Famous women head BBC Four season

Anne-Marie Duff is transformed into prima ballerina Fonteyn

A series of dramas about famous British women of the 20th Century leads the autumn season on BBC Four.

Jane Horrocks will play singer Gracie Fields, while Helena Bonham Carter portrays children's author Enid Blyton.

The series, which also sees Anne-Marie Duff as ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn, explores what spurred on these women at the height of their artistic powers.

Another drama sees actress Sophie Okonedo play Winnie Mandela, former wife of South African leader Nelson.

The biopic looks at the controversy that has surrounded her life in the public eye.

A documentary about the British synth pop scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, featuring contributions from Neil Tennant, Vince Clarke and Gary Numan will also be shown.

Among the programmes making a return to BBC Four will be Charlie Brooker's wry look at the world of TV news in Newswipe, while celebrities answer viewers' questions in a new quiz show entitled We Need Answers.

Duff, who plays prima ballerina Fonteyn, is also known for playing Queen Elizabeth I.

Her drama Margot will also look at her character's pivotal relationship with Russian ballet star Rudolf Nureyev.