BBC and Tate plan 60s art series

A series of shows about the 1960s will be shown on the channel

BBC Four has teamed up with the Tate Britain gallery for a TV series and exhibition looking at 1960s artists.

Art and the 60s, described as a "groundbreaking collaboration" by BBC Four controller Roly Keating, will be screened and displayed this summer.

It features influential figures such as David Hockney and Bridget Riley, plus lesser-known names from the era.

The series is part of the channel's Summer In The Sixties season, featuring documentaries, music and discussions.

Other shows planned for the season include The Truth About 60s TV and I Hate The 60s, while a TV adaptation of the stage show based on classic 60s comedy Round The Horne is also planned.

Music

New music documentaries from BBC Four include The Blues, a series of films made by major directors such as Martin Scorsese, Mike Figgis and Clint Eastwood.

The channel will also present the world premiere of Merlin, a lost opera written by Spanish 19th Century composer Isaac Albeniz.

Garden expert Monty Don presents Painting Flowers - a series looking at the history of flowers in art - while new documentaries cover subjects ranging from car entrepreneur John DeLorean to the Saudi royal family.

Storyville investigates how Athenians feel about staging the Olympic Games in Selling Greece, and an Arena special called Selling The Third Man revisits the scene of Carol Reed's classic film.

New film-making from around the world will be highlighted in the Saturday Cinema - Discoveries series.