Lord Bragg to make BBC Two shows

The end of The South Bank Show was announced in May

Lord Bragg has signed up with BBC Two to make a documentary about the King James Bible and a series about class.

The announcement, made as part of the launch of BBC Two's winter/spring 2010 schedule, follows the axing of the 70-year-old's South Bank Show on ITV1.

BBC Two Controller Janice Hadlow said she hoped it was "just the beginning of an ongoing and fruitful relationship".

Other new projects announced include Elvis Night and a celebration of the British novel with Sebastian Faulks.

Ms Hadlow said Lord Bragg's documentary would form part of the channel's celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.

It's difficult to think of two richer projects and I greatly look forward to working on BBC Two Lord Bragg

"The King James Bible is a remarkable work of faith and literature that has shaped our language, history and culture," she said.

"Melvyn will be looking at the Bible's extraordinary legacy and how ultimately, as it spread to the new world and the colonies, it helped shaped the world."

She said his other BBC Two series would "examine class - upper class, middle class and working class - through all forms of culture".

The series would culminate with a look at "what has happened to our ideas of class in the last 50 years or so," she added.

Sophie Dahl will present The Delicious Miss Dahl

Bragg, who has been vocal in his criticism of ITV's decision to axe arts programme The South Bank Show, began his career at the BBC and presents Radio 4's In Our Time.

"I'm delighted to be going back to BBC television," Bragg said.

"It's difficult to think of two richer projects and I greatly look forward to working on BBC Two."

Other new shows announced for the channel include The British Family - "a historical look at the story of the British family from the end of World War II to the present day", presented by Kirsty Young.

Former model Sophie Dahl will present cookery show The Delicious Miss Dahl while Delia Through The Decades will celebrate the career of Delia Smith.

Drama Money, based on the novel of the same name by Martin Amis, will star Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz actor Nick Frost.

And Lambing Live, with Kate Humble, "will track the life and death drama of lambing week".