Speaking at the Creative Cities Convention in Newcastle Charlotte Moore and Rhodri Talfan Davies revealed that two years after setting out the BBC’s transformational Across the UK blueprint, the broadcaster is ahead of target to meet and exceed the commitment to 60% of Network TV commissioning spend outside of London by the next Charter in 2027.

The ambitious plans were designed to move power and decision making across the UK and cement our commitment to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country. BBC Television confirmed they are well on track having already delivered 15% growth in commissioning spend out of London in two years to more than 57% in 2022 with further plans for even more growth. (*exact figures will be reported later this year in the BBC Annual Report and Accounts)

Key achievements so far include:

• Doubled the number of Network TV commissioners based out of London to more than 30

• More than doubled the volume of co-commissions with Nations commissioning teams – to strengthen the portrayal pipeline for audiences and deliver more ambitious programmes at higher tariffs for local producers

• Commissioned over 100 scripted titles that tell stories rooted across the UK

• Launched long running drama Waterloo Road in Greater Manchester, with plans for another in the Nations on track

• Increased the number of partnerships across the UK – meeting or exceeding our commitments in all 3 Nations, the West Midlands and the North East

• Invested in more than 30 training and development schemes across the UK

• Supported independent producers in all 4 Nations – 80% of Small Indie Fund companies are based outside London

• Forecasting to meet 60% of TV commissioning spend out of London significantly before 2027

We’ve achieved growth organically through high impact commissions like The Responder, Blue Lights, Traitors, Happy Valley and The Outlaws which are making a real difference on and off screen. The BBC has also recently announced that long running hit drama series Silent Witness will move to the West Midlands in 2024 and the MasterChef brand will move to new studios at Digbeth to support growth of the sector and boost TV production in the region. Series 10 of Ambulance has finished shooting in the North East to appeal to local audiences as well as supports skills and training in the area, along with several other commissions in the region.

The BBC has commissioned six unscripted commissions in the region within two years and has just recommissioned one of those: Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes.