BBC Scotland lines up shortform comedies

The BBC in Scotland has commissioned a raft of shortform comedy programmes that will sit exclusively on the UK public broadcaster’s on-demand service iPlayer.

The orders are part of the BBC’s ‘iPlayer-exclusive’ strategy and are designed to offer more development opportunities for both writing and acting talent.

Shows include Scot Squad: The Chief Does Edinburgh (3×10′), a Comedy Unit Production for BBC Scotland that has been spun off from the broadcaster’s comedy Scot Squad, which airs on BBC Scotland.

Elsewhere, music mockumentary Bridge & Allen (3×10′) is produced in-house and follows two long-retired folk musicians as they return to the stage, while Hings (3×5′) is an adaptation of Scottish author Chris McQueer’s novel Hings. Scottish prodco Belter Studios and Serious Facilities coproduce.

Finally, BBC Studios’ mini-mockumentary The Farm (3×5′) returns to catch up with the life of a local farmer and his temperamental family. The show’s first season became available on iPLayer in 2018.

The comedies have been commissioned by Gavin Smith, BBC Scotland’s commissioning executive comedy, drama and entertainment, and Louise Thornton, commissioning executive for digital and youth.

Thornton said the orders had been made in response to rapidly changing audience consumption habits, adding: “Our comedy shorts give audiences an extra helping of laughs on a digital platform whilst allowing us to develop and nurture the up-and-coming comedy talent that exists in Scotland.”

The shows will be made available on iPlayer at 22.30 on May 9.