Download BBC shows on iTunes

The BBC is to offer TV programmes on iTunes which can be purchased per episode and then viewed on a Mac or PC, iPod with video, iPhone or Apple TV.

From today, BBC shows including Torchwood, Life On Mars, Little Britain, Spooks, Robin Hood can be bought for £1.89 an episode.

Recently aired programmes, such as Ashes to Ashes, will be available on iTunes after they have been made available on the BBC iPlayer.

Simon Danker, director of Digital Media at BBC Worldwide, said: "We want to give audiences a wide variety of options on how and where to view their favourite BBC shows."

"With more people now choosing to watch TV shows on their iPods, fans of series such as The Mighty Boosh and The Catherine Tate Show can now enjoy those shows wherever they are."

The BBC recently announced that a version of the BBC iPlayer application that lets Mac users download TV programmes from the web will be launched this year.

Mac owners can currently stream BBC programmes over the web using the iPlayer application but they cannot currently download them to watch at their leisure.