Latest news with #Ant-Eilean
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Gaelic broadcaster in new funding plea over programme cuts
The broadcaster, which describes its funding outlook as 'extremely challenging' in its new annual report - has suggested its budget is around £10m short of where it should be if it had kept pace with inflation since 2015. Read more: And it has warned that new investment announced by the Scottish Government earlier this year, which increased MG Alba's budget by around £1.4m, to £14.8m, is only a 'one-off' commitment so far. Chair John Morrison described MG Alba's current funding situation as 'extremely challenging.' Sorcha Groundsell starred in the new island crime thriller An t-Eilean. He suggested its funding is around £10m short of where it should be had it kept pace with inflation. Mr Morrison said new investment was also needed to help MG Alba capitalise on a growing shift towards digital viewing on platforms such as YouTube, particularly among younger audiences. He has called for more support to continue making high-quality programmes like island crime thriller An t-Eilean, which was shot on Lewis and Harris with a budget of more than £1 per episode. Mr Morrison said the series had been a 'calculated gamble' for MG Alba has it had used up its entire annual drama budget to invest in the four-part series, which notched up 1.6 million views on the BBC iPlayer after its launch in January. He said although the gamble had paid off, the success of the show, which won two European broadcasting awards last month, had highlighted some of MG Alba's 'most pressing and current challenges. Writing in MG Alba's annual report for 2024-25, he said: 'Linear television continues to be important to us, but most people watched An t-Eilean on the BBC iPlayer, a clear demonstration of the continuing shift to digital viewing. 'The data on digital viewing eclipses anything that is possible on linear TV. The board has been keen to develop and support our policy of Digital First, where content appears other platforms before it appears on our TV channel. 'The reason for this is simple. It is about viewers. More young people watch YouTube in the UK than the combined total of viewing on linear public service TV channels. 'While our viewing figures continue to be healthy – 300,000 people reached every week in Scotland – this number is in a trend of decline and the data is telling us that we are not reaching what we call 'the missing third.' 'Roughly one third of Gaelic speakers do not watch BBC Alba regularly and we believe YouTube and other platforms are a significant part of the solution.' Mr Morrison said MG Alba was hugely appreciated that of an uplift from the Scottish Government, which he said would allow the broadcaster to meet its 'ambitious targets' over the next 12 months. But he added: 'This money is for one year only. To allow MG Alba to develop and grow our impact on screen as well as in the wider economy, we need an assured and growing budget.' MG Alba chief executive Donald Campbell added: 'The number of MG Alba-funded hours of television programmes fell to 325 (in 2024-25) as production costs increased, a fall of 28 per cent over 10 years. 'The decrease in hours is not just the result of financial challenges, but also a consequence of the need for all broadcasters to produce impactful programmes that will stand out from the competition for viewers. 'Such content is usually more expensive, meaning it is not possible to fund as many hours as we would like.'
The Herald Scotland
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
BBC Alba to expand into Gaelic feature film production
A new feature film development fund is being created months after the Scottish Government agreed to put an additional £1.8 million into MG Alba, which operates the Gaelic channel in partnership with the BBC, to 'build on the success' of An t-Eilean (The Island) since the launch of the murder mystery series in January. Read more: MG Alba also wants to emulate the success of Cine4, a groundbreaking Irish language film development scheme, which has produced eight feature films since it was launched in 2017 by broadcaster TG4, Screen Ireland and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The Herald can reveal that a second series of An t-Eilean, which starred Sorcha Groundsell, Sagar Radia, Iain Macrae and Meredith Brook, is already in development. The four-part drama, which was commissioned by BBC Alba, was snapped up by international distributors All3Media International before filming had even started in Lewis and Harris, and had a budget of more than £1 million per episode. Sorcha Groundsell starred in the Gaelic drama series An t-Eilean, which was launched in January. The show, which followed an investigation into the murder of the wife of a wealthy islander at their historic mansion, was later acquired by BBC Four and was described as the UK's first major Gaelic language drama when it premiered. An t-Eilean, which was described as a 'game-changer' by BBC Alba when it was commissioned, went on to win two major honours at the European broadcasting awards, Prix CIRCOM, in Barcelona in May. Meredith Brook and Sorcha Groundsell starred in the BBC Alba series An t-Eilean. At the time, Screen Scotland hailed its popularity and recognition as "an incredible vote of confidence in the strength of Gaelic language drama.' The collaboration between BBC Alba and BBC Scotland on the new short-form dramas, which is expected to see successful projects go into production this year, was announced last November. Kate Forbes met BBC Alba staff at the BBC's Pacific Quay headquarters in February when she announced additional funding of £1.8m for Gaelic broadcasting. (Image: BBC Alba) The Scottish Government subsequently approved an additional £1.8m for MG Alba, which was announced weeks after the launch of An t-Eilean. At the time, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said the show's success "demonstrates how supporting a thriving Gaelic broadcasting sector can bring international interest to Scotland." She added: "This extra funding will enable Gaelic broadcasters to build on existing high-quality content and attract new audiences." The BBC's recently-published annual plan states that BBC Alba will be working with BBC Film to develop feature film ideas. Margaret Cameron, director of content at MG Alba, told The Herald: "We have had really positive discussions so far with BBC Film and Screen Scotland. Everybody is very keen to make it happen. "Off the back of An t-Eilean, this is the next natural step for BBC Alba. It punched through at a level that was just amazing for us and the BBC really got behind it. "We would be crazy if we weren't already considering how to take the next natural step forward from An t-Eilean. "Films can travel even more than TV, they are economic generators and they are also a sign of confidence." Read more: The BBC Alba feature film initiative, which is expected to be backed by BBC Film and the government agency Screen Scotland, will also be promoted at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August. It has been developed after BBC Alba and BBC Scotland joined forces to launch a new two-year partnership worth £800,000 to make new 'digital first' short-form Gaelic dramas aimed at younger viewers. Ms Cameron said: "We are hugely encouraged by what our Irish cousins are doing with the Cine4 feature film development scheme. "It's all about drawing together different partners these days - no-one can do feature film production on their own these days. Everybody has to work in partnership with someone else. "From an absolute zero start, developing a script, getting a film funded and made, and then released you are talking about at least a three-year cycle. "The first stage when we launch this will be a call-out for feature film development ideas. "We will be looking for ideas that are relatable, but also sellable. The thing that we're really keen on is that Gaelic talent is at the heart of it. "The writer must have Gaelic and we will want the majority of the script to be in Gaelic. "If we are very lucky and we have sufficient funding from our partners then we may find we are able to develop more than one film. It would be fantastic to have more than one horse on the field." Glasgow-based Black Camel Pictures, producers of the marine crime drama Annika and queer romance series Float, secured the BBC Alba commission for An t-Eilean, which was written by Nicholas Osborne and Patsi Mackenzie. Ms Cameron said: 'A second series of An t-Eilean is in development. It's looking very positive and we are very confident that something will come from it. "We would love to have another series of An t-Eilean and we have plans for some other new dramas as well."
Scotsman
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
How new legislation would strengthen the rights of parents to ask for a Gaelic school
The Scottish Languages Bill will be debated on Tuesday, and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has written about the legislation's importance. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Having been immersed in Gaelic medium education since the age of three, I recognise the immense benefits Gaelic brings to communities around Scotland. Living in the Highlands, I've seen how the language is a unique selling point for Scotland when exporting products, like whisky, or inviting visitors to the country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, is based in Sleat, on the Isle of Skye | Sabhal Mòr Ostaig The language also benefits the economy, with our thriving Gaelic broadcasting supporting 340 jobs across Scotland. The success and talent of the sector has been showcased to the world through BBC ALBA's recent crime thriller series An t-Eilean, or 'The Island'. The programme, which debuted earlier this year, has had tremendous success, attracting a record number of viewers on BBC ALBA. It has also been sold to several European broadcasters and was recently named Europe's best regional programme at the CIRCOM Awards. To accelerate Gaelic's growth, the Scottish Government has introduced the Scottish Languages Bill, which MSPs will consider on Tuesday. I am honoured to take forward this Bill into its final stage as a Gaelic speaker and Scotland's first Cabinet secretary for the language. It presents us with a significant opportunity to protect and restore our treasured languages of Gaelic and Scots. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad New powers within the Bill would strengthen the rights of parents to ask for a Gaelic school to be set up in their area. Under the plans, local authorities would be required to assess if the request was practical and affordable. After taking advice, ministers could direct local authorities to proceed with the establishment a new Gaelic school if the authority's assessment considers it to be viable. We know that Gaelic medium schools offer good value for money as they frequently demonstrate above average performance despite costs being no greater than English medium schools. Research also indicates that children who are bilingual tend to perform better in school and have access to more jobs when they grow up. The Scottish National Party's (SNP) Kate Forbes. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire Other measures include introducing educational standards for Gaelic and Scots and bringing forward targets on the number of people speaking and learning Gaelic. This would ensure that ministers are accountable to MSPs on progress made in growing Gaelic throughout Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Bill would also establish Scots and Gaelic as official languages and support the creation of areas of linguistic significance in Gaelic communities, so that we can better target policies to support the language's growth These provisions aim to build on the encouraging progress made in the most recent census in 2022, which found an increase in Gaelic use for the first time since 1971. However, I recognise that more needs to be done to grow Gaelic in communities where it is traditionally spoken following a drop in speakers in the Outer Hebrides. That's why the Scottish Government is working with partners to support more economic and social opportunities in Gaelic communities so that more people who speak the language continue to live in those areas. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Languages Bill would also play a vital role in restoring Gaelic's place in these communities. The significance of Gaelic medium education to the language's resurgence is reflected through my own family. My grandparents, who lived just south of Inverness, spoke the language, but this was not passed on to my parents. But through Gaelic medium education I had the privilege to become fluent in Gaelic. I am optimistic that, with the passage of this Bill, the privilege of Gaelic medium education will become more widely available to children and young people in all parts of Scotland.
Scotsman
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Scottish stars read Gaelic children's bedtime stories in new BBC ALBA series
BBC ALBA is helping little ones wind down with a new season of Stòiridh, its much-loved Gaelic bedtime story series with the help of some familiar Scottish personalities. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Stars of the acclaimed drama An t-Eilean, Sorcha Groundsell and Sam James Smith, along with Scotland's Makar, Peter Mackay, chaplain and broadcaster Suzie Roberts and poet Babs Macgregor are the Gaelic personalities lending their voices and storytelling talents to the new series, guiding young viewers into dreamland with charming Gaelic tales. With two episodes airing each week at 5.55pm on BBC ALBA, Stòiridh invites children to cosy up in their favourite aodach-leapa (pyjamas) to hear this season's guest contributors read from some well-known storybooks, with cuddly toys and fun props to help bring the tales to life. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Aimed at 3-6 year olds, the series supports early Gaelic language learning while providing an entertaing evening routine. The season opens with Sorcha Groundsell reading Sin an Dìthean Agamsa! | That's My Flower!, a beautifully illustrated story about a protective bird that tries its best to take care of a precious flower. BBC ALBA - Stòiridh Sam James Smith Talking about her involvement in the new series, Sorcha Groundsell says: 'I'm thrilled to be part of this iconic series reading some of our well-loved Gaelic stories to little ones before bedtime. It's a great way to educate BBC ALBA's younger audiences with Gaelic words they may not be familiar with. 'We hope the new series will help kids – and their parents – get a good night's sleep!' Peter Mackay, Scotland's Makar, adds: 'It's great to be part of this series of Stòiridh; I wish that when I was young we'd had so many different stories - and readers - on TV in Gaelic. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There are so many great books out there, and I hope each story in the series helps encourage children to love reading, and playing, and messing around with words themselves.'
Scotsman
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Grand Prix win for Gaelic language drama An t-Eilean at Prix CIRCOM 2025
MG ALBA has achieved a major international milestone, taking home the coveted Grand Prix at last night's Prix CIRCOM 2025 awards – the highest honour in the prestigious European television awards. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Grand Prix win was awarded to Black Camel Pictures' acclaimed Gaelic-language crime thriller An t-Eilean (The Island), which had already been named winner of the Drama and Entertainment category earlier in the evening at the gala award ceremony in Barcelona. In a surprise announcement, the series was also revealed as the overall winner across all genres. Set against the elemental landscape of the Outer Hebrides, An t-Eilean (The Island)is a compelling crime story that follows a family caught up in a murder investigation very close to home. When their mother is found murdered in the family castle, four adult children return to the Scottish island of their birth as their father is questioned over her death. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Commissioned by BBC ALBA and produced by Black Camel Pictures, with funding from MG ALBA, Screen Scotland, Black Camel Pictures and All3Media International, the drama premiered in the UK on BBC ALBA in January 2025, becoming the best performing Gaelic programme since the channel's inception. A further broadcast window was also secured on BBC Four earlier this year. Drama and Entertainment category award accepted by (L-R) actor Sorcha Groundsell (who plays lead Kat Crighton in An t-Eilean), Black Camel Pictures' Arabella Page Croft, and MG ALBA director of content, Margaret Cameron The Grand Prix 2025 accolade crowns a year of renewed momentum for the Prix CIRCOM awards, which saw a 22 per cent rise in entries and an influx of new broadcasters joining the competition for the first time. Judging took place in April with winners selected by a panel of industry professionals from across 15 European regional public service outlets. John Morrison, Chair of MG ALBA, said: 'Winning the Grand Prix is an incredible achievement for a Gaelic show, placed at the pinnacle of Europe's regional television industry by our peers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'MG ALBA has been working with a tight and diminishing budget for years and it was a calculated gamble by the Board of MG ALBA to invest all of our drama budget for a whole year in one short box set. But we were confident in the story, the cast and the production team. So were our funding partners and the BBC. An t-Eilean has already broken audience records for a Gaelic show, and it is very rewarding for everyone involved to win two awards in this prestigious ceremony. High quality drama needs a serious budget and increased investment by the Scottish Government would allow us to build on this success.' An t-Eilean / The Island David Swetman, SVP scripted content at All3Media International, added: 'We're so pleased that the appeal of Black Camel's wonderful drama has been recognised with the top award from the CIRCOM jury of European broadcasters in Barcelona.' Arabella Page Croft, Executive Producer at Black Camel Pictures, said: 'Thanks so much to the jury! Wonderful to win the Grand Prix at the CIRCOM awards celebrating European television drama production. We share this award with our hugely talented cast, crew and creative commissioners and financiers who adventured with us!' David Smith, Director at Screen Scotland, said: 'This is a fantastic win for the An t-Eilean team. The popularity of this ambitious series and the recognition it has received, including this award, is an incredible vote of confidence in the strength of Gaelic language drama.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Chosen from across all category winners, the Grand Prix recognises the single most outstanding programme of the year. While regional winners receive prior notice, the winner of the Grand Prix is announced live on the night, at the CIRCOM Annual Conference. Grand Prix award accepted by (L-R) Chair of MG ALBA, John Morrison, Black Camel Pictures' Arabella Page Croft, and actor Sorcha Groundsell (who plays lead Kat Crighton in An t-Eilean) Commending the diverse offering within the entries for the Prix CIRCOM 2025, Chair Marina Ramos of RTP, Portugal, said: 'We found many very good stories, great productions, and specially commissioned content that let us see and enjoy beautiful landscapes and regions all over Europe and different kinds of culture. All that is very important for public service media to offer to consumers. 'Our selection for Grand Prix was the drama An t-Eilean (The Island). And the reason is simple: we have all seen murder series from all over the world but this is a very great production, high quality, good story, great actors, beautiful landscape and, above all made in the Gaelic language, showing us a region in Scotland, with magnificent natural features. Livestock, castles and so on.' The Prix CIRCOM 2025 jury report noted: 'There is beautiful scenery, imposing castles and wonderful views of natural beauty. The drama matches well to this specific scenery and setting. The acting is splendid: it's intense and you don't want to stop watching. The production values are high and this is an ambitious production. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It is very fascinating and impressive that the drama is produced in the Gaelic language. This will help spread knowledge of the language when making such quality entertainment for a wider audience. Good dramas are made all over the world – but this is special.'
