A difficult and challenging year has, however, also been one of tremendous achievement, characterised by landmark programmes and increased BBC investment in broadcasting in Scotland.

Audiences are at the heart of all of our broadcasting and, across 2009/2010, we looked to ensure that the many diverse needs and tastes of our viewers and listeners were met, on television, radio and online.

Across the month of September the This is Scotland season on BBC Four showcased the best of our nation’s culture, arts and music before a UK audience and the second part of Scotland’s History broadcast to critical acclaim at the turn of the year, on BBC One Scotland, network and on the BBC HD channel.

Our news teams continued to bring the best local, national and international journalism to radio, television and online audiences across Scotland, from local reporting on the winter weather chaos to coverage of the release of the Lockerbie bomber, which brought with it a prestigious Royal Television Society award.

The BBC's Network Supply Review saw several key programmes transfer to Scotland during the course of the year. The Review Show and The Weakest Link both began filming in our studios at Pacific Quay in Glasgow. They joined a slate of new productions, across genres, which have helped boost BBC network investment in Scotland to over 6% of the total BBC spend, meeting the 2012 target set for us in 2007 by the Director-General and the BBC Trust.

I'm delighted to report that our studios have never been busier – and that has been good news for our in-house teams, for independent production companies and for the creative industry sector across Scotland.

Ken MacQuarrie

Director, Scotland