More of the North East is set to enjoy the national TV spotlight thanks to a new partnership with BBC comedy chiefs, it has been announced.
The just-unveiled scheme, involving Northern Film and Media, aims to bring a boost to comedy writing in the region which is currently under-represented on TV despite being what a commissioning editor for the channel called "a hot bed of talent". And the expected result will be the creation of fresh shows for broadcast.
The BBC's new Regional Partnership Scheme forms part of its commitment to making its biggest investment in the North East for decades and it took the opportunity to announce the news on the day it launched its three-day comedy festival - a first - in Newcastle. The city has been picked to host the inaugural event which is bringing big names including Greg Davies, Charlie Brooker and Stephen Merchant north this week.
The actual launch took place across the river at Baltic art gallery on Wednesday evening with the BBC’s comedy director Jon Petrie. He outlined BBC Comedy's vision for 2022 and beyond and those plans are now revealed to include a far bigger role for the North East on TV. Screen development agency Northern Film and Media, which is based next to Baltic and promotes film and TV production in the region, is co-funding the partnership scheme and will be taking it to the next stage this month.
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It has chosen London-based Hat Trick Productions to help lead the way. The series producer and distribution company, which is run by comedy writer and presenter Jimmy Mulville, is writer-focused and it nurtures talent. Together, the independents will be helping to grow a scripted comedy supply base in the region.
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Mulville said Hat Trick is "honoured" to be working on what he calls a fantastic project, adding: " The North East has a rich legacy of iconic comic talent both in front and behind the camera and we can’t wait to get stuck in to find the next generation of hit comedies." He will be up here on May 23 to get the ball rolling and original comedy projects will be developed over an initial six-month period with the aim, said a spokesman, "of getting more of the North East seen and heard within the BBC’s comedy output".
Applications to get involved are already open and Alison Gwynn, chief executive of Northern Film and Media, said: "The partnership will be a catalyst for growth in the sector and we’re excited to see local talent flourish."
Emma Lawson, commissioning editor for BBC Comedy, added: “ The North East is the best place on earth and a hot bed of exceptional comedy talent" and said she is thrilled to support Northern Film & Media and Hat Trick on a scheme forging ties to the region's best comic voices and stories. She added: "I can’t wait to see what brilliant new shows and talent will emerge from the partnership."
The good news follows on from last year's announcement by the BBC that it will spend at least £25m across the North East over the next five years to fund TV production and talent development. At Wednesday's comedy festival launch, Jon Petrie confirmed an extra £10m for more ambitious comedy over the next two years and said BBC Comedy will double the number of half-hour pilots made.
He also announced the commissioning of four audio comedy pilots.; the June launch of short comedy films; an expansion of writing bursaries and TV news of a Juice series; a Detectorists special; new short comedy Mobility; the re-commissioning of three series - J erk , The Cleaner and Guilt - plus a Bad Education 10-year anniversary special then a new six-part series by emerging writers.
“BBC Comedy is doing phenomenally well," he said, adding that the channel is the best place to develop and nurture new comic voices. "We want to invest more in our development process - along with scripts, pilots for BBC Sounds and tasters, we’re going to double the number of half hour pilots that we make.
"More than anything else we want shows that connect with our audience." The BBC Comedy Festival is running in Newcastle until Friday, with Northern Stage and The Stand playing host. For the details of each day's programme see here and here. North East-based independents wanting to apply for the Regional Partnership Scheme can find more details here.
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