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Entrepreneur and presenter, Sara Davies, and her crack team of highly-skilled experts are on hand to see if they can make the dreams of everyday aspiring inventors come true by bringing their brilliant, and sometimes bonkers, ideas to life.

BBC One series, The Big Idea Works, features everyday people who have come up with a clever idea for a new product, but don’t know where to start in getting it made

Step in Sara, with her eye for innovation and amazing concepts, who has assembled a team of the country’s most brilliant engineers and fabricators in a specialist workshop, to help develop their initial ideas into fully-functioning and, for some, potentially even money-making prototypes.

Across the series, these creative ideas range from a mess-free birdfeeder and a machine that chills your drinks in seconds, to a sugar-detecting pen for diabetics and a ball that creates bubbles and keeps your bath warm.

Sara said: “I have absolutely loved every part of helping make The Big Idea Works and it means so much to me on a personal level. This series goes to show how much innovation there is amongst us every day people.

“Everyone has a brilliant idea in them. By creating those connections to our amazing makers and experts, we can see how all that potential can be transformed into real, solid inventions, which could improve someone’s life!”

Helen Munson, Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime said: “Where better to make a programme about inventing than the North East?! This is where Joseph Swann invented the lightbulb, and George Stephenson became the ‘Father of the Railways’. We are in good company!

“And, with the brilliant Sara Davies at the helm we know we are going to unearth brand new inventions for the 21st Century. Gateshead based Twenty Six 03 will be working with a host of local off screen talent to bring this exciting new series to BBC One.”

Duncan Gray and Antonia Hurford-Jones, Executive Producers for Twenty Six 03, said:

“Working with Sara on The Big Idea Works was an absolute joy.  Her passion, professionalism and never-ending energy is an inspiration. 

“Our contributors came up with some brilliant, and at times bonkers, ideas that really challenged our genius team of experts – which we suspect they secretly loved. We sincerely hope viewers love watching it as much as we loved making it.”

Lisa Laws, Development Director at North East Screen said: “The North East has some brilliant on-screen talent. Sara Davies brings an abundance of passion not only for what she does and the people she works with, but also driving growth in the region.

“As part of our commitment to develop and nurture relationships between outstanding North East talent and experienced indies, we have welcomed the opportunity to provide film office funding and business development support to Twenty Six 03.

“As an experienced relocated company now based in Gateshead, they were the perfect match for Sara. Seeing this project develop and come to fruition bringing jobs for North East crew and facilities shows the impact that our wrap-around support is having on content being created and made in the region.”

The new series starts on Monday 3rd February, BBC One, 2pm and will air Mon-Thurs. It will be a day-one-drop on iPlayer. There are 15 episodes, with one round up episode at the end of the series.

Big Idea Works was commissioned for BBC One and iPlayer by Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning, Rob Unsworth, the Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime is Helen Munson.

The programme is produced by Twenty Six 03’s Duncan Gray and Antonia Hurford-Jones with funding from North East Screen.

Watch the trailer below.

The Red King and Smoggie Queens, two scripted TV series supported by the North East Production Fund (NEPF), lead the nominations for the upcoming Royal Television Society North East and the Borders Awards with eight nominations.  

The Red King, produced by Quay Street Productions (Fool Me Once, Missing You, Nolly) for UKTV, received four nominations including Drama and Drama Performance for Anjli Mohindra’s lead role. Behind the camera, Cinematographer Richard Stoddard and 1st AD La’Toyah McDonald have been recognised for their work on the show.  

Smoggie Queens, a laugh-out-loud scripted comedy produced by Hat Trick Productions (Derry Girls, Outnumbered, Have I got News for You) for BBC Three, also received four nominations including Comedy and Newcomer for Middlesbrough-born writer and star, Phil Dunning. Casting Director Sam Claypole, and the costume team, led by Ryan Hooper, have been nominated for the Crew Award.  

Gayle Woodruffe, Operations Director at North East Screen, said, “Through NEPF we are positioning the North East as a base for returning high end TV drama. We’re delighted that Quay Street Productions and The Red King brought North East locations and crew to international screens in a stunning show. 

“We’re also very proud to support Hat Trick’s hilarious Smoggie Queens, which demonstrates a real sense of our region, direct from a regional writer, capitalising on the experience of our regional crew with international appeal. 

“We’re thrilled that these productions supported by NEPF are receiving the recognition they deserve.”  

The North East Production Fund is managed and delivered by North East Screen on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership. Since 2022, the fund has invested almost £2.5 million in predominantly scripted projects. It is delivering rapid growth to the region’s screen industry, driving inward investment, increasing visibility, creating jobs, and growing infrastructure.   

The North East and the Borders RTS Awards take place on Saturday 15th February at the Newcastle Gateshead Hilton. It’s set to be a star-studded evening, highlighting the many amazing TV projects that have happened across the region over the past year.  

Women in Film and TV (UK) (WFTV) is stepping up its efforts to empower women in the screen industries with the launch of its 2025 Four Nations Mentoring Scheme. Seven spaces on the scheme have been supported through the Screen Alliance North Partnership (SAN) to strengthen Northern screen industry talent.

Designed for mid-career women working in film, television, and creative media, the scheme offers unparalleled opportunities to accelerate careers in an industry where women remain underrepresented in leadership roles.

The scheme brings together over 50 mentees from across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, chosen from hundreds of applicants. Over a six-month program, mentees will benefit from one-to-one mentoring with senior industry professionals, alongside peer-to-peer training and tailored career and personal development workshops.

This year’s mentors feature an impressive roster of industry leaders, including Cecile Frot-Coutaz from Sky, writer and actor Charlie Covell, location manager Emma Pill, Bad Wolf’s Jane Tranter, Quay Street Productions’ Nicola Shindler, Merman’s Rebecca Parkinson, Film Producer Soleta Rogan, Cinematographer Sophie Darlington, Suanne Rochester from Wild Child Animation, Hello-Halo’s Wendy Rattray and Netflix’s Senior Manager for Production Training and Industry Engagement EMEA, Alison Small and Content Creative, Jon Mountague among others.

Netflix continues its valuable support for the Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales schemes through its Fund for Creative Equity, a program dedicated to creating opportunities for underrepresented communities in entertainment. The England scheme is supported by the BBC, Channel 4, EON Productions, Panalux and Panavision, Pinewood, Sara Putt Associates, the Women’s Network at NBC Universal and UKTV; while SAN supports the North of England scheme.

Leading the scheme is WFTV’s Director of Mentoring Sarah Wright, former Group Director of Acquisitions and Sky Cinema, UK & ROI, with Mentoring Producers Hannah Corneck in Wales, Hazel Marshall in Scotland, Helen Bullough in the North of England, and Sarah McCaffrey in Northern Ireland heading up their respective nations.

Sarah Wright said, “I can’t wait to launch WFTV’s 2025 Four Nations Mentoring Scheme. This year we have an incredible line-up of mentors who will inspire and guide our talented cohort of mentees, helping them take their next big career steps in the industry.”

Katie Bailiff, CEO of WFTV, added, “Our Four Nations Mentoring Scheme is a cornerstone of WFTV’s mission to champion and support women in the screen industries. The breadth of experience and expertise among this year’s mentors is truly inspiring, and I’m thrilled to see 51 talented women from across the UK embark on this transformative journey. Mentorship has the power to unlock opportunities and drive meaningful change, and we’re proud to continue fostering growth and representation in the creative sector.”

The Screen Alliance North board, Caroline Cooper Charles, Rob Page, Alison Gwynn and Lynn Saunders commented, “We are thrilled that such a diverse group of talented women from across the North, representing a wide range of skills and professions, have been selected for this initiative. Through Screen Alliance North’s BFI funding and our partners, we have supported seven places as part of our commitment to empowering women in the screen industry. This mentoring scheme will undoubtedly contribute to enriching and strengthening the Northern workforce in the screen sector.”

Anna Mallett, VP Production EMEA, Netflix said, “We are delighted to support Women in Film & TV’s mentoring schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for a third consecutive year. The UK is a creative powerhouse and Netflix is deeply committed to ensuring the UK’s film and TV industry continues to thrive by nurturing the careers of some incredibly talented women right across the country. We are excited to help drive greater representation in the UK creative sector, as we welcome a new cohort of brilliant mentees looking to take the next step of their careers.”

Applications are now open for Indielab’s 2025 TV Accelerator, a programme focused on the future of content for indies in the UK, supported by North East Screen.

As the tenth programme from the acclaimed accelerator specialist, this year’s outing will look at the future of content financing, audience trends and AI and technology, as well as supporting indies to develop their business and commercial skills.

The Indielab TV Accelerator has long been a catalyst for growth and innovation in the television industry, providing high-level briefings, bespoke masterclasses and seminars from top industry leaders. Over the past decade, the programme has helped scripted, non-scripted and digital indies to scale their businesses, achieve significant revenue increases and secure pivotal deals in distribution, finance and investment.

Notable indies who have attended the programme and gone on to achieve success include Goalhanger, True North, Merman, Synchronicity Films, Dare Pictures, Mam Tor, Little Gem, Chalkboard TV, Air TV, Spirit Studios, Zandland and Wall of Entertainment.

Victoria Powell, Founder at Indielab, said: “We’ve long been supporting indie-growth in this industry, helping many of our attendees to conceive and deliver bold and ambitious growth and pivot plans. The sector is changing rapidly, and we’re focused on helping indies change fast with it. This year’s programme is all about the future of content funding, production, audience trends, revenue and monetisation. How can indies make it in 2025 and beyond? If they want to figure out a robust game plan then we can help them get there.”

North East Screen is joining as a funder of the 2025 Accelerator, alongside other key partners Screen Scotland, the BBC and Channel 4, as well as international distributor Banijay Entertainment; top media and entertainment law firm Harbottle & Lewis LLP – the exclusive legal sponsor for the 2025 TV Accelerator; Helion Partners and Nyman Libson Paul LLP.

Lisa Laws, Development Director at North East Screen said: “At North East Screen, we are pleased to add our support to the Indielab TV Accelerator in its tenth year, as part of our commitment to back ambitious and innovative North East companies. Our region is home to an exceptional pool of talent. By working with great initiatives like Indielab, we’re not only nurturing new voices to explore new markets but also investing in the talent that will ensure the North East thrives as a vibrant and sustainable powerhouse for the future screen industry.”

Indielab will start welcoming applications from existing UK early- and mid-stage production companies from today until the application deadline on Friday 7 March. The successful applicants who will make up the 2025 cohort will be announced following the programme launch on Wednesday 23 April 2025.

Click here to find out more and apply.

Newcastle-based production company Northern Child have produced a documentary for Channel 4 Digital’s ‘In Too Deep’ strand, in association with North East Screen.

Plastic, Printed & Deadly follows presenter Snake Denton as he explores the rapidly evolving technology behind 3D-printed firearms, and how accessible the instructions and materials are in the UK.

Lisa Laws, Development Director at North East Screen said: “We welcomed the chance to work with Laura Marks at Channel 4 on this digital first commission. Northern Child, who won the pitch, are an incredibly experienced team who have developed great content and talent since setting up in our region.

“We had full faith that Northern Child would deliver an excellent thought-provoking project that will capture audiences’ attention and spark much needed debate.”

The documentary will be available to stream today (17th of December) from 5pm on YouTube.

North East Screen unveils an exclusive partnership with Media MDs, a recently-launched bespoke agency. The partnership will deliver a ground-breaking programme for creative companies based in the region.

The North East Screen Business Growth Programme combines the strengths of both organisations, and will support company leaders to capitalise on strategic expansion opportunities.

Lisa Laws, Development Director at North East Screen said: “When Media MDs first came to the market, we knew their offering could be of benefit to so many of the creative companies we work with in the region, so it made total sense to partner with them in evolving North East Screen Business Growth Programme. Our companies are already winning more commissions, this transformative initiative will support the North East to become a leading force in the UK’s creative industries.”

Media MDs’ Co-Founders Jane Atkinson and Samantha Lawrence said: “Collaborating with North East Screen allows us to harness and support the region’s exciting talent and ambition. Together, we aim to create a thriving and burgeoning business ecosystem that not only bolsters local growth but also puts the North East on the global map. Jane herself is from Middlesbrough and remains in the region, so is a proud advocate of what is possible with the right ambition, tools and strategic guidance. And we hope this program will assist with just that.” 

Jane Atkinson brings decades of experience in the industry, having led the production teams on such iconic shows as Deal or No Deal, Strictly Come Dancing, and BBC’s major events coverage. As Fremantle’s former Director of Global Production, she oversaw 35 international teams delivering global hits like Got Talent and Too Hot to Handle, with a particular focus on international business models and working with streaming platforms. 

Samantha Lawrence served as Manging Director at Box To Box Films, guiding the company through a period of exponential growth and securing significant investment. Prior to that, she spent seven years at NBCUniversal with 5 of those as Managing Director of award-winning label, Monkey Kingdom. She was MD of Silver River Productions for 10 years before selling it to Sony.

If you’re a North East based indie with a track record of delivering to UK broadcast markets and are looking to grow your business, click here to register your interest.

The closing date for this opportunity is the Friday the 24th of January.

The BBC’s latest comedy, Smoggie Queens, funded by the North East Production Fund, turned Middlesbrough Town Hall pink last week as the iconic building played host to the premiere of the laugh-out-load comedy set on Teesside.

Written and staring Middlesbrough native Phil Dunning, Smoggie Queens is a side-spliting comedy about an LGBTQIA+ group of friends who are fiercely proud of their town and community. Phil plays volatile Dickie, alongside matriarchal drag queen ‘Mam’ (Mark Benton, Waterloo Road, Northern Lights), self-styled hun Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell, Coronation Street), awkward Sal (Patsy Lowe, Vera) and baby gay Stewart (newcomer Elijah Young). They are joined by an impressive supporting cast featuring Michelle Visage (Drag Race UK) and well known Teessiders Steph McGovern (Steph’s Packed Lunch), Charlotte Riley (Peaky Blinders) and Bill Fellows (Coronation Street, Ted Lasso).

The premiere saw cast, crew, North East Screen and BBC stakeholders as well as 500 public guests fill the Town Hall for a preview of episode 1 and 3 before they aired on BBC Three and iPlayer on Thursday 28^th November.

The stars of the show as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community strutted their stuff along the pink carpet speaking to local media outlets and posing for photos. Drag Race UK runner up and Geordie drag queen, Michael Morouli, hosted the event and a Q&A with the cast following the screening.

Filming of Smoggie Queens took place throughout the summer in Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Eaglescliffe, with support from North East Screen’s Film Office. A large portion of crew were from the North East and a number of trainees got their first experience of a scripted series via the support of the North East Screen Skills team.

You can watch Smoggie Queens on iPlayer now. Or, catch it on BBC Three on Thursdays at 9pm.