A new BBC Three dark comedy filmed entirely in Tyne & Wear is shining a spotlight on North East creative talent, with Gateshead‑based production company Candle & Bell leading the charge, supported by North East Screen.
Doppelgänger premieres on BBC Three on Sunday 1 February as part of the BBC Writers’ Long Story Short strand, with funding from North East Screen. Written by North East writer, Alison Carr, and produced with an entirely regional crew and cast, the project has created real jobs and showcased the calibre of expertise at our disposal in the region.
North East Screen’s support enabled Candle & Bell to deliver a technically ambitious, broadcast‑ready film rooted in the region. Shot across recognisable locations including the Tyne & Wear Metro system, Heaton and Pelaw, Doppelgänger tells a story grounded in the North East yet resonating far beyond it.
The number of regional companies winning commissions has quadrupled in the last three years, and this film marks Candle & Bell’s third BBC commission. Founder and director Maria Caruana Galizia says the project demonstrates what’s possible when regional talent receives sustained backing:
This film proves what’s possible when a regional production receives proper support.
We’re not making regional content — we’re making ambitious, technically sophisticated work that happens to be made in the North East.
Backing North East businesses and talent to be innovative and win bigger, better contracts, is part of the work North East Screen are doing to cement the region as a great place to do business. Development Director, Lisa Laws, is thrilled to see the steps Candle & Bell have taken recently. She said,
It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with the BBC to give a North East writer their first broadcast credit, and to match them with a dynamic regional company expanding their ambitious slate.
With Zak Harney’s assured direction and some exceptional performances throughout, this project is a brilliant showcase of North East creativity.
Written by Gateshead‑born playwright Alison Carr and directed by award‑winning Geordie filmmaker Zak Harney, Doppelgänger follows Josie, a woman locked in a lifelong rivalry with another person who shares her name, birthday and almost every major life event. As her mother lies dying, the feud spirals into darker, more surreal territory.
With regional investment and national broadcast exposure, Doppelgänger stands as a strong example of how North East creativity can deliver work with UK‑wide and international appeal.
Doppelgänger airs on BBC Three on Sunday 1 February 2026 and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
