BBC confirms major West Midlands expansion, pledges to double production spend to $32m

The move will create a new studio for hit culinary format MasterChef

UK public service broadcaster the BBC has announced a major expansion of its operations in the West Midlands of England, pledging to almost double its production spend in the region from £24 million (US$32.5m) to £40m by the end of 2027.

The agreement will see the corporation build its scripted output there and strengthen its unscripted presence, with a new studio for its hit culinary format MasterChef at the Tea Factory in Digbeth.

It’s also set to be BBC Studios’ new purpose-built production base after leaving the Drama Village facility in Birmingham.

The BBC has promised to expand its commissioner footprint in the West Midlands, where shows such as Peaky Blinders, Silent Witness, This Town, Great British Menu and Garden Rescue are filmed.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by BBC director general Tim Davie, with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and private-sector industry body Create Central, as part of its Across the UK strategy.

They will work together with local partners to promote the region as a centre of creative excellence to the wider industry.

The BBC claims its investment in the region since 2021 will bring £282m of economic benefit to the West Midlands by 2031.

The memorandum sees the WMCA commit to investing a minimum of £5m per annum in creative industries between 2025 and 2028. Initiatives will include a production fund worth £2m per year to encourage more shows to be made in the region.

Davie said: “This is another transformative moment for the creative industries in the West Midlands. The MoU will significantly boost investment in skills, opportunity and talent for local people, as well as stories from the region in BBC programmes.

“Our agreement with the WMCA and Create Central deepens our partnership with the West Midlands to secure its place as a world-class centre for film and TV production.”

Ed Shedd, chair of Create Central, said: “This next phase of our partnership with the BBC and WMCA is another huge boost for the West Midlands’ creative content sector.

“By increasing both the number of productions here, in the region, and building crucial local infrastructure, skills and workforce, we’re not only strengthening the industry but also creating real jobs and opportunities for local creative talent.”

As part of its commitment to the region, the BBC has commissioned two new scripted shows filmed in the West Midlands; the recently announced The Hairdresser Mysteries and The Detection Club.

The latter series (10×45’) is produced by BBC Studios Drama Productions and is set in 1930s London. It follows famous crime writers Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers and G K Chesterton as they join forces to solve real-life murders.

The BBC said both The Detection Club and The Hairdresser Mysteries come as part of the pubcaster’s commitment to re-invest all of its spend on recently-axed daytime drama Doctors into new scripted programming in the West Midlands.