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{{Short description|Television channel operated by the BBC}}
{{Redirect|BBC2|the BBC radio station|BBC Radio 2|other uses}}
{{for|the defunct Philippine television network|Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = BBC Two
| logo = [[File:BBC Two logo 2021.svg|215px|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_size = 215px
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2021
| image = 
| launch_date = {{start date and age|df=yes|1964|4|21}}
| headquarters = [[Broadcasting House]]
| area = {{plainlist|
* United Kingdom
* [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
* [[Isle of Man]]
* [[Channel Islands]]
* [[Belgium]]
* [[Netherlands]]
* [[Switzerland]]
  }}
| network = [[BBC Television]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| picture_format = {{plainlist|
* [[1080i]]/[[1080p]]{{efn|1080p25 sometimes on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] only}} [[HDTV]]
* (downscaled to [[576i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
  }}
| owner = [[BBC]]
| caption = 
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| former_names = '''BBC2''' (21 April 1964 – 4 October 1997)
| sister_channels = {{plainlist|
* [[BBC One]]
* [[BBC Three]]
* [[BBC Four]]
* [[BBC News (UK TV channel)|BBC News]]
* [[BBC Parliament]]
* [[CBBC]]
* [[CBeebies]]
* [[BBC Scotland (TV channel)|BBC Scotland]]
* [[BBC Alba]]
  }}
| website = {{URL|https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo}}
| terr_serv_1 = [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]]
| terr_chan_1 = Channel 2 (SD)<br />Channel 102 (HD)
| terr_serv_2 = Other providers
| terr_chan_2 = [[#Availability|See dedicated section]]
| webcast = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbctwo BBC Two] on [[BBC iPlayer]] (UK only)
}}
'''BBC Two''' is a British [[free-to-air]] [[Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom|public broadcast]] [[television channel]] owned and operated by the [[BBC]]. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matter, incorporating genres such as comedy, drama and documentaries. BBC Two has a remit "to broadcast [[highbrow|programmes of depth and substance]]" in contrast to the more mainstream and popular [[BBC One]].

Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio channels, it is funded by the [[television licence]], and is therefore free of commercial advertising. It is a comparatively well-funded [[Public broadcasting|public-service]] channel, regularly attaining a much higher audience share than most public-service channels worldwide.

Originally styled '''BBC2''', it was the third British television station to be launched (starting on 21 April 1964), and from 1 July 1967, Europe's first television channel to broadcast regularly in colour. It was envisaged as a home for less mainstream and more ambitious programming, and while this tendency has continued to date, most special-interest programmes of a kind previously broadcast on BBC Two, for example the [[BBC Proms]], now tend to appear on [[BBC Four]] instead.

==History==
{{further|Timeline of BBC Two}}

===Launch===
British television at the time of BBC2's launch consisted of two channels: the [[BBC One|BBC Television Service]] and the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] network made up of smaller regional companies. Both channels had existed in a state of competition since ITV's launch in 1955, and both had aimed for a populist approach in response. The 1962 [[Pilkington Committee on Broadcasting|Pilkington Report]] on the future of broadcasting noticed this, and that ITV lacked any culturally relevant programming. It therefore decided that Britain's third television station should be awarded to the BBC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sixtiescity.com/Television/BritishTV.htm |title=British Television up to the end of the Sixties |publisher=Sixtiescity.com |access-date=12 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024020910/http://www.sixtiescity.com/Television/BritishTV.htm |archive-date=24 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Prior to its launch, the new BBC2 was promoted on the BBC Television Service: the soon-to-be-renamed [[BBC1]]. The animated adverts featured the campaign mascots "Hullabaloo", a mother [[kangaroo]], and "Custard", her [[Joey (marsupial)|joey]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Prior to, and several years after, the channel's formal launch, the channel broadcast "[[Trade test colour films|Trade Test Transmissions]]", short films made externally by companies such as [[Shell plc|Shell]] and [[BP]], which served to enable engineers to test reception, but became [[Cult following|cult]] viewing.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

The channel was scheduled to begin at 19:20 on 20 April 1964, showing an evening of light entertainment, starting with the comedy show ''[[The Alberts]]'', a performance from [[Soviet]] comedian [[Arkady Raikin]], and a production of [[Cole Porter]]'s ''[[Kiss Me, Kate]]'', culminating with a fireworks display. However, at around 18:45 a huge power failure, originating from a fire at [[Battersea Power Station]], caused [[Television Centre, London|Television Centre]], and indeed much of west London, to lose all power. BBC1 was able to continue broadcasting via its facilities at [[Alexandra Palace]], but all attempts to show the scheduled programmes on the new channel failed. [[Associated-Rediffusion]], the London weekday ITV franchise-holder, offered to transmit on the BBC's behalf, but their gesture was rejected. At 22:00 programming was officially postponed until the following morning. As the BBC's news centre at [[Alexandra Palace]] was unaffected, they did in fact broadcast brief bulletins on BBC2 that evening, beginning with an announcement by the newsreader [[Gerald Priestland]] at around 19:25.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Hywel |url=https://www.hywel.org.uk/bbc2launch/ |title=BBC 2 Aborted Launch Night |access-date=12 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614045852/https://www.hywel.org.uk/bbc2launch/ |archive-date=14 June 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> There was believed to be no recording made of this bulletin, but a videotape was discovered in early 2003.<ref name="BBC2 Launch BBC news">{{cite news |last=Briggs |first=Caroline |title=The launch night that never was |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3585041.stm |access-date=4 October 2011 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=20 April 2004}}</ref>

By 11:00 on 21 April 1964, power had been restored to the [[Television Centre, London|studios]] and programming began, thus making ''[[Play School (British TV series)|Play School]]'' the first programme to be shown officially on the channel. The launch schedule, postponed from the night before, was then shown that evening, albeit with minor changes. In reference to the power cut, the transmission opened with a shot of a lit candle which was then sarcastically blown out by presenter [[Denis Tuohy]].<ref name="BBC2 Launch BBC news"/>

To establish the new channel's identity and draw viewers to it, the BBC decided that a widely promoted, lavish series would be essential in its earliest days. The production chosen was ''[[The Forsyte Saga (1967 TV series)|The Forsyte Saga]]'' (1967), a no-expense-spared adaptation of the novels by [[John Galsworthy]], featuring well-established actors [[Kenneth More]] and [[Eric Porter]]. Critically for the future of the fledgling channel, the BBC's gamble was hugely successful, with an average of six million viewers per episode: a feat made more prominent by the fact that only 9 million were able to receive the channel at the time.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} In 1974, BBC2's widely acclaimed [[singer-songwriter]] series, ''[[In Concert (BBC TV series)|In Concert]]'', was lauded by ''[[The Guardian]]'' as the only British music television program that "produced television ideas".<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 April 1974 |title=Catch BBC-2 - now, and perhaps never again, is the moment for courage, adventure, and the pursuit of excellence. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259767801 |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |page=15 |language=en}}</ref>

===Technological advancements===
Unlike [[BBC1]] and ITV, BBC2 was broadcast only on the [[625-line]] [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] system, so was not available to viewers still using sets only capable of receiving the [[405-line television system|405-line]] [[Very high frequency|VHF]] system. This created a market for dual standard receivers which could switch between the two systems. Set manufacturers increased production of UHF sets in anticipation of a large market demand for the new BBC2, but the market did not materialise.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

The early technical problems, which included being unable to transmit US-recorded videotapes due to a lack of [[Television standards conversion|system conversion]] from the US [[NTSC]] system, were resolved by a committee headed by [[James Redmond (broadcaster)|James Redmond]], although this problem was not unique to BBC2.

On 1 July 1967, during the [[1967 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon Championships]], BBC2 became the first channel in Europe to begin regular broadcasts in colour, using the [[PAL]] system.<ref>[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/technology/technology8.html TV Technology 8. Britain In Colour – and UHF.] Screenonline, Richard G. Elen. Retrieved 26 November 2010.</ref> The thirteen-part series ''[[Civilisation: A Personal View|Civilisation]]'' (1969) was created as a celebration of two millennia of western art and culture to showpiece the new colour technology.<ref>[[David Attenborough]] extra on BBC DVD ''[[Civilisation (TV series)|Civilisation]]'' by [[Kenneth Clark]].</ref> BBC1 and ITV later joined BBC2 on 625-line UHF band but continued to simulcast on 405-line VHF until 1985. BBC1 and ITV simultaneously introduced PAL colour on UHF on 15 November 1969, although they both had broadcast some programmes in colour "unofficially" since September 1969.

In 1979, the station's adoption of the first computer-generated channel identification (ident) in Britain, with its use of the [[BBC Two 'Computer Generated 2' ident|double striped, orange '2' logo]], heralded the start of computer-generated logos. The ident, created in-house by BBC engineers, lasted until March 1986. 

As the [[Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom#Digital switchover|switch to digital-only terrestrial transmission]] progressed, BBC Two was (in each region in turn) the first [[Analogue terrestrial television in the United Kingdom|analogue TV channel]] to be replaced with the BBC multiplex, at first four, then two weeks ahead of the other four channels. This was required for those relay transmitters that had no current [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] service giving viewers time to purchase the equipment unless they had already selected a satellite or cable service. The last region for BBC Two to end on analogue terrestrial television was [[Northern Ireland]] on 10 October 2012.

At the 2012 [[Edinburgh International Television Festival]], BBC Two was named "Terrestrial Channel of the Year".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19376264  "BBC Two wins terrestrial channel of the year"]. BBC News, 24 August 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2013.</ref>

A [[high-definition television|high-definition]] simulcast of BBC Two began broadcasting on 26 March 2013, replacing the standalone [[BBC HD]] channel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whathifi.com/news/bbc-two-hd-channel-to-launch-on-march-26 |work=What Hi-Fi |title=BBC Two HD channel goes live, replacing BBC HD |access-date=9 July 2013 |date=26 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615062146/http://www.whathifi.com/news/bbc-two-hd-channel-to-launch-on-march-26 |archive-date=15 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> {{As of|2018|11|29}}, there are three variations of BBC Two HD (Wales, Northern Ireland, and England).<ref>{{cite web |title=Changes to our HD portfolio and satellite transponders |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Faboutthebbc%2Fentries%2F7a69712a-5942-4792-af89-99f73c731bbd |work=About the BBC Blog |access-date=29 November 2018 |date=16 October 2018}}</ref>

==Operation==
The channel controllers have been:
* 1964–1965: [[Michael Peacock (television executive)|Michael Peacock]]
* 1965–1969: [[David Attenborough]]
* 1969–1974: [[Robin Scott (broadcasting executive)|Robin Scott]]
* 1974–1978: [[Aubrey Singer]]
* 1978–1982: [[Brian Wenham]]
* 1982–1987: [[Graeme MacDonald]]
* 1987–1992: [[Alan Yentob]]
* 1992–1996: [[Michael Jackson (television executive)|Michael Jackson]]
* 1996–1999: [[Mark Thompson (media executive)|Mark Thompson]]
* 1999–2004: [[Jane Root]]
* 2004–2008: [[Roly Keating]]
* 2008–2014: [[Janice Hadlow]]
* 2014: Adam Barker (acting)
* 2014–2016: [[Kim Shillinglaw]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2014/04/kim-shillinglaw-named-bbc-two-bbc-four-controller/ |title=Kim Shillinglaw Named BBC Two & BBC Four Controller |work=TVWise|date=11 April 2014 }}</ref>
* 2016–2022: [[Patrick Holland (television executive)|Patrick Holland]]

Adam Barker served as Acting Controller of the channel after [[Janice Hadlow]] left the channel in March 2014 and until [[Kim Shillinglaw]] began as the new permanent occupant of the post.

From 2013, the Controller of BBC Two was given the expanded title Controller of BBC Two and [[BBC Four]], with ultimate oversight of the BBC Four service added to their duties (a BBC Four "Channel Editor", reporting up to this Controller, was allocated day-to-day operational control of Four). 
The channel forms part of the [[BBC Television]] executive group and is answerable to the head of that department, and to the [[BBC Board]].

On 20 January 2016, [[Kim Shillinglaw]] announced that she had decided to leave the BBC as the Controller of BBC Two & BBC Four; as a result of the reorganisation, the posts of Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four were closed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/controller-tv-and-iplayer |title=Strategic reorganisation of BBC TV sees Charlotte Moore appointed Controller, TV Channels and iPlayer|website=BBC |access-date=12 November 2018 |date=19 January 2016}}</ref>

Patrick Holland became Channel Controller of BBC Two in March 2017, following his earlier appointment as Channel Editor in July 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bbc.com/aboutthebbc/whoweare/patrick-holland|title=Patrick Holland|publisher=Bbc.com|work = About the BBC}}</ref> In 2020, it was announced that BBC channels would no longer have individual controllers, with leadership moving to a genre-based structure. Patrick Holland moved into a new role as Director of Factual.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/bbc-scraps-tv-channel-controller-roles-restructure-1234652035/ |title=BBC Scraps TV Channel Controller Roles In Major Streaming-Led Restructure|website=Deadline |access-date=25 May 2025 |date=8 December 2020}}</ref>

==Programming==
{{main|List of television programmes broadcast by the BBC}}
{{blockquote|BBC Two's remit is to be a mixed-genre channel appealing to a broad adult audience with programmes of depth and substance. It should carry the greatest amount and range of [[knowledge building]] programming of any BBC television channel, complemented by distinctive comedy, drama and arts programming.|'''BBC Two remit'''<ref name="BBC Two Remit 2011">{{cite web |title=BBC Two Service License |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/tv/2011/bbc_two_feb11.pdf |publisher=BBC Trust |access-date=4 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128191417/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/tv/2011/bbc_two_feb11.pdf |archive-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

BBC Two's historical scope was arts, culture, some comedy and drama, and appealing to audiences not already served by BBC One or ITV. Over its first thirty or so years the channel developed a reputation for screening highly praised and prestigious drama series, among these ''[[Boys from the Blackstuff]]'' (1982), 1991's highly successful ''[[The Men's Room]]'', the costume drama ''[[Middlemarch (TV serial)|Middlemarch]]'' (1994) or 1996's critically acclaimed ''[[Our Friends in the North]]''. The channel's "highbrow" profile is also in part attributable to a long history of demanding documentaries of all types, beginning with ''[[Civilisation: A Personal View|Civilisation]]'' and ''[[The Ascent of Man]]'' in the 1960s. Like the early [[Channel 4]], BBC Two also established for itself a reputation as a champion of independent and international cinema, under the ''Screen 2'' brand.

The channel has sometimes been judged, increasingly in more recent years, to have moved away from this original role and closer to the mainstream. Since the launch of the digital-only [[BBC Four]], the BBC has been accused in particular of shifting its more highbrow output to the new channel, which, until the end of the UK's digital TV switchover in October 2012,<ref>[http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/82057/24-10-12_DSO_completion.pdf ''End of analogue era as switchover completes'', Digital UK, London, 10 October 2012]. {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130603183925/http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/82057/24-10-12_DSO_completion.pdf |date=3 June 2013 }}. ''Digitaluk.co.uk'', Retrieved 9 May 2013.</ref> a minority (7.5% in the final quarter of 2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/tv-research/dtv/dtv-site |title=Digital Television Update |date= |work=ofcom.org.uk|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130509165703/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/tv-research/dtv/dtv-site/ |archive-date = 9 May 2013}}</ref> of viewers did not receive. BBC Four's remit is very similar to the earlier remit of BBC2, and contains many documentaries and arts programmes. It has been perceived by some that this strategy is to allow BBC Two to show more popular programmes and to secure higher ratings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/organgrinder/2007/09/bbc_funding_debate_why_bbc2_bb.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908145455/http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/organgrinder/2007/09/bbc_funding_debate_why_bbc2_bb.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 September 2007 |title=Blogposts |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Since 2004 there have been some signs of an attempt to return closer to parts of BBC Two's earlier output with the arts strand ''[[The Culture Show]]''. Its most popular programme at the moment is ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'', which now moved to BBC One.

Much of BBC Two's output has previously or subsequently been shown on other channels. Some of these programmes are repeats of popular or flagship programmes from BBC Four in a late-night strand, originally called ''BBC Four on Two'' but now unbranded. Other programmes are moved to the channel as a result of their success on [[BBC Three (former)|BBC Three]] or Four, so that subsequent series are well received. An example of this is the BBC Three series ''[[Torchwood]]'', which was transferred to the channel following the success of the first series. BBC Two is also used as a testing ground for programmes prior to their moving to the flagship [[BBC One]]: such examples include ''[[Have I Got News for You]]'' and popular comedies ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'' and ''[[Miranda (TV series)|Miranda]]'', which moved to BBC One after success on Two. Also in August 2014, ''[[The Great British Bake Off]]'' moved to BBC One, due to its success the previous year on BBC Two. In 2017, ''Bake Off'' moved from BBC One to [[Channel 4]].

Another founding part of BBC Two was to provide educational and community programming on the BBC, as part of its public service remit. The educational section of this commitment saw BBC2 broadcast a large amount of programming for the [[Open University]], who co-produced programming with the corporation, and saw the channel broadcast [[BBC Schools]] programmes from 1983 until the programmes were transferred to the [[BBC Learning Zone]] in 2010.

As a result of the channel's commitment to community broadcasting, the channel produced the symbolic ''[[Open Space (BBC TV)|Open Space]]'' series, a strand developed in the early 1970s in which members of the public would be allotted half an hour of television time, and given a level of editorial and technical training in order to produce for themselves a film on an issue most important to them. BBC2's [[Community Programme Unit]] kept this aspect of the channel's tradition alive into the 1990s in the form of ''Video Diaries'' and later ''[[Video Nation]]''. The Community Programmes Unit was disbanded in 2004.

BBC Two has also given various programmes from around the world their first UK broadcasts, and have introduced many more to terrestrial audiences. International shows that have been broadcast on BBC Two include ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'', ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'', ''[[Family Guy]]'', ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', ''[[Malcolm in the Middle]]'', ''[[American Dad!]]'', ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'', ''[[The Ren & Stimpy Show]]'', ''[[Moonlighting (TV series)|Moonlighting]]'', ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''.

In January 2013, BBC Two ceased to show children's programmes and replaced the weekday morning schedule with repeats of the previous BBC One daytime schedule, children's programmes was returned in 2017 and 2022 in Saturday morning. It also began showing ''Sign Zone'' in the early hours; prior to 2013, this had been broadcast by BBC One. This was the only channel that broadcast Sign Zone in the early hours until the relaunch of [[BBC Three]] as a television channel in 2022.

From October 2013, BBC Two has shown classic programmes like ''[[Bergerac (TV series)|Bergerac]]'', ''[[Cagney and Lacey]]'', ''[[The Rockford Files]]'', ''[['Allo 'Allo!]]'', and ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' on weekday afternoons, with the retro logos from 1970s and 1980s, between the current programmes.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

In October 2014, ''[[Russell Howard's Good News]]'' and ''[[Backchat (2013 TV series)|Backchat]]'' moved to BBC Two from BBC Three.

In 2014, BBC Two commissioned Britain's first transgender sitcom, ''[[Boy Meets Girl (BBC TV series)|Boy Meets Girl]]'', which follows the developing relationship between Leo, a 26-year-old man, and Judy, a 40-year-old transgender woman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bbc2-commissions-britains-first-transgender-sitcom-boy-meets-girl-9683788.html |title=BBC2 commissions Britain's first transgender sitcom Boy Meets Girl |work=[[The Independent]]|date=22 August 2014 }}</ref>

From 7 April 2015, the morning ''Sign Zone'' was shown before ''[[Victoria Derbyshire (TV programme)|Victoria Derbyshire]]'' 8:00am-9:00&nbsp;am including ''[[See Hear]]'' on Wednesday morning.

BBC Two is also known for broadcasting some news and [[Current affairs (news format)|current affairs]] programmes. It broadcasts BBC News updates every morning at 9 am, simulcasting [[BBC News (British TV channel)|the BBC News channel]] after it stops simulcasting ''[[BBC Breakfast]]'' on BBC1. This includes an edition of ''[[BBC Business Today]]'' at 11:30 and ''[[Sport Today|Sportsday]]'' at 11:45, then fifteen minutes of ''[[BBC News Now]]'', this had previously been between 2006-2010 an edition of ''[[World News Today]]'' and 2010-2011 ''[[GMT (TV programme)|GMT]]''. At 12:15 pm during the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament session]], [[policy debate|political debate]] programme ''[[Politics Live]]'' is broadcast on BBC Two. On Wednesdays, due to the [[Prime Minister's Questions]], the programme is broadcast at the earlier time of 11:15am. The programme is not broadcast on Fridays or when Parliament is on a holiday break, so the simulcast of ''[[BBC News Now]]'' continues until 1:00pm for the ''[[BBC News at One]]'' on BBC One. At 10:30pm, current affairs programme ''[[Newsnight]]'' provides reports and analysis of the stories behind the day's headlines. BBC Two does not broadcast any news and current affairs programming at the weekend.

From 2017 until 2019, it broadcast the UK selection show for the [[Eurovision Song Contest]], [[United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest|''Eurovision: You Decide'']]. The channel stopped broadcasting the show after the 2019 edition due to the fact that the BBC opted for an internal selection in collaboration with [[BMG Rights Management]].

In 2020, it was reported that the programme ''Victoria Derbyshire'' would end, owing to the BBC's £80m cuts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51214425 |title=Derbyshire tells viewers 'we don't give up' |date=23 January 2020 |work=BBC News |access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref> Since the beginning of the [[Coronavirus pandemic]], [[Victoria Derbyshire]] has been presenting the first hour of BBC News, which continues until 13:00.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

BBC Two is also known for broadcasting some BBC One programmes in a change to the schedules when that channel is broadcasting a BBC News Special. For example; during the Coronavirus pandemic, BBC1 aired [[press conferences]] from the [[Government of the United Kingdom|UK government]] about major developments from the pandemic and the scheduled BBC One programming during those News Specials was broadcast on BBC Two. However, on 9 April 2021 – the day of the [[death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|death]] of [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] – BBC Two and BBC One both simulcast BBC News for the whole day. The same would happen on both 8 and 19 September 2022, following the [[death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|death and state funeral respectively]] of [[Elizabeth II]].

==Ratings and reception==
{{out of date|section|date=September 2024}}
In a 2013 BBC [[Populus Ltd|Populus]] poll, BBC Two had the third-highest per-country TV channel quality rating among viewers surveyed in 14 countries, behind [[BBC One]] and Brazil's [[TV Cultura]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/international-research-data.pdf|title=International Perceptions of TV Quality|website=Downloads.bbc.co.uk|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308142944/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/international-research-data.pdf|archive-date=8 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Presentation and former logos==
{{main|History of BBC television idents|l1=History of BBC television idents}}
{{multiple image|perrow = 2 / 2 / 2 / 1
<!--| total_width=250-->
| image_gap=10
| background color = #F8F8F8
| image_style = background-color:#F8F8F8; border:none;
| image1 = BBC2 colour logo 1967.svg | caption1 = 1967–1972 | width1 = 75
| image2 = BBC2 logo 1991.svg        | caption2 = 1991–1997 | width2 = 75
| image3 = BBC Two 1997.svg          | caption3 = 1997–2001 | width3 = 75
| image4 = BBC Two (2001).svg        | caption4 = 2001–2007 | width4 = 75
| image5 = BBC Two (box variant).svg | caption5 = 2007–2018 (primary), 2018–2021 (secondary) | width5 = 75
| image6 = BBC Two logo 2021.svg         | caption6 = 2021–present | width6 = 75
| image7 = BBC Two Paint ident.jpg   | caption7 = The paint ident, one of the "2s" idents that were used from 16 February 1991 to 19 November 2001, and from 1 January 2015 to 27 September 2018 | width7 = 180
}}
The 1991 idents featured a [[sans-serif]] numeral ''2'' at the centre of an initially art-related scene; however, the idents moved away from this style as the station's style changed. Although highly praised, this expansive set of idents was ended in November 2001. The [[Logo of the BBC|BBC corporate logo]] was updated within the idents in October 1997, though the idents moved away from the original [[viridian]] colour scheme in these latter years. The [[BBC Two "Personality" idents|subsequent presentation style]] was introduced on 19 November 2001 and kept the same figure ''2'', but in a yellow background and given a personality. At the time, BBC Two became the first BBC channel to feature a box logo.

In 2007, BBC Two debuted [[BBC Two "Window on the World" idents|the new theme]], a "Window on the World", with the ''2'' numeral providing that view. Introduced on 18 February 2007, the new look also had the channel adopt a teal-coloured box logo, featuring the BBC logo above the word ''TWO'', now in the font [[Avenir (typeface)|Avenir]].

In 2014, in honour of the channel's 50th anniversary, some of the 1990s idents were re-introduced and from 2015, BBC Two [[Northern Ireland]] opted to use nearly forty idents from the 1991–2001 set.

On 27 September 2018, the 1991–2001 idents were retired once again and BBC Two introduced a new set of idents, based on scenes incorporating a curve motif resembling the number 2. The new branding is designed to reflect BBC Two's "constant evolution, constant eclecticism, [and] constant sense of quality". The new idents are produced by various artists and studios, including [[Aardman Animations]], [[The Mill (company)|The Mill]] and others. The new identity was developed by BBC Creative and Superunion.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waterson |first=Jim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/sep/25/bbc-two-first-full-rebrand-25-years |title=BBC Two to get first full rebrand since early 90s |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 September 2018 |access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/09/26/bbc-two-issues-re-invigorating-rebrand-vivid-and-colourful-reflect-content-diversity|title=BBC Two issues 're-invigorating' rebrand, vivid and colourful to reflect content diversity|work=The Drum|access-date=27 September 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dawood |first1=Sarah |title=BBC Two rebrands for first time in 20 years |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/24-30-september-2018/bbc-two-rebrands-for-first-time-in-20-years/ |access-date=29 September 2018 |work=Design Week |publisher=Centaur Communications |date=26 September 2018}}</ref>

===Regional variations===
BBC Two also has regional variations in [[BBC Two Wales|Wales]] and [[BBC Two Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]], which occasionally opt out of the national BBC Two feed to air programmes of local interest. One of those variations came in November 2001, when [[BBC Cymru Wales|BBC Wales]] introduced a special opt-out service  known as [[BBC 2W]]. It aired weekdays from 8.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the BBC Two Wales channel space on digital television, and carried a separate schedule of Welsh-produced programming in comparison to the analogue BBC Two Wales. BBC 2W was discontinued in 2008 due to the transition to digital terrestrial television, with the main BBC Two Wales schedule being carried on Freeview thereafter.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2001-10-29|title=BBC Wales launches new channel|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/1626717.stm|access-date=2022-02-24}}</ref>

[[BBC Two Scotland]] operated until February 2019, when it was replaced by the national feed. Concurrently, a bespoke [[BBC Scotland (TV channel)|BBC Scotland channel]] was launched, which simulcasts the BBC Two schedule with opt-outs for local programming from 7:00&nbsp;p.m. to midnight nightly, and occasionally during the afternoon for news and sports programmes.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-02-24|title=New BBC Scotland TV channel launches|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47345058|access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-01-31|title=Where to find the new BBC Scotland TV channel|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47069479|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC faces strict quotas to ensure it delivers on promises on Scottish content on new channel|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16683725.bbc-faces-strict-quotas-to-ensure-it-delivers-on-promises-on-scottish-content-on-new-channel/|access-date=2019-02-12|website=Herald Scotland|date=3 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

==Availability==
BBC Two is available via most major television providers in the United Kingdom.

===Terrestrial===
*[[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]]: Channel 2 (SD), Channel 102 (HD)

===Satellite===
*[[Freesat]]: Channel 102 (HD)
*[[Sky UK|Sky]]: Channel 102 (HD)

===Cable===
*[[Virgin Media]]: Channel 102 (HD)

===IPTV===
*[[Sky Glass]]: Channel 102 (HD)
*[[Freely]]: Channel 2 (HD)

===Streaming===
*[[BBC iPlayer]] (UK only)

==Availability outside the UK==
The [[BBC Two Northern Ireland|Northern Irish]] version of BBC Two is widely available in the [[Republic of Ireland]] on satellite and [[Cable television in the Republic of Ireland|cable]], as well as being received directly in areas bordering [[Northern Ireland]], or in coastal areas from [[Wales]]. The national version of BBC Two is also available on cable and [[IPTV]] in the [[Netherlands]], Belgium, [[Switzerland]], [[Monaco]] and [[Liechtenstein]]. 
The channel is registered to broadcast within the European Union/EEA through the Luxembourgish Broadcasting Regulator – ALIA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alia.lu/en/television/supervisory-activities|title=Supervisory activities|website=Alia.lu|date=13 November 2021|access-date=7 April 2021|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627141512/https://www.alia.lu/en/television/supervisory-activities|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alia.lu/assets/upload/files/2021-03-17Liste-des-services-de-television-maj-mars-2021_site-ALIA.pdf|title=Services de télévision sur antenne soumis au contrôle de l'ALIA|website=Alia.lu|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320130933/https://www.alia.lu/assets/upload/files/2021-03-17Liste-des-services-de-television-maj-mars-2021_site-ALIA.pdf|archive-date=20 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 27 March 2013, it began being carried by [[BFBS|British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS)]] to members of HM Forces and their families around the world, replacing the [[BFBS 2]] TV channel, which already carried a selection of BBC Two programmes.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-forces-broadcasting-contract-begins UK Forces broadcasting contract begins], [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]], 2 April 2013</ref> It shares a channel with [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]], which broadcasts from early morning until the early evening.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfbs.com/radio/article/bfbs-tv-set-for-a-makeover-on-27th-march|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603111429/http://www.bfbs.com/radio/article/bfbs-tv-set-for-a-makeover-on-27th-march|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 June 2013|title=BFBS Radio Set for a Makeover On 27th March - BFBS|date=3 June 2013|access-date=12 November 2018}}</ref>

All feeds of BBC Two in both SD and HD are broadcast unencrypted on the Astra 2E and 2G satellites, allowing viewing across Belgium, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and parts of France, Germany and Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.satbeams.com/footprints?beam=7493|title=28°E — Astra 2E Spot Beam|website=SatBeams.com|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.satbeams.com/footprints?beam=7496|title=28°E — Astra 2G Spot Beam|website=SatBeams.com|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref>

==Accessibility==
The BBC announced in May 2008 that it had achieved its aim for all programming to have [[subtitles]] for viewers with hearing difficulties.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/05_may/07/subtitling.shtml BBC Vision celebrates 100% subtitling] BBC Press Office, 7 May 2008.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/subtitles.shtml About the BBC – Policy on subtitles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119073844/http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/subtitles.shtml |date=19 January 2010 }} BBC</ref> These are available on the [[BBC Red Button]], and until 23 October 2012, via the [[Ceefax]] teletext service.

The BBC also offers [[audio description]] on some popular programmes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvhelp.org.uk/audes/schedule.php|title=Freeview Audio Description TV Schedule|work=TV Help}}</ref> for visually impaired-viewers as well as [[British sign language]] interpretation on some of its programmes for [[deaf]] and hard-of-hearing viewers. The percentage of the BBC's total television output with audio description available is 10%, having been increased from 8% in 2008.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/audiodescription/ About the BBC – Audio description on TV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125091016/http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/audiodescription/ |date=25 January 2010 }} BBC</ref>

==BBC Two HD==
[[File:BBC Two HD flat.svg|thumb|right|215px|BBC Two HD logo (2013–2021)]]
Originally, programmes from BBC Two were shown in [[High-definition television|high definition]] on the dedicated [[BBC HD]] channel, alongside programmes from [[BBC Three]] and [[BBC Four]], as well as some select series from [[CBBC]] and [[CBeebies]]. However, in plans outlined by the director general [[Mark Thompson (media executive)|Mark Thompson]] on 6 October 2011, BBC HD would close to be replaced by ''BBC Two HD'', a high-definition simulcast of BBC Two that would work much the same way as [[BBC One#BBC One HD|BBC One HD]].<ref>{{cite news |title=BBC set to cut 2,000 jobs by 2017 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15165926 |access-date=7 October 2011 |work=BBC News |date=6 October 2011}}</ref> This move allowed the corporation to save £2.1&nbsp;million, used to count towards its budget deficit following the freezing of the licence fee and the additional financial responsibility of addition services.<ref>{{cite news |title=BBC cuts at a glance |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15186116 |access-date=7 October 2011 |work=BBC News |date=6 October 2011}}</ref>

On 19 February 2013, it was announced that BBC Two HD would replace BBC HD from 6.05&nbsp;a.m. on 26 March 2013.<ref name="BBC Two HD">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/bbc-two-hd.html |title=BBC – Media Centre – BBC Two HD Channel to launch 26 March |date=19 February 2013 |work=[[BBC Online]] |access-date=20 December 2019 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225181040/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/bbc-two-hd.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Channel numbers for the BBC's HD channels also changed on Sky, to allow BBC One HD and BBC Two HD to sit side-by-side on channels 141, and 142 respectively on the [[electronic program guide|EPG]].<ref name="BBC Two HD"/><ref>{{cite news |title=BBC Two HD Launched |url=http://crave.cnet.co.uk/homecinema/bbc-two-hd-launches-today-freeview-hd-reaches-3-5-million-50010764 |access-date=27 March 2013 |newspaper=CNET |date=26 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329183149/http://crave.cnet.co.uk/homecinema/bbc-two-hd-launches-today-freeview-hd-reaches-3-5-million-50010764/ |archive-date=29 March 2013}}</ref>

On 16 July 2013, the BBC indicated that it wants to launch Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh variations of BBC Two HD; however, this would require the approval of the BBC Trust, with a proposal due to be presented within six months.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/BBCHDChannels.html |title=BBC to launch five new subscription-free HD channels |publisher=BBC Media Centre |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=17 July 2013 |archive-date=26 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726121230/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/bbchdchannels.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 10 December 2013, BBC Two HD was swapped with the SD channel in England on Sky's EPG for HD subscribers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pryde |first=Alix |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/posts/CBBC-HD-CBeebies-HD-BBC-Three-HD-BBC-Four-HD-and-BBC-News-HD-to-launch-on-Tuesday-10-December-2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131210201325/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/posts/CBBC-HD-CBeebies-HD-BBC-Three-HD-BBC-Four-HD-and-BBC-News-HD-to-launch-on-Tuesday-10-December-2013 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2013 |title=CBBC HD, CBeebies HD, BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD & BBC News HD launch Tuesday 10 December 2013 |publisher=BBC |date=9 December 2013 |access-date=10 December 2013}}</ref>

On 24 March 2014, BBC Two HD moved to channel 102 on Freesat in England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Freesat News |url=http://www.freesat.co.uk/about-freesat/whats-new |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403031234/http://www.freesat.co.uk/about-freesat/whats-new |archive-date=2014-04-03 |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=freesat.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2018, the BBC announced that regional variants of BBC Two HD in [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]] would launch at the end of November that year on terrestrial, satellite (Wales only) and iPlayer. BBC Two HD in these regions were swapped with the SD channel on Sky's EPG for HD subscribers. A Scotland variant was not launched, as BBC Two Scotland was discontinued in February 2019 in favour of the new BBC Scotland channel. BBC Two Northern Ireland HD later eventually launched on Sky and Freesat on 5 January 2023, with the SD version shutting down on Sky and Freesat on 24 January 2023. 

==See also==
{{Portal|BBC|Television }}
*[[History of BBC television idents]]
*[[List of television channels in the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==External links==
*{{Bbc.co.uk|id=bbctwo|title=BBC Two}}
*{{Bbc.co.uk|id=cult/classic/bbc2|title=BBC Two – Happy 40th Birthday}}
{{BBC Television}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom|television}}
{{Freeview}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:BBC Two}}
[[Category:BBC Two| ]]
[[Category:BBC nations and regions|BBC Nations]]
[[Category:BBC television channels in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1964]]
[[Category:Peabody Award winners]]
[[Category:1964 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:International Emmy Awards Current Affairs & News winners]]