A fascinating documentary about President Trump’s Scottish mother is one of several programmes screening this Autumn which demonstrate BBC ALBA’s confident transition into its second decade.
The documentary, Màthair a’ Chinn-suidhe: Trump’s Mother, uncovers the story of Mary Anne MacLeod Trump’s early life, and her emigration from the Hebridean island of Lewis to the ‘land of the free’.
The feature-length documentary includes unprecedented access to correspondence with her childhood pen-pal Agnes Stiven, which reveals the adversity overcome by Gaelic-speaking Mary Anne MacLeod Trump.
The popularity of Gaelic medium education in urban Scotland is seeing a new generation of Gaelic speaking millennials which the mini-series Na Millenni-Gaels has captured.
Across four programmes the channel follows seven next generation Gaels over six months, experiencing life-changing rites of passage like parenthood, learning to drive and even dabbling in a little pole-dancing.
Strong and engaging factual programmes are a hallmark of BBC ALBA’s schedule. The award winning Trusadh series resumes with an exploration the challenges of living in rural and small-town Scotland for the LGBTQ+ community.
BBC ALBA continues to highlight inspirational sporting life stories with an emotionally charged programme on the life of Elena Baltacha, the British No1 tennis star who died from liver cancer in 2014 aged just 30.
The documentary will feature contributions from Elena’s mentor, Judy Murray as well as family and friends.
BBC ALBA’s trail-blazing coverage of Scottish women’s sport will deliver regular coverage of domestic and international women’s football fixtures charting the progress of Scotland’s teams in the Champion’s League and Euro Championship qualifiers.
An impressive array of new Gaelic talent has contributed, on screen and in the production of, the rich mix of BBC ALBA’s autumn programmes.
Actor Màiri MacLennan stars in headline shows Trump’s Mother, and in the eagerly anticipated new series of Bannan, alongside Lana Pheutan, who also appears in the Royal Television Society of Scotland award-winning comedy sketch show FUNC.
The hit comedy FUNC has become must-see TV for the BBC ALBA audience, and with its rambunctious young cast and flourishing writing team, fans can expect the new series to be a runaway success on TV and social media.
Margaret Mary Murray, BBC ALBA’s Head of Service, said: “It is really inspiring to see this next generation of talent in front and behind the camera, creating fabulous content for BBC ALBA. I hope audiences will enjoy the thrilling drama, the landmark documentaries and the continuing brilliance of FUNC, all of which will be on offer this autumn on ALBA.
BBC ALBA’s new autumn programmes start from Monday 16 September and Màthair a’ Chinn-suidhe: Trump’s Mother will broadcast at 9pm on Tuesday 17 September.
