Television

Landmark series such as A History of Scotland, the BAFTA and Royal Television Society award-winning factual documentary Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives, the introduction of a highly influential Investigation strand and the launch of BBC ALBA – just some of the television highlights of the past year from BBC Scotland.

The multiplatform project to chart the history of the nation was reflected not only in a five part series for BBC One Scotland (with a second series of five programmes to follow later in 2009) but also in a range of radio programmes, concerts by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and podcasts, offering audio commentary on some of Scotland’s most important historical sites.

The first five television programmes were repeated on network BBC Two in the first weeks of the year: each episode averaged more than two million viewers, making it one of the network channel’s most popular Saturday night television programmes in the first part of 2009.

There was a similar audience reaction to Jimmy’s Farming Heroes, which transmitted on BBC Two in July, capturing 2.1 million viewers UK-wide.

The Man Who Cycled the World tracked the Guinness world record-breaking journey of Mark Beaumont. Broadcast initially on BBC Two Scotland, the four programmes transferred to BBC One network in August, attracting 2.8 million and a 19.7% audience share.

Comedy pilots Burnistoun and the sketch show Limmy’s Show brought new talent to Scottish screens while the Pacific Quay studios played host to the six part network series The Life of Riley, starring Caroline Quentin, and The Old Guys, with Roger Lloyd Pack, Clive Owen and Jane Asher. All four comedies have been recommissioned for 2009/10. The studios also attracted major network entertainment shows, with The Kids are Alright with John Barrowman and This Time Tomorrow, hosted by Tess Daly, both for BBC One.

Across the year a rich and varied offering of drama productions tackled topics as sensitive and challenging as paedophilia and faith in the face of evil and adversity. Fiona’s Story aired on BBC One in August to an audience of 4.3 million, while God on Trial, starring Anthony Sher and Rupert Graves, was set in Auschwitz. Apparitions, with Martin Shaw in the lead, drew appreciative audience comments and the three part Wallander, starring Kenneth Branagh as the Swedish detective, captured 6.2 million viewers (24% audience share) for the first of its three episodes. With five BAFTA craft awards to its credit, a second series is in pre-production.

Childrens remains a mainstay, with nearly 20% of all of the BBC’s output being produced by BBC Scotland. Raven, Get 100, Ed and Oucho’s Excellent Inventions, Nina and the Neurons Go Eco, and Hot Rods were just some of the past year’s productions and the in-house programme teams helped to reinforce BBC Scotland’s reputation as a centre of excellence in children’s television production.

The Culture Show, produced on alternate weeks from London and Glasgow, ranged far and wide in its choice of subject matter, covering everything from the Edinburgh International Festival to Titian and the 25th anniversary of Local Hero.

The global economic crisis, the US elections and the continuing conflicts in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Iraq dominated much of the news headlines during the year and BBC Scotland reporters were on the spot to offer information and perspective on world events.

Closer to home, the by-elections in Glasgow East and Glenrothes were comprehensively covered across broadcast platforms and the introduction of the BBC Scotland Investigation strand, on television and radio, proved popular with audiences, with the spotlight turned, for example, on the personal burdens carried by those whose lives are affected by organ donation, assisted suicide and multiple sclerosis.