BBC Doubles West Midlands TV Production Spend By 2027

The BBC is significantly expanding its investment in the West Midlands, aiming to nearly double its annual network television production spend from £24 million to £40 million by 2027. This initiative, supported by a new memorandum of understanding with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Create Central, includes a minimum £5 million annual investment from WMCA into the region's creative industries, encompassing funds for production, intellectual property development, and skills programs. The BBC has relocated its Midlands regional HQ to the Tea Factory site in Digbeth and plans to establish a new purpose-built production base there, reinforcing Digbeth's status as a major creative hub. As part of this commitment, the BBC has commissioned two new drama series rooted in the West Midlands: 'The Hairdresser Mysteries,' a 1970s-set drama starring Sally Phillips as a village hairdresser who becomes an unlikely detective, and 'The Detection Club,' a series set in 1930s London featuring fictionalized versions of famous detective authors. These productions, alongside ongoing series like Silent Witness and MasterChef, are intended to showcase authentic regional voices and create new opportunities for local talent and skills development. Overall, the BBC's strategy reflects a transformative investment designed to bolster the region's creative sector and increase the representation of the West Midlands in national programming.