Stephen Fry suicide attempt during documentary filming

A documentary showing Norfolk-born actor and comedian Stephen Fry confronting anti-gay campaigners will be screened later this year, after it was revealed he tried to kill himself while filming it.

The actor and writer was saved when his producer on the film, which sees him travel to Russia, Uganda and America, found him unconscious.

Fry, who said he broke four ribs and was unconscious after convulsions related to the overdose incident, said: "It was a close-run thing. And, fortunately, the producer I was filming with at the time came into the hotel room and I was found in a sort of unconscious state and taken back to England and looked after."

The two-part show, which has a working title Stephen Fry - Out There, sees the star meet campaigners in the United States who claim to be able to cure homosexuality.

It is part of a string of new documentaries announced by BBC2 which include a revival of the Modern Times series for next year.

Other programmes include a look at crane drivers, London's bus service and the world of weight loss groups.

A one-off programme will examine the Piper Alpha disaster when an explosion on a North Sea oil platform killed 167 men.

The film, to be broadcast 25 years after the event, will include interviews with survivors and reconstructions.

Charlotte Moore, the BBC's commissioning editor for documentaries, said: "We live in astonishing times and the mission is clear - we want the very best film-makers to find and tell stories that will illuminate, provoke and reveal modern Britain in all its staggering variety.

"We want to see the finest directors use the full palette of form and emotion to enlighten, amaze, amuse and challenge the audience. Together this daring range of voices and tones will make Modern Times the beating heart of British documentary."