BBC Worldwide Channels has unveiled two new additions to the slate of original productions for its BBC-branded portfolio worldwide. The new programmes are the first co-productions with the BBC’s in-house team since plans were announced last month to treble the number of original programme hours ordered for its international audience.

For factual channel BBC Knowledge comes Dara O Briain’s Science Club, a brand new science magazine format, hosted by Dara O Briain, the Irish comedian and star of Mock the Week, Qi and Live At The Apollo. Also ordered for BBC Lifestyle is an international version of the newly revived Food and Drink series, fronted by the Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux Jnr. Food and Drink is BBC Worldwide’s first ever original production for BBC Lifestyle.

Both titles have been co-produced with BBC Two in the UK. Dara O Briain’s Science Club and Food and Drink have been ordered by Tracy Forsyth, Vice President, Commissioning, as part of her plan to treble the number of original hours ordered for BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle and UKTV (BBC Worldwide’s general entertainment channel in Australia and New Zealand) in 2012, with the aim of increasing the number of original hours on the channels to 100 by 2014.

Created with global audiences in mind, the new titles build on one part of Tracy’s twin track commissioning strategy; to order both international formats which will air in all markets, alongside local productions targeting individual markets.