Latest news with #PeterStrachan
The National
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Top roles on BBC Scottish dramas 'more often based in London'
BBC Scotland has been told there is a 'lot of distrust' among the Scottish production community due to the corporation choosing London-based creatives over them, The National understands. Peter Strachan, who sits on the board of trade body Directors UK, said the broadcaster still has 'a long way to go' in providing careers for film and TV talent based in Scotland. The veteran TV director's research, for which he looked at where the people who hold above-the-line roles on established and new Scottish BBC dramas are based, suggested that more people based in London hold key production positions than those in Scotland. READ MORE: Scottish director's film set during Highland Clearances takes Cannes by storm Strachan looked at eight dramas commissioned by BBC Scotland: Granite Harbour, Nightsleeper, Shetland, Vigil, Mint, Counsels, Grams, and The Young Team. The latter three are set to be funded from the soon-to-be axed River City's budget. The research showed that nearly 43% of above-the-line roles, which include positions like directors, producers, and writers, were held by London-based creatives, while less than 42% of the same positions were held by those based in Scotland. Strachan (below) has called on BBC Scotland to boost the level of Scottish writers, producers, and directors working on its shows. (Image: Supplied) He said: 'The stats aren't all bad news but reveal there's still a long way to go in terms of creating career-sustaining opportunities for senior film and TV talent based in Scotland. 'There's a lot of distrust in the Scottish production community, as one senior drama director put it, 'I've already been to a lot of rodeos'. 'It's important the BBC does even more to boost the level of Scottish writers, producers and directing talent working on its network Scottish productions. Editors, too.' A report published by Screen Scotland late last year found that only five of the BBC's top 15 'Scottish' producers (by hours commissioned) were headquartered in Scotland. Previous research by Strachan also found that the hit TV show The Traitors had 81% of its production team based in England. At the same time, he also published an open letter calling for 'urgent' changes, without which he warned Scotland's screen industry will 'continue to dwindle and die'. Strachan told The National that London-based creatives being favoured by the BBC isn't just a Scotland issue but one that affects the whole of the UK. He added: 'The best way to do this is to award commissions to genuinely Scottish production companies, which guarantees the IP stays in Scotland, helping to sustain jobs and develop new productions. 'My colleagues and I at Directors UK look forward to working collaboratively with the BBC to bring about positive change. 'This isn't just a Scottish issue, it's one that impacts all of Directors UK's 'Out of London' members and has done for many years.' BBC Scotland has been approached for comment.
The National
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Scottish Government welcomes BBC update after Traitors row
It comes after a row erupted around The Traitors over the lack of Scottish staff working on the show despite being it filmed in the Highlands. Earlier this year, Peter Strachan, who sits on the board of trade body Directors UK, accused the BBC of 'depriving' Scots of opportunities as his analysis of the show's off-screen employees claimed the BBC was failing to comply with Ofcom's regulations. He alleged that 81% of The Traitors season three production team was based in England and that only 7% of off-screen talent was used in series one and 6% in series two. READ MORE: Counter-protesters gather against far-right group in Glasgow city centre Strachan said that just 4% of the 'above the line roles' at Studio Lambert-produced The Traitor's were filled by staff based in Scotland – and by removing a Glasgow-based executive producer it would be 0%. Regulator Ofcom sets out-of-London criteria for production companies which are supposed to encourage firms to make more programmes, spend more money and employ greater numbers of staff outside of the English capital. The regulations require producers to meet two of three criteria to qualify as out-of-London. These are having a 'substantive base' in the region, investing 70% of production spend and having at least 50% of the off-screen talent outside London. On Friday, the BBC published an update where it said it intended to go "well beyond the existing 'qualifying criteria'" and have "at least 70%" of its production budget based locally and/or draw "significantly" on local programme-makers and crew to produce shows. The corporation's director of nations, Rhodri Talfan Davies, said: "In future, we will not typically commission a new network production regionally unless we are confident it will invest at least 70% of its production budget locally and/or draw significantly on local programme-makers and crew to produce the show. "We will work closely with our partners in the independent sector to make sure we step through this approach carefully, recognising that some shows have very specific editorial, talent or production requirements. "We will publish our progress in delivering this commitment each year." READ MORE: Donald Trump's calls for North Sea drilling no 'surprise', John Swinney says Talfan Davies added that while results will be published annually, "delivering this change will take a little time", as he said TV commissioning cycles can take as long as three years. Angus Robertson (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) Culture Secretary Angus Robertson, who previously met with the BBC over concerns around the number of Scottish crew working on the show, welcomed the update. He said: "Welcome rethink about BBC commissioning after concerns and criticism in Scotland. Change in approach will hopefully influence other public service broadcasters, as well as Ofcom, and help Scottish screen sector grow to £1bn annual industry. "I look forward to meeting with the BBC to understand how quickly the improvements to commissioning in Scotland will happen. The [Scottish Government is committed to support the Scottish screen sector reach its full potential, with £1bn GVA target by end of 2030/31."
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why do so few Scottish-based people work on The Traitors?
More than seven million people tuned into The Traitors final on Friday night. It's filmed near Alness in the Highlands and classed as a Scottish production but questions have been asked about the lack of Scottish-based people hired to work on the show. The Traitors counts towards the 8% of hours and expenditure that the BBC network is required to make and spend in Scotland. Studio Lambert, which makes The Traitors for the BBC, said it's confident the proportion of the programme's off-screen talent based in Scotland will increase. According to media regulator Ofcom the aim of "out-of-London" productions is to "support and strengthen the television production sector and creative economies of the UK's nations and regions." Earlier this month senior producer and director Peter Strachan wrote on social media about the lack of Scottish-based representation in behind-the-scenes roles. He told BBC Scotland News that while The Traitors is a fantastic show it needs to be about more than "a pretty castle" and spending money in local hotels. He said: "Is it acceptable that the BBC should be using money that's earmarked to promote growth and jobs in Scotland and spending it on a series that is basically not doing that, a Scottish commission on which hardly anyone based in Scotland is working?" He claims about 6% of the production team on this series of the Traitors are based in Scotland. Mr Strachan added this matters because it's about people's lives, livelihoods and the development of their careers. BBC Scotland News understands Scottish actor, Alan Cumming, presenter of the US version of the show has also been pushing for greater Scottish representation in production roles. Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has asked the BBC and media regulator Ofcom for a meeting to discuss the questions raised. BBC Scotland News has spoken to two Scottish-based people who have worked on different series of the show. Both asked for anonymity because they're worried speaking publicly will affect future job opportunities. They question why more Scottish-based people aren't hired. One said: "As a Scottish freelancer in TV it was so frustrating… especially considering how much we are struggling for work up here." Another commented: "I quickly learned that many of my peers had never spent much time in Scotland outside of working on the show." So why are the vast majority of runners, researchers, producers and other people for specialist roles based outside of Scotland for a programme that counts towards BBC Network's quota of Scottish hours and spend? Stephen Lambert, chief executive of Studio Lambert said the Scottish television community is "large and talented", adding the production company has worked with Scottish production staff on drama series, such as the thriller series, "The Nest", which was made in Glasgow for BBC One. "But a very different set of specialised skills and experience are required to make reality shows on the scale of The Traitors," he said. "We are employing and training talented people based in Scotland to work on The Traitors. "But one of the reasons why the show is so popular and acclaimed is because we employ the most experienced reality show production talent in the UK." He continued: "We're confident that over the coming years the proportion of that talent who are based in Scotland will increase and it is great news for the industry as a whole that such a well-loved show is coming from this part of the UK." BBC Scotland News asked Studio Lambert to confirm what percentage of people working on each series of The Traitors are based in Scotland. They did not respond. BBC Scotland News put a number of Mr Strachan's points to the BBC Press Office. A spokesperson said: "As per Ofcom's regional production definition, The Traitors qualifies as a Scotland production and is clearly made in the Scottish Highlands, as viewers will know." An Ofcom spokesperson said TV production spend in Scotland grew from £119m in 2010 to £225m in 2022 due to the talent and skills within Scotland's production sector and the commissioning practices of the UK's public service broadcasters and global streamers. "Ofcom's regulation has underpinned this growth and we hope to see this continue in the coming years," the spokesperson said. The Traitors finale was most-watched live episode in show's history Where is The Traitors castle and can I stay there? Would you make a good Traitor? Take our quiz
BBC News
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Why do so few Scottish-based people work on The Traitors?
More than seven million people tuned into The Traitors final on Friday filmed near Alness in the Highlands and classed as a Scottish production but questions have been asked about the lack of Scottish-based people hired to work on the Traitors counts towards the 8% of hours and expenditure that the BBC network is required to make and spend in Lambert, which makes The Traitors for the BBC, said it's confident the proportion of the programme's off-screen talent based in Scotland will increase. According to media regulator Ofcom the aim of "out-of-London" productions is to "support and strengthen the television production sector and creative economies of the UK's nations and regions."Earlier this month senior producer and director Peter Strachan wrote on social media about the lack of Scottish-based representation in behind-the-scenes told BBC Scotland News that while The Traitors is a fantastic show it needs to be about more than "a pretty castle" and spending money in local said: "Is it acceptable that the BBC should be using money that's earmarked to promote growth and jobs in Scotland and spending it on a series that is basically not doing that, a Scottish commission on which hardly anyone based in Scotland is working?" He claims about 6% of the production team on this series of the Traitors are based in Strachan added this matters because it's about people's lives, livelihoods and the development of their Scotland News understands Scottish actor, Alan Cumming, presenter of the US version of the show has also been pushing for greater Scottish representation in production Secretary Angus Robertson has asked the BBC and media regulator Ofcom for a meeting to discuss the questions raised. 'Struggling to work' BBC Scotland News has spoken to two Scottish-based people who have worked on different series of the asked for anonymity because they're worried speaking publicly will affect future job question why more Scottish-based people aren't said: "As a Scottish freelancer in TV it was so frustrating… especially considering how much we are struggling for work up here."Another commented: "I quickly learned that many of my peers had never spent much time in Scotland outside of working on the show."So why are the vast majority of runners, researchers, producers and other people for specialist roles based outside of Scotland for a programme that counts towards BBC Network's quota of Scottish hours and spend? Stephen Lambert, chief executive of Studio Lambert said the Scottish television community is "large and talented", adding the production company has worked with Scottish production staff on drama series, such as the thriller series, "The Nest", which was made in Glasgow for BBC One."But a very different set of specialised skills and experience are required to make reality shows on the scale of The Traitors," he said."We are employing and training talented people based in Scotland to work on The Traitors."But one of the reasons why the show is so popular and acclaimed is because we employ the most experienced reality show production talent in the UK."He continued: "We're confident that over the coming years the proportion of that talent who are based in Scotland will increase and it is great news for the industry as a whole that such a well-loved show is coming from this part of the UK."BBC Scotland News asked Studio Lambert to confirm what percentage of people working on each series of The Traitors are based in did not respond. Spending growth BBC Scotland News put a number of Mr Strachan's points to the BBC Press Office.A spokesperson said: "As per Ofcom's regional production definition, The Traitors qualifies as a Scotland production and is clearly made in the Scottish Highlands, as viewers will know."An Ofcom spokesperson said TV production spend in Scotland grew from £119m in 2010 to £225m in 2022 due to the talent and skills within Scotland's production sector and the commissioning practices of the UK's public service broadcasters and global streamers."Ofcom's regulation has underpinned this growth and we hope to see this continue in the coming years," the spokesperson said.
