Geldof has dubbed himself "Mr Bloody Africa"

Bob Geldof and Rolf Harris will appear in the summer specials, which the BBC hopes will give viewers a deeper understanding of Africa.

Highlights include Geldof on Africa, The Elephant Diaries, Rolf on African Art and Strictly African Dancing.

News bulletins will focus on African issues, while the Breakfast programme will come live from South Africa.

David Dimbleby hosts a special edition of Question Time from South Africa.

The African season is being held in a year when the continent will hit the headlines thanks to the G8 conference, the Commission For Africa and the 20th anniversary of Live Aid.

I think it is a tremendous opportunity to turn perceptions of Africa around Actor Kwame Kwei-Armah

Other programmes include Trauma in Africa, which reveals the extreme conditions staff battle with in Johannesburg General Hospital.

'Fantastic opportunity'

Worlds Apart will see a British family sample life in Northern Namibia, staying with a family of the Himba tribe.

The documentary will be produced by Endemol, the makers of Big Brother and based on a successful US show.

The chosen family are due to travel to Africa next week.

Heggessey hopes viewers will see Africa "in a different light"

Ms Heggessey said five celebrities with links to Africa will undergo intensive training with African dance troupes for Strictly African Dancing.

She said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to display one of the things that happens to define Africa as a continent - dance.

"We have the ideal format in which to do that and it will enable us to bring lots of African music to the screen."

Actor and presenter Kwame Kwei-Armah will travel to South Africa for a special edition of Songs of Praise featuring Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

He said: "I think it is a tremendous opportunity to turn perceptions of Africa around."