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Press Releases & Press Packs

17.01.03

ABOUT THE ´óÏó´«Ã½ FACTUAL & ARTS TV TV DRAMA

Hitting Home – tackling domestic violence head-on

Press pack available

For many people in the UK, domestic violence is a fact of daily life.

Hitting Home is a special ´óÏó´«Ã½ season, from 15 to 23 February 2003, featuring bold and inspiring programmes across TV, radio and ´óÏó´«Ã½i that will help break down the taboos and abolish the myths surrounding this sensitive subject.

Working closely with the relevant specialist agencies, Hitting Home brings to the fore the many issues involved in abusive relationships, showing that anyone can be affected, irrespective of age, gender, sexuality or social status.

As well as informing a wider public, Hitting Home provides encouragement and support for all those affected by domestic violence.

Lorraine Heggessey, Controller ´óÏó´«Ã½ ONE, says: "Hitting Home is a significant landmark in ´óÏó´«Ã½ ONE's Winter schedule. We are hoping that it will increase awareness and understanding of this issue that affects so many, yet is so often swept under the carpet."

Through real-life stories, expert advice and celebrity testimony, Hitting Home features in primetime and Daytime ´óÏó´«Ã½ ONE programming, storylines in Casualty and Neighbours, a powerful, intimate documentary, Dangerous Love – Tales Of Domestic Violence, Hitting Home – Trevor And Little Mo and Panorama.

C´óÏó´«Ã½ shows a specially-written drama and Newsround feature; Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 4, the Asian Network, 1Xtra and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Local Radio are all making programmes for Hitting Home; there's a ´óÏó´«Ã½ THREE documentary; Storyville on ´óÏó´«Ã½ FOUR; and films on ´óÏó´«Ã½ ONE, ´óÏó´«Ã½ TWO and ´óÏó´«Ã½ FOUR.

Further support, advice and features are available on an extensive website - www.bbc.co.uk/hittinghome (live on Wednesday 5 February) - and from a freephone advice line - 08000 934 934.

Seetha Kumar, Head of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Lifeskills, explains: "Domestic violence is a subject the ´óÏó´«Ã½ can explore in an accessible way – through popular soaps, children's drama, documentaries and radio programmes – to help break down taboos.

"Looking not only at the misery it causes, but also at the bravery survivors' stories offer, and perpetrators facing responsibility, it's important that Hitting Home offers hope, and reflects the universality of the issue – domestic violence affects us all and is all of our problem."

There are the practicalities, for example, finding refuge and accommodation and battling through a minefield of legal issues, which can seem like an endless uphill struggle.

So numerous are the consequences of domestic violence that the burden it places on society, both economically and socially, is virtually impossible to quantify.

Kacey Ainsworth (EastEnders' Little Mo) says: "It is time more people realise that domestic violence crosses all boundaries and also that it's not just about violence.

"Domestic abuse takes on many forms, such as financial, mental and physical, which are less visible and sometimes forgotten about."

Notes to Editors

The Hitting Home press pack is available below, in . You may require Adobe Acrobat Software to read PDF files which can be obtained .

´óÏó´«Ã½ ONE, Daytime and C´óÏó´«Ã½ (581 KB)

´óÏó´«Ã½ THREE, ´óÏó´«Ã½ FOUR and Films (442 KB)

´óÏó´«Ã½ National and Local Radio (442 KB)

´óÏó´«Ã½ Support and External Support Agencies (457 KB)

UK Events (418 KB)

Fact File (427 KB)

Pictures are available, for media use only, via the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Press Office.

Hitting Home - a ´óÏó´«Ã½ campaign tackling domestic violence head-on (12.12.02)

Freeview offers the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s eight television channels, as well as six ´óÏó´«Ã½ radio networks.

The soon to launch ´óÏó´«Ã½ THREE will become available as it goes on air.

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