Why Birmingham matters to the BBC

Tomorrow I’m looking forward to tuning in to the second instalment of The Game on BBC Two. It’s a gripping Cold War spy thriller set in the secretive world of 1970s espionage, starring Brian Cox and Tom Hughes. There might be more knife-edge drama at one of our General Election BBC outside broadcast teams in Solihull or Nuneaton, but I doubt it.

Some eagle-eyed Brummie viewers may have noticed that many scenes in The Game were filmed around their city. During the duration of filming the production team was based out of the Mailbox, the BBC’s home in Birmingham, with locations and production talent pulled in from all over the West Midlands region. 

And just yesterday we announced the casting for Danny And The Human Zoo. Written by Lenny Henry this is the fictionalised account of his life as a talented teenager in 1970s Dudley, which will be on BBC One. This and other Midlands voices - like those on the fantastic Peaky Blinders - are part of the BBC’s continuing commitment to represent the regions, as well as simply being great telly.

It was particularly heartening to hear BBC Midlands Today reporting last week that TV production is making a big impact on Birmingham. The report said that Birmingham is the real star of the small screen with 221 TV programmes filmed in the city in the last five years, bringing £10m worth of economic benefits to city in 2014/15 alone.

This was pleasing for me to hear, because the BBC is committed to investment, activity and presence in the Midlands. Our plans consist of several elements all aimed at rebuilding sustainable, solid activity and investment in the Midlands: linking up BBC production, indie production, BBC non-production activity, partnerships with the city, and portrayals of the region on our services.

By increasing our investment, upping our activity, telling our story better, making The Mailbox a destination for training and skills and BBC events, and encouraging production and filming in the region, we can help build a new level of awareness of BBC Birmingham and confidence, which over time can create even more activity and production. A big part of this is supporting and amplifying the production we already do in the region.

BBC Birmingham’s drama output made from the BBC Drama Village in Selly Oak produces over 120 hours of drama for BBC One every year, including BBC One’s Doctors; Father Brown, starring Mark Williams – a hit all over the world; WPC56 and our latest commission - The Coroner. BBC Radio 4’s The Archers and the innovative, World War I based radio drama, Home Front are also made at the BBC’s base at The Mailbox.

While some of our critics may sniff at the daytime drama we’re famous for in Birmingham, why not build on our reputation as a centre of excellence in that genre? Joe Godwin, Director of BBC Birmingham and the BBC Academy, is already working with commissioners and controllers to build on our network TV and radio drama story, which might in turn increase the opportunities for in house and indie commissions from Birmingham. 

As Joe has already explained on this blog, we’re already moving an additional 200 roles to Birmingham as part of a wider strategy that now has over 50% of the BBC located outside of London. This is bringing us closer to our audiences and is also positive for the City’s economy. Our approach for Birmingham is one of building a solid base, generating new activity, building confidence and inspiring self-sustaining growth. I think we could all vote for that.

Peter Salmon is Director, England

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