Author: North East Screen

Written and produced by James Boughen, Follow the Rabbit is a brand new comedy series following Chris Relish – an amateur paranormal investigator and podcast-maker who is on a mission to prove the existence of supernatural forces after claiming he’s had a romantic experience with a ghost.

Each episode is presented as a new instalment of Chris’ self-made podcast as he investigates a strange new case each week. Chris meets and interviews subjects including a hoarder who believes a poltergeist is tidying her house, a farmer who claims he’s had a very close encounter with an alien, and a woman who says she’s got a tiny demon living in a biscuit tin.

Set in the fictional north east town of Kibble, the series stars comedian and actor Tom Lawrinson, Jo Enright (Life’s Too Short) and Steve Brody (The Office); as well as top comedy talent from the north east, including James Baxter (Alma’s Not Normal), Beth Mullen (After Life), Chelsea Halfpenny (Emmerdale), and Joby Mageean (BBC Laugh Lessons).

Follow the Rabbit airs weekly from 4 September 2024 on BBC Radio 4 and will also be available to stream on BBC Sounds. It was commissioned by Julia McKenzie.

The executive producers were Simon Mayhew Archer (This Country) and Michelle Farr-Scott (Avoidance). Follow The Rabbit was recorded and finished at The East Wing in Byker and was supported by North East Screen’s REACH fund.

MOTIF are based in Gateshead and were formed in 2020 by Managing Director James Craggs and Creative Director Tautvydas Baranauskas. Since starting, MOTIF has delivered short form scripted comedy for Channel 4 and BBC Three as well as becoming the first North East company to receive the full support for Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund for scripted comedy.

MOTIF also co-produced the eight-part unscripted series HD CUTZ and Croatia: Defining A Nation for FIFA+ and Aberdeen ‘83 – Once In A Lifetime for BBC Scotland. James Boughen is a writer and producer from Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees. His comedy journey began in 2011 when he met fellow Teessider Bob Mortimer, who gave him the opportunity to write for Shooting Stars. James went on to write material for other shows

including Russell Howard’s Good News, Mock the Week and CBBC’s Class Dismissed. He has had recent development roles with Motif Pictures and Romesh Ranganathan’s Ranga Bee Productions as is passionate about working with talent from the north east.

On creating the series, writer and producer James Boughen said:

“Being given the opportunity to bring this idea to life with such a talented regional cast has been so much fun. We can’t wait for people to hear the journey of Chris Relish – the paranormal investigator who is desperate to prove he lost his virginity to a ghost.”

MOTIF’s Managing Director James Craggs said:

“We’re delighted to have been able to deliver this original comedy for BBC Radio 4, a brilliant broadcaster with an unparalleled track record for backing original comedy.

“We gave ourselves a mandate as a company to support great North East voices like James Boughen when we started and to keep the production up here for Follow The Rabbit to work with experienced operators like The East Wing. Support from North East Screen made that possible.

“It’s also brilliant for us to work with really talented people from the North East and to get to hear native voices like Chelsea Halfpenny, James Baxter, Beth Mullen and Joby Mageean on a national broadcaster.”

Lisa Laws, Development Director North East Screen said:

“We’re thrilled to have been able to support Motif to develop and produce their first original scripted comedy for BBC Radio 4. Ambitious companies, like Motif, are the lifeblood of our region and it is great to see them working across a range of platforms to reach national audiences. They have pulled together an exceptional team of talent and we cannot wait for audiences across the UK to enjoy their latest story”.

Screen Alliance North, a BFI skills cluster for the North of England, is joining forces to support Women in Film and TV’s highly successful and popular screen industry mentoring scheme, enhancing careers of seven women from the North across a variety of film and TV roles.

The mentoring scheme now in its 14th year is open to mid-career women in film, television, and digital media. The six-month scheme offers one-to-one mentoring with senior industry professionals, peer-to-peer training, and bespoke career development workshops.

The programme is designed for women looking to take a significant step in their career. Seven women will be selected from the North of England following a detailed selection process. Each mentee will be paired with a relevant industry professional to guide and support them through the mentorship programme.

Screen Alliance North has funded four places for women in below-the-line roles. Additionally, its partners Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, and Screen Manchester, have provided funding for three more places for above-the-line roles, ensuring comprehensive support for women in the industry across the North.

Alongside funding an additional mentorship place, North East Screen are offering 20 fully funded WFTV memberships to female and non-binary crew in the North East.

As a WFTV member, you will be able to access a plethora of resources throughout the year, these include events, bursaries, mentoring and professional development schemes, you will also receive the WFTV newsletter which is full of the latest industry news and incentives. Click here to apply for a fully-funded WFTV membership.

Alison Gwynn, Chief Executive of North East Screen said;

“We are committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse screen industry in the North East. By working with Women in Film and TV, we will help bridge any skills gaps women may face and help to support and develop those in higher positions on productions.

This is an incredible opportunity for women of our region. The free memberships, alongside the mentorship scheme with Screen Alliance North, give comprehensive coverage for all levels of experience, whether they be early careers or Head of Departments.”

Caroline Cooper-Charles, Chief Executive of Screen Yorkshire and lead partner for Screen Alliance North said;

“The work that Women in Film and TV do is critical in empowering women in the media. Through their mentoring initiative, which supports women across the UK, they help women to advance in their careers, improve their networks and give them the opportunity to learn from leading professionals in the industry. This well-established programme has been highly successful and we’re delighted to be partnering to strengthen its impact across the North and ensure that our exceptional regional talent can grow and be nurtured.”

Katie Bailiff, CEO of Women in Film and TV added;

“We are delighted to be partnering with Screen Alliance North to offer seven dedicated places in the North of England on our Four Nations Mentoring Scheme. We are passionate about developing mid career female talent in the north and look forward to bringing together a diverse cohort to supercharge their careers.”

Anyone interested in the scheme can apply here Mentoring | WFTV UK up until 5pm on Monday 16 September. A minimum of 5 years experience is needed and all roles within the screen industry will be considered.

Full details of the scheme and how to apply can also be found here. WFTV Four Nations Mentoring Scheme 2025: Find Out More & How To Apply on Vimeo

North East Screen has partnered with the BBC on an award-winning industry skills training program on the set of CBBC’s The Dumping Ground in Hexham, Northumberland. This program gives new entrants hands-on experience and upskills existing crew, advancing their careers in TV and film.

This year, 40 members of the North East Screen Crew Academy attended an Open Day and then applied to shadow a department of their choice during production. Of these, eight trainees were selected for a paid, five-day placement on set, offering valuable practical experience.

Last year, 50% of final-stage trainees secured paid, full-time roles on The Dumping Ground and continue to work with the BBC on series 13, currently in production.

Kristina Hopkin from Stockon-on-Tees was able to secure her first professional credit after taking part in the skills initiative. She said: “I had the best time during my weeks paid placement on The Dumping Ground, shadowing the Art Department and am now working there as a Art Department Trainee. Without North East Screen, none of this would have been possible.”

Glenn Ellis from Newcastle said, “The week I spent with the Grip team as a Grip Trainee was invaluable to me. Both the training I received and the contacts I made have enabled me to secure work on productions like Outlander, Vera, and a major feature film.”

Lisa Davidson, Skills Manager at North East Screen, said: “It’s a crucial opportunity for trainees to bridge the gap between education and employment by directly engaging with industry professionals. This program allows HODs to meet and interact with potential candidates, ensuring they find the right fit for their teams.”

North East Screen’s skills development program on The Dumping Ground gives existing crew the opportunity to progress their careers. There are nine crew members stepping up in to new roles currently working on the show. The roles include DOP, Edit Assistant, Electrician and Production Secretary.

For the first time, a shadowing program has also been put in place for directors to step across and develop their careers in TV. Katja Roberts, one of two directors selected, said: “As a director moving into scripted TV, shadowing on The Dumping Ground is proving to be an incredibly valuable experience for me. I have had a really warm welcome into the Dumping Ground family, and I’d love the chance to return for future series.”

If you are looking to step into or step up your career in the screen industry, head to the North East Screen website to view the support we provide.