A senior BBC commissioner has declared that the days of television professionals being forced to leave the North East to build a career are over. The broadcaster's first commissioner based in the region said the BBC's Across the UK Strategy is creating real opportunities off screen in areas that have always had talent but not always had access.
The commissioner, who grew up in Gateshead, recalled the excitement of shows like The Tube, Byker Grove, and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet as major influences. After years working for the BBC in London, they returned home in 2021 to harness the creative strength of the North East and develop a thriving production community.
Over the past four years, programmes such as Robson Green's Weekend Escapes, Smoggie Queens, and Angels of the North have showcased the region's coastline, humour, and ambition. These shows have not only highlighted the North East on screen but also created jobs and career pathways for local talent.
This year sees a bumper crop of drama in the region, including new series The Northumbria Mysteries, a new adaptation of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, and continuing productions like The Dumping Ground. A new factual series filming later in the summer is also set to be announced.
Initiatives like the Digital Accelerator Scheme are helping local talent adapt to a fast-changing industry, while new commissions for programmes like The One Show are giving smaller producers vital experience. The commissioner said the passion, skills, and opportunities are now all present, meaning people no longer have to leave the North East to succeed in television.
