With all the dancehalls closed, some of Ireland’s biggest country music stars are inviting us into their homes for some very special performances – and their fans are dancing along at home too.

Coming soon to BBC One Northern Ireland, Nathan Carter, Robert Mizzell, Jim Devine and Lisa McHugh give viewers a rare glimpse into their private lives and homes as they reflect on their careers in country music with Keepin’ Er Country At Home.

Each episode of Keepin’ Er Country At Home features a virtual live gig as the stars perform for some of their biggest fans who are not just watching on but jiving and line-dancing in their kitchens during lockdown.

As well as chat and plenty of fun, the country artists will be joined by some special musical guests including Brian Kennedy, Jake Carter and Robert Vincent to cover some classic songs.

In a swift response to the coronavirus lockdown in March, BBC Northern Ireland Commissioning invited programme proposals from local independent production companies for projects that could be undertaken immediately, or developed for broadcast later in 2020/21.

BBC Northern Ireland received 180 programme proposals from 35 independent production companies, ranging from newly created content to archive-based programmes. 23 programme proposals have now been commissioned and a further 18 projects have received development support.

Many of the new commissions reflect life during the coronavirus pandemic. They will provide light relief and a mix of inspiring and uplifting stories from across Northern Ireland. Prior to the coronavirus lockdown, BBC Northern Ireland had more than 30 projects from the independent sector already in production and a further 20 at an early development stage. The BBC is working to support all of this activity in different ways and taking account of current restrictions and uncertainties.

Local television commissions are intended to complement a wider package of BBC support for independent production companies across the UK. This has included: a company-centric approach to impacted productions; the doubling of investment in the small indie fund; supercharging development; extending BBC Three creative partnerships; and investment in archive rights.

A number of popular programmes will also make a welcome return in 2020/21 including: Give My Head Peace with the Hole In The Wall Gang; The Blame Game from Moondog Productions; Top Table from Third Street Studios; Home Ground from Below The Radar TV; and a third series of There’s No Place Like Tyrone from Stellify Media.

Programmes commissioned for broadcast in 2021 include: a landmark programme about Partition and the founding of Northern Ireland from DoubleBand Films; Keeping Up With The Maileys, which looks at experiences of dwarfism in a local family from Tyrone Productions; and Ireland’s Number 10 by Imagine Media, which tells the story of Irish Rugby through a profile of the greatest international players who have proudly worn the iconic number 10 shirt.

Further commissions will be announced in due course.