BBC Two to air BBC Films weekend

The BBC has confirmed plans to run a weekend of movies on BBC Two later in the month to mark the channel becoming the "principal home of BBC Films".

On the weekend of July 17, BBC Two will give a range of films their network premieres, including The Damned United, in which Michael Sheen plays legendary football manager Brian Clough during his infamous stint as manager of Leeds United.

BBC Two will also give TV premieres to Is Anybody There?, starring Michael Caine, and David Cronenburg's highly-acclaimed thriller Eastern Promises.

In the autumn, the channel will continue its BBC Films run with Notes on a Scandal, starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett, and Alan Bennett's acclaimed The History Boys.

"BBC Two is committed to showing more quality fiction on the channel, and we're delighted that BBC Films will be part of this," said BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow.

"It's wonderful that licence fee payers will be able to see these films for free following their theatrical releases."

BBC Film creative director Christine Langan added: "Establishing a permanent home for BBC Films on BBC Two will enable us to create exciting film moments for our audiences throughout the year, reinforcing our commitment to bring original and distinctive British films to the British public."

In the BBC's recent strategy review, plans were confirmed for making BBC Two the home of BBC Films as part of a move to bring more quality content to the channel.

The review, which is currently being assessed by the BBC Trust, also included measures for investing £25 million in BBC Two from 2012 to increase the channel's distinctiveness.

BBC Films produces around eight films every year in partnership with a range of international and domestic distribution companies. Its recent hits include StreetDance 3D, the BAFTA award-winning An Education and Armando Iannucci's In the Loop.

So few people watch BBC2 any more they may just as well use the analogue frequency to relay the five main digital channels, as indeed they will for the final 30 days of analogue transmissions.

The Damned United is a good film and well worth watching. Michael Sheen plays Brian Clough superbly.

The Damned United is a good film and well worth watching. Michael Sheen plays Brian Clough superbly.

Agreed Polly which is all the more reason it should be shown on BBC1. Some very expensive network premieres on BBC2 get fewer viewers than a repeat of a house makeover programme on Channel 4 which costs the latter almost nothing to show.