The BBC has today announced new commitments to the creative growth of the North East in an extension of its successful collaboration with the region as part of its Across the UK strategy.
The agreement with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, commissioned through the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP), will continue to strengthen and broaden production activity and skills produced from the region, including with new daytime drama The Northumbria Mysteries, which will be filmed and set in Northumberland.
As part of its Green Paper response earlier this month, the BBC has confirmed the North East creative cluster as an ongoing priority region during the next Charter period, subject to future funding.
The BBC has ambitious new targets to have more senior leaders, commissioners and network spend outside of London to continue to grow creative clusters across the UK, including the North East, which is the UK’s fastest growing production sector.
The extended memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the region sets out further commitments up to the end of December 2027, to align with the BBC’s current Charter period.
It includes increasing Network TV commissioning spend in the North East to include an additional £15m of investment, taking the total investment to a minimum of £40m.
It also commits to bringing further major BBC events to the region, such as Radio 1’s Big Weekend taking place in Sunderland in May 2026, where over 100,000 music fans are expected to attend across the weekend.
Since the MOU was signed in 2021, the BBC has already met its target of a minimum of £25m over five years, and delivered commissions including the award-winning comedy Smoggie Queens, which returns for a second series this spring.
Other commissions include Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes, Joanna Page’s Wild Life, The Big Idea Works and The Dumping Ground, which recently aired its 14th series.
BBC Head of North of England Heidi Dawson said:
“We’re incredibly proud to extend our commitment to the North East, one of the BBC’s priority creative clusters, with the North East Screen Industries Partnership.
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen exceptional talent, creativity and ambition flourish across the North East, and this additional commitment will ensure even more homegrown storytelling from across the region.
“From new scripted series to returning favourites, the North East is a vital part of the BBC’s Across the UK strategy, and we’re excited to build on this momentum through to 2027.”
The BBC will continue to work closely with regional partners to grow the creative industries talent pipeline across the region, building on the Combined Authorities recent investment in production facilities in Sunderland and Hartlepool.
It will also continue to support the Digital Accelerator scheme, developing new digital-first content and creative talent across the North East, in partnership with the NESIP.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:
“I’ve always been clear I want our creative talents to have the success they deserve in the region, without needing to head off to the capital. That’s why I’m putting creative jobs at the heart of my plans for growth.
“We’re already seeing production ramp up in the North East, and last week we announced record funding to boost creative skills and build the region’s first film studio to sustain that growth.
“I want to see more North East stories being told by North East creatives and this new partnership is a step closer to making that happen. The BBC clearly recognises what we have to offer with new shows being filmed in Sunderland and Northumberland and I can’t wait to see what more is still to come.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:
“This partnership with the BBC has played a hugely important role in supporting our ambition to establish our region as a growing centre for the creative and digital industries.
“This extension will develop even more opportunities to showcase our incredible locations and outstanding local talent, while building on our reputation as a leading destination for TV and film-making.
“On top of our investment in first-class facilities at Hartlepool’s Northern Studios, it will also further support the development of local skills, inspire greater ambition, and help local people see that they can build a successful career in TV and film right here in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”
Like the BBC, the North East and Tees Valley Mayors continue to champion creative talent, with the creative sector identified as a priority growth opportunity within both respective Local Growth Plans and further recognised in the Government’s national Creative Industries Sector Plan.
This collective ambition and investment for the region’s screen industries is brought together through NESIP.
Alison Gwynn, North East Screen Chief Executive said:
“This renewed commitment recognises our region’s strength and positions us as a key player in the UK’s future screen landscape.
“This extension shows the BBC believes in the North East, as a welcoming home to major productions thanks to our stunning world-class locations, crew and facilities.
“The region has always been full of creativity, resilience and brilliant storytelling. Having the BBC behind us means more jobs, more training pathways, and more chances for people from every corner of our region to be part of a thriving screen industry.
North East Combined Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority have to date, through NESIP, supported the screen sector with £12.9m funding and are planning another £5.8m until the end of the Charter period as part of this agreement.
This will promote the region, attracting production businesses, as well as investing in professional talent, skills, creative businesses and infrastructure development.
It will also continue to invest in a talent and skills pipeline with a region-wide strategy and programme of activity that links North East Screen with Higher Education, Further Education and other partners with production locating in the region.
