Robert Peston to front BBC3 credit crunch series

The BBC business editor, Robert Peston, will make his debut on BBC3 to explain the credit crunch and recession to a young audience as part of the digital channel's new season of programmes. Peston will front a series of six films provisionally called Peston on Money, in which he explains how the UK was hit by the credit crunch and the ensuing banking crisis. He will also chair a BBC3 audience debate on a wide range of financial issues, including why debt is dangerous. BBC3's winter and spring 2010 season will also include Lindsay Lohan's heavily hyped journey across India, in which she meets the people involved in child trafficking and asks if the trade can be ended. Other celebrity contributions include the Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts, who investigates the nation's tanning habits in What Would You Do For a Tan?. In the year in which South Africa hosts the football World Cup, BBC3 has also persuaded five "Wags" to travel to the country to find out what daily life is like for its inhabitants. They include Emile Heskey's partner Chantelle Tagoe, Frank Lampard's former spouse Elen Rives and Jermain Defoe's ex-girlfriend Imogen Thomas. Other highlights include a "pioneering" new dance show in which six well-known faces are paired with wheelchair users as they compete to represent the UK in the Wheelchair Dance Sport European Championships. The celebrity dancers, who include Heather Small and the former rugby player Martin Offiah, will be coached and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing's Brian Fortuna. Their dances will be judged by Strictly Come Dancing's James and Ola Jordan and the Paralympics competitor Ade Adepitan. BBC3 says it is now the most-watched channel among 16- to 34-year-olds during the hours it is on air, with 4.8 million watching every week. The BBC3 controller, Danny Cohen, said: "BBC3 has evolved a great deal in the last couple of years, with the channel growing by 29% since its relaunch." He added: "I believe my mission is clear – to provide thought-provoking and entertaining programmes for young viewers, featuring young British talent. Our new programme line-up delivers on this promise." • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".