A SCOTTISH filmmaker has attacked the BBC’s flagship reality show The Traitors – claiming the broadcaster is failing to put the right amount of money into Scotland through its production.
Director Peter Strachan has claimed the BBC has made the Scottish estate on which the programme is set a “shooting estate of a different kind”.
In a lengthy attack posted on LinkedIn, Strachan said that the BBC was “not commissioning fairly” and the money spent on The Traitors “isn’t translating into a fair level of job opportunity across the UK”.
Strachan claimed that Studio Lambert, the London-based firm behind the show, had 81% of its production team for The Traitors based in London – which he said was not “in the spirit” of Ofcom’s regional production guidelines.
Ofcom sets criteria for production companies which are supposed to encourage firms to make more programmes, spend more money and employ greater numbers of staff outside of London.
Strachan, who said that he is a champion of the BBC but stressed the need for better representation, said that just 4% of The Traitor’s “above the line roles” were filled by staff based in Scotland.
He added: “Removing the Glasgow-based executive producer (BBC), the [percentage] of above the line roles would be zero.
“Only 6.52% of below the line roles are Scotland based. With the vast majority based in London, a total of just 6.22% of the big production team are based in Scotland. Just 22.22% of the specialist roles and facilities are based in Scotland.”
Strachan said: “It's proof that the BBC is not commissioning fairly and that its spend isn’t translating into a fair level of job opportunity across the UK. In this instance, Scotland has become a shooting estate of a different kind.”
The Traitors, based on the party game Mafia, is one of the BBC’s most successful new shows and is shot at Ardross Castle in Ross and Cromarty, as is its American spin-off.
The National understands the BBC considers Strachan's claims nonsense and believes its production in the Highlands contributes to the local economy.
Studio Lambert was approached for comment.
