Eleanor Lawson, West MidlandsGetty ImagesThe agreement means the BBC will increase its network TV production spend in the West Midlands from £24m to £40m annually by the end of 2027The BBC has confirmed its biggest expansion in the West Midlands in more than 10 years, with network TV production spend in the region set to almost double.The broadcaster signed a second memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Create Central on Thursday, as part of the BBC’s Across the UK strategy.The agreement means the BBC will increase TV production spend in the West Midlands from £24m to £40m each year by the end of 2027.It also means the WMCA is committing to investing a minimum of £5m annually in creative industries infrastructure until March 2028.As part of the announcement, the BBC also revealed it had commissioned two new dramas, The Hairdresser Mysteries and Detection Club, both of which will be produced in the West Midlands.BBC director general Tim Davie said: “This is another transformative moment for the creative industries in the West Midlands.”The MOU will significantly boost investment in skills, opportunity and talent for local people, as well as stories from the region in BBC programmes.”Since its first agreement with groups in the West Midlands, the BBC has committed to relocating its regional Midlands HQ to the new Tea Factory site in Digbeth and has relocated a number of TV productions to the area, including Silent Witness and Masterchef. Recent analysis, commissioned by the BBC, found that the corporation’s extra investment in the West Midlands since 2021 would bring an additional £282m of benefits economically to the region by 2031. The BBC said these benefits would increase further after Thursday’s agreement.Getty ImagesBBC director general Tim Davie said the move was a “transformative moment” for the creative industries in the West MidlandsNew dramasThe Hairdresser Mysteries is described an original, homegrown drama, created by Jim Cartwright and is “a nostalgic nod” to the 1970s.The show will see a high-end hairdresser, Lily Petal, opt out of a competitive city scene to buy a small village hairdressers at the top of a cobbled street.Filming will begin this September across the West Midlands and will see Sally Phillips take the lead role.While The Detection Club, set in 1930s London, known as the golden age of detective fiction, sees three of the era’s most famous crime writers – Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers and GK Chesterton – join forces to solve real life murders. A spokesperson for the BBC said the new shows demonstrated its commitment to reinvesting all of the money spent on the daytime medical drama Doctors into new scripted programming in the West Midlands.Doctors’ final episode aired in November 2024, after the BBC cancelled the show due to “super inflation in drama production” leading to costs significantly rising.A petition to try and save the show attracted more than 9,000 signatures.BBC/Sarah Louise BennettSally Phillips will star in The Hairdresser Mysteries, which will be filmed in the West MidlandsWhat does the agreement mean?As a result of Thursday’s agreement, the BBC committed to increasing the range of scripts coming from the West Midlands, as well as strengthening its presence in unscripted programmes, alongside MasterChef, Great British Menu and Garden Rescue.The corporation also pledged to continue working with the WMCA, ScreenSkills and other partners to invest in skills and talent development, as well as partnering with creative organisations on apprenticeships and traineeships.BBC Studios will set up a new, purpose-built production base in Digbeth after leaving the Drama Village in Birmingham, for use by BBC Studios and third party commissions and programmes.BBC Studioworks and Digbeth Loc Studios have also joined forces through a new commercial and operational agreement. A first look at the new MasterChef studio in Digbeth, Birmingham, was released on ThursdayThrough the WMCA’s £5m annual commitment, the authority will establish a production fund worth £2m each year, to encourage more production activity in the West Midlands.The money will also create a new regional production services office, Production Central, delivered by West Midlands Growth Company.The WMCA will invest in intellectual property being developed by creative businesses based in the region, as well as supporting the growth of production talent for the West Midlands. The authority is also going to look to partner up with councils in the area and other organisations to create new production spaces and infrastructure, as well introducing incentives for groups to set up and expand in the region.Speaking about the agreement, Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The BBC’s investment is vital because our TV and creative industries are fast becoming powerhouses of our regional economy. “Hits like Peaky Blinders put the West Midlands on the world stage and brought our first major studio.”This partnership means we can provide backing at all levels, priming local people to seize new opportunities, while making it easier than ever for blockbuster productions to film here.”
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BBC pledges £40m per year for TV production in the West Midlands
