BBC Scotland has been accused of handing over funding to English-based production companies earmarked for Scottish shows after axing River City.
The Scottish soap, which has aired for more than 20 years and filmed in Dumbarton, is due to end in autumn 2026 with BBC Scotland stating it plans to make investments in major drama productions set across Scotland.
However, concerns have been raised about the funding previously used for River City, which is regarded as a major entry point for Scots getting into the TV industry, being diverted to London-based production firms.
According to Peter Strachan, who sits on the board of trade body Directors UK, the redistribution of River City’s funding is being “presented as a win” but Scotland’s TV industry’s future won’t benefit to the extent it should.
He said: “It’s sad to learn so many people will be made unemployed by this decision, further adding to the growing number of film and TV freelancers currently out of work. More than two-thirds haven’t had a job in many months, in some cases in one or two years.
“Many have been forced to leave the industry that they’ve worked so hard to be part of yet seems to care so little about them.
“Cutting River City is being presented as a win, but it remains to be seen if the promised future investment by the BBC actually results in jobs for Scotland’s film and TV production community. The evidence suggests this won’t happen to the extent it ought to.
“River City was an entry point for new production talent. This has now been lost.”
The sets for River City are based at Dumbarton Studios, just outside Glasgow, but the production companies behind Vigil, Shetland and Mint, which BBC Scotland said would receive investments from the broadcaster, are all headquartered in London.
According to Strachan only 28% above-the-line roles, the key creative and managerial positions that guide the artistic direction and production of a show, were based in Scotland.
He added that by sending productions to companies headquartered in London the intellectual property will no longer be retained in Scotland and that any other developments would be lost too.
Strachan claimed that just like with The Traitors, where it was revealed the percentage of Scottish off-screen talent working on the show has been decreasing each series, is another case of money earmarked for Scottish productions leaving the country.
He said: “On the first two series of Vigil, only 28% of the above the line roles were based in Scotland. None of the directors were based in Scotland. It’s a massive problem that the BBC must address if it is serious about providing meaningful opportunities for Scotland’s film and TV freelancers.
“Also, two of the three dramas mentioned in the BBC’s press release are made by companies HQ-ed in London. This means the [intellectual property] that allows companies to develop other projects, even keep some staff on, is being retained by production companies based in London. Just like with The Traitors, it’s yet another case of money earmarked for Scotland leaving the country.”
Strachan has now called for a “serious conversation” about what the public wants from public service broadcasting after BBC Scotland said it had decided to axe River City after reflecting on a “significant change in audience behaviour”.
He said: “Meanwhile, unlike for other sectors, such as Grangemouth oil refinery workers, there is shamefully no financial assistance for film and TV freelancers to help them transition to new careers.
“There now needs to be a serious conversation about what we actually want from public service broadcasting.”
A BBC spokesperson said: "Our three new dramas and the returning series of Granite Harbour will all be made in Scotland just as River City is.
"TV production is a global industry and it is fantastic that drama production in Scotland is such a key part of it."
