BBC unveils production roles as work starts on The Tea Factory in Digbeth
2 February 2024
Tim Davie, BBC Director-General
Construction has started on the BBC’s future landmark home ‘The Tea Factory’ marking the beginning of a new era for production and the creative industries in the Midlands.
New BBC One commission SAS: Catching the Criminals with Billy Billingham to be made out of Birmingham
24 new entry-level traineeships for future production talent in the Midlands
MasterChef from Shine TV (part of Banijay UK) will begin production in nearby Digbeth Loc. Studios from Autumn 2024 bringing 130 new roles and making 65 hours of primetime TV from the city
Spun Gold TV moving to Birmingham bringing BBC daytime hit Garden Rescue
Data shows BBC services and activity in the West Midlands currently generate an estimated £305 million a year for the local economy.
The 100-year-old industrial building - which has been unused for decades - will be brought back to life in spectacular fashion and become the BBC’s greenest building.
The development by Stoford will see the site transformed into a state of the art broadcasting centre in one of the country’s most talked about up-and-coming creative districts: Digbeth, Birmingham.
The BBC’s move is a significant catalyst in a masterplan to regenerate Digbeth and enables other developments to follow.
A brand a new commission for BBC One Daytime and iPlayer will be made from Double Act’s new regional hub in Birmingham. Ex-SAS leader Billy Billingham will be following Britain’s elite enforcement teams and police forces up and down the country in 15x30 series SAS: Catching the Criminals.
The BBC is investing to support the relocation of independent production companies including Spun Gold TV who will move out of London to a new Digbeth-based production office bringing BBC Daytime format Garden Rescue with them.
Digbeth Loc. Studios - a flagship location for premier film and TV production situated close to The Tea Factory, is also home to a purpose-built studio currently being constructed to play host to the BBC’s flagship food entertainment show, MasterChef, made by Shine TV (part of Banijay UK). As part of the exciting plans for the area, MasterChef will begin production from its new Digbeth home from Autumn 2024.
The relocation of the hit primetime series, with all four of its formats, will bring 130 new jobs to Birmingham and contribute 65 hours of peak time TV from the city. Birmingham will be Banijay’s UK’s largest production base out of London and also includes their scripted partnership with Steven Knight, Kudos Knight, based in Digbeth. Clear Cut have established a new post production facility.
The BBC continues to boost drama production in the region with BBC Studios productions, Sister Boniface Mysteries, Father Brown and huge primetime hit Silent Witness relocating later this year. Other upcoming scripted commissions include Steven Knight’s This Town, Guz Khan’s hit comedy Man Like Mobeen and CBBC drama Phoenix Rise which is made in Coventry – with more to come.
Behind the scenes on Man Like Mobeen
To future proof their commitment to the region, the BBC is providing opportunities to boost talent and skills.
Working with BBC Studios, Tiger Aspect and WMCA/Create Central in the West Midlands there will be 24 new, entry-level opportunities for future TV production talent in the region.
There are 15 junior drama opportunities with WMCA/Create Central on BBC Studios productions Father Brown and Sister Boniface Mysteries, while five West Midlands based trainees (three of which will be HETV Skills Fund trainees) will be recruited to work on the 28th series of Silent Witness filming in London – the scheme has been designed to pave the way for the title being made in the Midlands. The next series of hit comedy Man Like Mobeen - which is filmed in and around Birmingham - will also be looking for four trainees after running successful schemes previously.
BBC Writers and Create Central are also joining forces along with other West Midlands’ leading creative organisations to launch a scheme to launch the next generation of scripted talent from the region. Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country, supported by Create Central Champion Sir Lenny Henry and Kit De Waal, will provide up to 12 aspiring writers with a crucial insight into writing for TV. The scheme is a proven formula and entry point for some of the most exciting writers in UK drama.
Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, says: “This is a significant step, not just for the BBC, but for invigorating the wider creative industries in the Midlands. We are transforming The Tea Factory into a world-class state of the art production facility which will benefit the region for generations to come.
“Digbeth will deliver world-class programmes, be a centre for excellence and bring investment and new opportunities to one of the most vibrant parts of the country.”
Ed Shedd, Chair of Create Central, said “More great news for potential new entrants to the TV and film industry in the West Midlands. I’m delighted that our partnership with the BBC is creating opportunities for local talent to develop careers in the sector. So far 2024 has seen the launch of Create Central’s Skills Accelerator with three free new courses, the return of the Late Night Lycett trainee initiative, the launch of Write Across Birmingham and Black Country for aspiring writers and of course, our bootcamps which continue to respond to industry skills gaps. So wonderful to see these tangible and remarkable opportunities for our region’s diverse and creative talent. This is a direct result of the hard work that our Create Central members have put into building strong and fruitful partnerships with the BBC and the West Midlands Combined Authority, turbo-charging the creative content sector in the region.”
Work starts on new BBC HQ, the Tea Factory, in Digbeth
In 2021, as part of the BBC’s Across the UK strategy, the BBC signed an Memorandum of Understanding with Create Central and the West Midlands Combined Authority promising to bring more primetime broadcast brands to the area. Since then (as well as MasterChef and Silent Witness) the BBC has relocated shows for BBC 1Xtra, the whole of BBC Newsbeat; and the BBC Asian Network begins it move to the city in the next few months, bringing over 65 new jobs with it. The teams will join The Archers, BBC Midlands Today and BBC Radio WM at The Tea Factory on completion.
Increasing the BBC’s employment in the region, additional commissioning spend and infrastructure investment into the new HQ boosts the BBC’s overall economic contribution in the West Midlands region.
Data shows BBC services and activity in the West Midlands currently generate an estimated £305 million a year for the local economy and this will grow as the BBC expands its presence and investment.
More information is on the BBC website.