BBC sets out plans to inform, educate and entertain during Coronavirus crisis DetailsJoseph O'Halloran | 18 March 2020 The BBC has announced a wide-ranging package of measures to keep British citizens, in particular those self-isolating and children staying at home, up to date on how to cope with societal changes due to the Coronavirus outbreak.“We all know these are challenging times for each and every one of us. As the national broadcaster, the BBC has a special role to play at this time of national need,” said Director-General Tony Hall. “We need to pull together to get through this. That’s why the BBC will be using all of its resources - channels, stations and output - to help keep the nation informed, educated and entertained. We are making a series of changes to our output to achieve that. We will continue to deliver all the essential news and information - with special programming and content.”Examples of the new content will include exercise classes for older people, religious services, recipes and advice on food for older people and low-income families, and , now that schools are set to close, education programming for different age groups. The BBC is also launching a whole new iPlayer experience for children. Hall added there would be entertainment with the ambition of giving people some escapism and hopefully the odd smile."Clearly there will be disruption to our output along the way, but we will do our very best,” Hall added. “It will take time to emerge from the challenges we all face, but the BBC will be there for the public all the way through this. “Our core role is to bring trusted news and information to audiences in the UK and around the world in a fast-moving situation, and counter confusion and misinformation.”The BBC will broadcast a weekly prime-time Coronavirus special on Wednesdays on BBC One, and move political debate programme Question Time to 8pm on Thursdays, with call-in audiences and remote guests. It will also record a daily edition of the Coronavirus podcast, and film it where possible for News channel use in the UK and abroad.Other initiatives include using flagship early evening entertainment programme show The One Show as a consumer programme show for all aspects of the crisis. This will include health and well-being advice, keeping fit and healthy eating tips, as well as links to other BBC output that can help and support. In BBC One daytime, Health Check UK Live will directly address the concerns of viewers who are in isolation, offering tips on how to keep healthy and happy at home.In addition to working with partners to get older age group exercise routines and other fitness programming into people's homes on TV or radio, the BBC will retarget the BBC Food website around collections of recipes and advice on what can be made with essentials, especially for older people, and for low-income families.Once the schools are shut down, and subject to further work and discussions with the UK Department for Education, devolved administrations and schools, the BBC is exploring a daily educational programme for different key stages or year groups - with a complementary self-learning programme for students to follow, broadcast on BBC Red Button and made available on demand on BBC iPlayer.With entertainment, the BBC is bringing back favourite shows on its channels and on the BBC iPlayer. New boxsets going up shortly include Spooks, The Missing, Waking The Dead, French And Saunders, Wallander and The Honourable Woman, as well as more from BBC Three. It will also be launching a new iPlayer experience for children, offering a wide range of entertaining and educational series.