WUCF TV, Central Florida PBS, celebrates music, history and the return of Downton Abbey to PBS with Downton Abbey Returns! during its spring fundraising drive beginning Friday, February 26 at 9 p.m.
Downton Abbey Returns! is a nostalgic celebration of all aspects of the most successful British drama ever – the stellar cast, superb writing, spectacular locations, and dazzling costumes. Downton Abbey Returns! features interviews with the cast of the series, and video clips of emotional moments from all six seasons. The special, airing Sunday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. and hosted by Jim Carter, who portrayed the Crawley family’s much-loved butler Mr. Carson, kicks off Downton Abbey’s return to PBS on its Passport service. Passport is a benefit that provides WUCF donors extended on-demand access to a rich library of quality public television programs.
“It’s because of the strong support of our community that we welcome back Downton Abbey to PBS. Programs such as Downton Abbey with its unforgettable characters and dramatic storylines are what our viewers expect on WUCF,” said Dr. Phil Hoffman, WUCF executive director. “That’s why we thank our donors every day for providing crucial, unrestricted funds that enable WUCF, Central Florida’s Storytellers, to strengthen its impact on-air, online, and in the community.”
Viewers will also get a chance to re-live the fantastic storytelling and history of the Black church from Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The intimate four-hour series The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song explores the 400-year-old story of the black church in America, the changing nature of worship spaces, and the men and women who shepherded them from the pulpit, the choir loft, and church pews. The special airs Sunday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, March 6 at 10 a.m.
Music programming shown throughout the drive includes Dolly Parton & Friends: 50 Years at the Opry, John Denver’s Country Boy, 70s Soul Superstars, The Carpenters: Close to You, and Tower of Power: 50 Years of Funk among others.
WUCF is Central Florida’s community station, and this on-air fundraising drive directly impacts its fiscal year membership revenue goal with private funding making up more than 35 percent of the annual revenue.
Viewers can donate by visiting wucf.org/donate.