BBC, Screen Scotland sign £3m partnership deal

Screen Scotland and the BBC have renewed their commitment to Scottish-produced content with a £3m investment boost for the country’s screen sector over the next three years. 

Under an existing partnership, the BBC and Screen Scotland have jointly invested in a number of productions over the last few years including popular drama Guilt (pictured), Killing Escobar, The Hermit of Treig and One Night at the Museum, while a series of writing and skills initiatives for film and television have also been supported.
  

Renewal of the collaboration agreement recommits both organisations to work together across the next three years to strengthen Scotland’s production sector and to improve the on-air representation and portrayal of Scotland across the BBC network television services.

The renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed by BBC director general Tim Davie and Creative Scotland’s chief executive Iain Munro, will see the BBC and Screen Scotland jointly invest £3million to support the production of new TV drama, entertainment, scripted comedy, documentary and factual formats on the BBC’s network television services from Scotland and to develop the skills and talent required to devise, develop and produce those new shows.

Davie said: “Working in partnership over the last few years with Screen Scotland has helped us produce some great new drama, comedies and documentaries for our audiences while also enhancing the skills base. On top of this week’s Kelvin Hall TV  studio announcement, it’s further evidence of the BBC’s desire to invest and produce more programmes across all parts of the UK. I am pleased that the new MOU sets ambitious goals to create even more outstanding programmes and develop the creative industries.”

Munro added: “The first MOU between Screen Scotland and the BBC has seen us work together to deliver new talent development initiatives, cement strong relationships between the BBC’s commissioning teams and producers in Scotland, and launch new hit shows that reflect and represent modern Scotland across the BBC. 

“This new, extended three year collaboration agreement will build on our strong relationship, focus on developing more new work from Scotland for all of the BBC’s channels and platforms, driving inclusive training opportunities and showcasing Scotland’s writing, directing and performing talent across the BBC and beyond.”