BBC Scotland Executive Report 2007/08

Audiences remain firmly at the heart of everything we do. And we know that the one thing they appreciate is a compelling story, brilliantly told. From the drama of River City to the BAFTA award-winning documentary Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives and Black Watch: A Soldier's Story, BBC Scotland again this year looked to capture the nation's imagination.

River City celebrated its fifth birthday in September, its enduring popularity reflected in the fact that during 2007 over half of the Scottish population (55%) tuned in to watch at some point during the year. Recently made available on the BBC iPlayer, River City can now be enjoyed by audiences across the UK. And, for the first time, BBC Scotland's drama department is to commission three original 60 minute dramas, for viewers in Scotland, to be produced this summer.

On network, Waterloo Road completed its third series, ending with an outstanding 5.5 million viewers. There has been a significant increase in drama commissions for 2008/09. Over the next 12 to 18 months BBC Scotland's drama department will work on a further six network series and three 90 minute single films. The new commissions feature stars such as Kenneth Branagh, Daniela Nardini, Annette Crosbie, Alex Kingston, Anthony Sher and Martin Shaw.

From science and technology to social affairs, arts, culture and natural history, BBC Scotland's documentary output mined a rich vein in 2007/08. Modern – and historical – Scotland was charted across a range of topics, from Boys Beyond Bars (which returned to the stories of the young offenders whose often chaotic and desperate lives had been captured in the award-winning Boys Behind Bars) and The Man Who Cycled The World, a four-part documentary which charted Mark Beaumont's epic attempt to break the world cycling record, to The Highland Clans and Bill Paterson's riveting narration of Thomas Telford: The Man who Built Britain. Mountain, with Griff Rhys Jones, Coast and Great British Journeys offered viewers fresh and fascinating insights into the country we all thought we knew so well. Make Me A Baby followed couples on the path from conception to childbirth, while, in HIV and Me, Stephen Fry made a deeply personal voyage of discovery to examine the devastating human impact of the disease. In music, BBC Scotland again offered coverage of Scotland's festivals such as Celtic Connections, T in the Park, Proms in the Park, and the World Pipe Band Championships. And the landmark six-part multiplatform series, Scotland's Music with Phil Cunningham, attracted plaudits from public and critics alike.

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