the front line of conservation to discover for themselves the issues faced there, and work directly wit the scientists and conservationists at the forefront of research. They?ll meet endangered wildlife from Humpback Whales to Bamboo Lemurs, plus get to know the generation of kids growing up in rural Madagascar.

For its youngest viewers, ?Nina And The Neurons? returns to CBeebies with a new series investigating some amazing feats of engineering. ?Nina And The Neurons: Go Engineering? sees super scientist Nina (Katrina Bryan) and her young Engineers travel the UK in search of engineering wonders from towering skyscrapers to really long bridges. With the help of Nina?s five animated sense Neurons, they explain how things work and discover how science and engineering have built the world around us.

Continuing CBeebies mission of learning through play, Mr Bloom returns with ?Mr Bloom?s Nursery: Get Set, Grow!? Mr Bloom packs up his Compo Car and head out across the country to set up a travelling village fete for thousands of Tiddlers. Mr Bloom is, of course, joined by his loveable team of Veggies who are thrilled to discover about life outside the Nursery from a hydroponics farm to an amazing maize maze.

And, finally, this Spring, one of CBeebies? most popular shows, Octonauts, is back with a host of new adventures. The animated adventure heroes go on a journey of discovery through the world?s oceans looking at marine biology, exploring incredible underwater worlds and rescuing amazing sea creatures.

MUMBAI: BBC In-house Entertainment has announced the appointment of Vincent Dijkema as programme consultant for Format Entertainment.

Between 2007 and 2012, Vincent was a Senior Creative at Talpa in the Netherlands and co-developed numerous entertainment titles, including ?The Voice Of Holland?; ?I Love My Country?; ?The Voice Kids?; and ?My Man Can?t Dance?.

His first job in television production came in 1994, when he joined Endemol in The Netherlands as a Production Assistant. After two years, he joined K&B Events and Television in the Netherlands where he was Production Manager. When K&B merged with indie D&D Production in 1997, he became a Programme Developer.

In 1999, the company was sold to IdtV (a part of All3Media). Vincent left IdtV in 2005 to set up his own production company, Screenyard, which in 2007 set a first look deal with Talpa. After six months, he became a freelance senior creative for Talpa, and in 2008 he joined as Senior Creative in the content department.

He said, "I had some great years with Talpa, but I needed a new challenge. To get the chance to develop formats for peak time BBC is a dream come true. And I thank Katie Taylor for having faith in my creative talent.

BBC controller, Entertainment and Events Katie Taylor said, "It?s fantastic news that in such a competitive global market we can tempt someone of Vincent?s calibre to join In-house Entertainment. As co-creator of such an iconic show as The Voice, he will bring a different dimension to an already talented team that created the highest rating entertainment show of 2012 with the Strictly Final."

MUMBAI: On 20 January BBC Asian Network will launch a new heritage show as part of its line-up of specialist programming on Sundays.

The all-new Asian Network Gold replaces Retro Selection as the traditional Sunday classic hits show and Sanjay Sharma returns as the programme?s host. Asian Network Gold will focus on the best heritage music and gems from the station archives, including rare performances from Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan and Asian Magazine.

A public speaker and with a deep knowledge of South-Asian film, music and current affairs, Sharma has been at home on the Asian Network for more than a decade where he is the recognised specialist in heritage music with Hindi/Urdu and regional South-Asian hits from the Fifties to the present day.

He said, "I?m delighted to be back on Asian Network and to be able to share our collection of classic Bollywood, Ghazals and other South-Asian golden hits with our listeners.

"We have been digging in the Asian Network vinyl vaults and unearthed some real gems from the past that audiences won?t have heard before."

The BBC has a history of providing Asian music and entertainment, from the TV programme ?Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan? and BBC Radio Birmingham and Leicester programmes of the 1970?s, through to the emergence of BBC Asian Network in the late 1980?s. This new programme will connect directly with the Asian Network Gold Red Button TV specials. Last year?s Red Button programme reaching an audience of 790,000.

BBC Asian Network head of programmes Mark Strippel said, "We?ll be taking the audience back to a golden age when the BBC was the only source of Asian entertainment on TV and radio in Britain.

"Our listeners can expect to hear lots of exclusive BBC archive interviews and performances. Sanjay is a fantastic broadcaster and is one of the few people with the authority to provide a genuine narrative of South-Asian music across the decades."

Asian Network Gold will broadcast between on Sundays between 1-4 pm from 20 January 2013.

MUMBAI: BBC and Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) have joined forces to launch a new political debate and discussion show, Open Jirga.

The series, which is the first of its kind in Afghanistan, is presented by popular BBC journalist Daud Junbish.

    Open Jirga gives Afghans a chance to question politicians on country?s future
    Political debate show attracts panellists including government ministers
    Presented by BBC journalist Daud Junbish

It is produced by Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) with the BBC?s service for Afghanistan in Pashto and Dari, and BBC Media Action, the BBC?s international development charity.

Recorded in Dari and Pashto, Open Jirga (jirga means ?assembly? in Afghan languages) has a broad reach. The show provides people from across Afghanistan?s diverse communities with a platform to share their opinions with national leaders on the country?s future.

BBC?s service for Afghanistan editor Lutfullah Latif said, ?Afghanistan is undergoing major transitions linked to the drawdown of international forces and the presidential elections in 2014. Audiences have a lot of questions to ask, and this series of debate shows will provide an opportunity to air their views, hopes and fears.?

?Open Jirga? launched on RTA on 10 December and on the BBC?s service for Afghanistan in Pashto and Dari.

The studio audience from across the country took part in an animated discussion in the first episode, which tackled both the impact of the military withdrawal in 2014 on Afghanistan?s future, and the capacity and strength of the country?s security services.

A panel responded to questions from the audience. The panel included the Minster of the Interior, the Chief of Staff for Operations at the Defence Ministry, a female MP, Shukria Barakzai, the former Afghan Intelligence Chief, and former Deputy Interior Minister.

One audience member from Kabul asked: "The country?s borders are open to Iran and Pakistan. When these modern weapons are taken away [in 2014], how can the Afghan people be confident that the national borders are secure?"

When Junbish started to wrap up the show, many in the audience stood up and called out: ?The debate has just begun!?

BBC Media Action?s Afghanistan country director Shirazuddin Siddiqi said, ?This programme is the result of a decade-long aspiration. It will play an important role in Afghanistan?s media landscape by bringing ordinary Afghans together with state officials.?

RTA deputy DG Jalal Mahmoodi said, ?Our country has reached a critical moment in its history. ?Open Jirga? provides our nation with the platform to debate and explore the choices we are faced with?.

Five more episodes tackling issues including the country?s economy will broadcast over the coming months.

In preparation for the debates, in-depth audience research was undertaken by BBC Media Action in seven provinces to ensure the programme?s focus on the issues that count to people across the country.

MUMBAI: BBC has appointed Leon Wilde to the In-House Entertainment Department as Editor, Format Entertainment. He will take up his position in January.

Since 2009, Leon has been Executive Producer at Shine TV, where among other programmes he was the joint creator of ?The Magicians? (BBC One); ?Got To Dance? (Sky) and ?As Seen On TV? (BBC1).

Prior to this, he was Hat Trick Productions head of entertainment, creating shows such as ?What?s The Problem with Anne Robinson? (BBC One) and ?He?s Having A Baby? (BBC One and BBC Three).

Before this, he was at Granada, where he co-created shows including ?Saturday Night Takeaway? (ITV1); ?Brainiac: Science Abuse? (Sky One); ?Fight School? (Sky1) and ?Pop Stars the Rivals? (ITV1).

He said, "After a long time working in the independent sector I?m delighted to be bringing my enthusiasm for fun and inclusive prime time formats to the BBC, where I hope to build on their already impressive roster of joyful and triumphant entertainment programmes."

BBC controller entertainment and events Katie Taylor said, "Leon lives and breathes entertainment formats, so I look forward to seeing what he can conjure up for BBC audiences."