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Into the Lead, a new development programme for senior leaders working in independent production companies across the North of England, launched at an event in Leeds with 17 participants announced.

Leaders from Yorkshire, the North East, Manchester and Liverpool have been selected to take part in the exclusive programme which will equip leaders with tools, insights and mindset to understand AI and new technologies, develop their leadership skills, innovate their workplace with good work and sustainable practice and meet like-minded peers.

Following a call out at the end of last year by the four screen agencies that make up Screen Alliance North – Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire, a detailed selection process was undertaken and participants were selected from all four regions.

Penny Hall, Partnership Lead at Screen Alliance North:

Screen Alliance North, with the support of the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, is helping the screen industry build a stronger, more sustainable future, one that embraces innovation and puts people first. That means learning how to harness new technology and AI responsibly, building resilient and future-ready leaders, and creating inclusive, forward-thinking workplaces where diverse talent can thrive. This programme has been tailored to ensure leaders across our region have the relevant skills and resources to make this happen.

The course comprises six online modules with a series of expert speakers, exercises, resources, breakout sessions and support. It will run from January to April and is led by delivery partners Under the Moon and Creaticity.

Sara Whybrew, Director of Skills and Workforce Development at BFI:

Nurturing positive workplace cultures, being receptive and open to change, and building the confidence to innovate and take measured risk are vital parts of modern leadership – we look forward to seeing the impacts of this programme and working with Screen Alliance North to take learnings from it to inform future leadership training for our sector.

Ruth Pitt, director, Under The Moon and course leader:

The aim of this first event was to connect everyone and create a sense of community as the group embarks on the course together. The energy and positivity in the room was fantastic with participants networking and bonding as a cohort. Collaboration is key to achieving scale-up success so we are hoping to provide the best environment to ensure the group can thrive.

This project is funded by Screen Alliance North, a BFI Skills Cluster, supported by BFI awarding National Lottery funding.

North East Screen is pleased to be hosting a briefing event for a new commissioning opportunity from BBC Daytime and The One Show, open to production companies based in the North East of England.

The BBC is inviting pitches for three VT inserts for The One Show, offering an exciting opportunity for regional companies to create short-form factual content for one of the UK’s most-watched programmes.

To support companies interested in applying, North East Screen will be hosting an in-person briefing event in Newcastle on Tuesday 3 February 2026, delivered in partnership with the BBC Daytime team.

The briefing will take place at the Tyneside Cinema and will include a welcome from North East Screen with a panel hosted by Helen Munson and The One Show team, which will provide an overview of the opportunity. Full event details and registration information can be found here.

Hosting this event forms part of North East Screen’s ongoing work to support production companies to engage with UK broadcasters, build relationships with commissioners and increase the visibility of North East talent and businesses at a national level.

Lisa Laws, Development Director at North East Screen:

It’s great to be hosting this BBC commissioners’ briefing here in the North East. Over the past four years, the number of regional companies securing broadcast commissions has quadrupled, and it’s encouraging to see new opportunities like this for our companies.

It’s also fantastic to have BBC Daytime Commissioning Editor Helen Munson based here in the region, continuing to facilitate these opportunities and strengthen connections between North East producers and the wider BBC teams.

By bringing commissioners directly into the region, the session will ensure companies are informed, prepared and confident when responding to broadcast opportunities.

Full event details and registration information can be found here.

5 today announce new drama series Forever Home (6×60’), an adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name by award-winning broadcaster, comedian, writer and actor Graham Norton. The series is co-produced by FilmNation Entertainment and The Mediapro Studio, supported by the North East Production Fund and North East Screen.

The six-part series follows the story of a second wife dealing with the memories of the woman who went before her. When Carol discovers a long-dead body hidden in the basement of her home, the horrific realization is undeniable – she’s living with a killer. The story that her husband’s first wife ran away never to be seen again now looks like a lie, and the fact he’s insisted on never selling the house suddenly makes sense. But one dark family secret is soon to be replaced by another…

Confirmed cast include Amy Nuttall (The Feud, Downton Abbey), Douglas Henshall (The Revenge Club, Shetland), Denise Welch (Tip Toe, Waterloo Road), Kevin Whately (Inspector Morse, Lewis), Samantha Bond (The Marlow Murder Club, The Inheritance), Lewis Cope (Emmerdale, Strictly Come Dancing), Jenny Walser (Heartstopper, Sweetpea S2), Shane Zaza (Invasion, Big Boys), and James Baxter (Alma’s Not Normal, Waterloo Road).

Forever Home is commissioned by Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted, Paramount UK, and Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5. The adaptation is being penned by Clara Salaman (Too Close) who will Executive Produce alongside Graham Norton. FilmNation Entertainment’s Kirstie Macdonald developed the project and will also Executive Produce. Will Nicholson will produce the series. Erika Kennair and JC Acosta of The Mediapro Studio will Executive Produce. Paul Gay (Vera, Ridley) and Claire Winyard (Death Valley, Vera) are onboard to direct the series. The Mediapro Studio will also retain and manage international distribution for the series.

On the series commission of his novel, Graham Norton said:

In writing Forever Home, I was initially inspired by the simple idea of packing up a home later in life, and the “what if” scenarios and complexities that come with later-life relationships. The novel soon evolved into a funny, twisted, ‘dark-romp’ full of farcical scenes and it’s wonderful to see the depth and richness of Carol’s story realized as a screenplay.

On adding this adaption to 5’s acclaimed drama slate, Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5 comments:

We’re delighted to partner with FilmNation and The Mediapro Studio to bring Graham Norton’s compelling novel to UK screens, supported by an outstanding cast. Working with North East Screen again to champion local filming has been a pleasure, and we can’t wait for viewers to immerse themselves in Forever Home.

Kirstie Macdonald, FilmNation TV UK Creative Director, said:

From the moment I read the always-hilarious Graham Norton’s brilliant novel, I knew I wanted to bring Forever Home to the screen. It’s a story full of twists and turns, secrets, and emotional depth that we can’t wait to bring to life for 5 audiences. We’re proud to collaborate with Clara Salaman, 5, and our partners at The Mediapro Studio on this thrilling adaptation and are grateful for the support of North East Screen.

Erika Kennair, Head of Scripted at The Mediapro Studio US & Canada, adds:

We are thrilled to partner with the talented Clara Salaman, the groundbreaking FilmNation and the iconic 5 to bring Graham Norton’s exciting and witty book to life.

Gayle Woodruffe, Operations Director at North East Screen, continues:

Forever Home is our 15th production supported by the North East Production Fund, a fund which is helping to attract more production to the North East of England and has invested £2.37m in productions so far. We’re delighted to be working in partnership with FilmNation and 5 and are looking forward to welcoming the production team to Northumberland, a county which has the perfect locations to suit the story. The North East is fast becoming a hub of TV production and our Film Office and Skills teams have been working closely with the production team to pull together amazing local crew and companies and offer some outstanding opportunities to work in TV.

Filming in Northumberland and set to air on 5 in 2026, Forever Home is a darkly emotional story about marriage, family and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her children.

FilmNova, based in Gateshead, has long been at the forefront of producing award-winning sports content for audiences worldwide. Their work spans documentaries, live coverage, and event highlights that capture the energy, drama, and emotion of sport. 2025 has been a spectacular year for the company, with FilmNova building on its success and securing high-profile commissions across its diverse productions.

This December, FilmNova releases Torvill & Dean: The Last Dance on ITV, offering a fly-on-the-wall look at the legendary ice skaters’ farewell tour. From their final UK and Australia performances to reflections on a 50-year career on ice, the documentary is a fitting tribute to two sporting icons and a highlight in FilmNova’s ongoing storytelling excellence. Be sure to tune in on 28 December at 8:30pm on ITV1.

Alongside live coverage, FilmNova develops factual programmes and documentaries exploring the stories, characters, and history behind sports. This year, the team returned to The Great North Run, The Boat Race, UK’s Strongest Man, Superhero Tri, and Wanda Diamond League, while producing Mo’s Last Mile for BBC One. Remote productions also reached new heights, including the T100 Triathlon World Tour and Great Manchester Run, marking key milestones for the company.

FilmNova’s work has been recognised with awards including the RTS North East & Borders Sport Award for the Great North Run, alongside shortlistings at the SJA Awards and Broadcast Sport Awards.

Sustainability and regional impact remain central to FilmNova’s approach. The team has held ALBERT certification across all eligible productions since 2018 and consistently champions North East talent – from freelancers to regional suppliers – ensuring local expertise is at the heart of every project.

Looking ahead, FilmNova continues to push creative and technical boundaries while celebrating the North East on screens across the UK and worldwide.

Visit FilmNova’s website to learn more

ITV has commissioned a five-part series, Sara Davies’ Christmas Craft Off, from Twenty Six 03.

Following the huge success of Sara’s crafting videos on social media, the five hour- long programmes bring her handmade magic to TV in time for Christmas.

In each episode Sara welcomes two celebrity guests to roll up their sleeves and get hands on with some Christmas crafting ideas. Think gorgeous garlands, bespoke baubles, and spectacular centrepieces. Sara even brings her crafting expertise to food and drink, including a cream cheese Christmas tree, a snowscape in a cocktail glass and truffle pinecone.

Among the guests are Dani Dyer, Lisa Riley, Tameka Empson and Olly Smith.

Commissioned by ITV’s Assistant Commissioner Daytime and Entertainment, Leanne Clarke, Sara shows her celebrity guests how to turn simple ideas into joyful showstoppers that anyone can recreate at home.

Sara Davies:

I’ve been crafting now for 20 years, and my absolute favourite time of year, hands down, is Christmas. It’s when people are most interested in crafting – so the whole point of the show is to highlight all the little tips, tricks and hacks that I’ve picked up over the years.

At the end of the series the items come together to create a spectacularly decorated Christmas room for Sara to host a craft-filled feast for local key workers who won’t get to spend Christmas Day with their loved ones.

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

Christmas Craft Off is a feel-good hour of festive fun, watching some of our favourite celebrities put their crafting skills to the test under Sara’s supervision, with lots of audience take out to make all our Christmases more special this year.

The programme is produced by Twenty Six 03’s Duncan Gray and Antonia Hurford-Jones and shot on location with a local crew in Darlington with funding from the North East Production Fund delivered by North East Screen.

The series starts on November 21^st, ITV1 at 2pm.

For more information contact: Kay@plankpr.com