TV goes cutting edge

Shows like Liquid News and Days That Shook the World will be seen

The days of small talk about holidays at the hairdressers may be a thing of the past following a deal to show BBC programmes in hair salons.

BBC Library Sales has teamed up with interactive media owner I-Vu to show its programmes on personal touch screens in hair salons around the UK.

The trial project in salons including celebrity stylists Trevor Sorbie and Cobella will give customers access to their own TV playing a range of entertainment news and documentaries.

Among the programmes available will be Days That Shook the World, featuring momentous occasions through history, and the five minute Did You Know series on a wide range of topics.

Archive footage from the BBC's entertainment show Liquid News will also be on show.

There will be a three-month trial on 200 screens, and as I-Vu increases the number of screens, BBC Library Sales hopes to extend its commitment.

"Britons spend about £4.1bn a year on hair and beauty, making 340m visits to hair salons annually," said Mike Anstey, managing director of I-Vu.

"With an increasingly savvy audience, the value of quality programming can not be underestimated."