BRUM DRAMA CLIFFHANGER AS BBC OFFERS TALKS

23-01-2008

BBC Director General Mark Thompson refused to rule out the closure of the Corporation’s Birmingham-based Drama Village yesterday – but he has agreed to talk about its future with the region’s Film and TV boss.

The Stirrer revealed last week that production of “Doctors” was due to be switched to Salford, Greater Manchester – home of the Beeb’s new Media City – leaving Brum without any commissions for plays or long-running series (see link here).

Unless the decision is reversed – and officially it has yet to be confirmed – up to 60 jobs could be lost at the Selly Oak-based department.

West Bromwich MP Tom Watson has threatened to take up the cause in parliament (see link here), while Marketing Birmingham Chief Executive Neil Rami said it was “absolutely vital” TV drama survives in the region (see link here).

Yesterday, Screen WM chief executive Suzie Norton got the chance to bend Thompson’s ear after he’d delivered the keynote speech at a broadcasting conference in Manchester – and she didn’t waste the opportunity.

“I managed to get right down the front and asked him the first question” she said last night.

“He said that no decision had been made about the Drama Village – which is what I expected him to say – but he said he would be willing to meet me and talk to me about it, which I think is a great result.

“There is obviously something in this story, though, because this was his chance to stand up and say it was complete rubbish, and that there were no plans to close the Drama Village – but he didn’t.

“At least now I’ll get the chance to meet him face to face and explain why keeping skills and talents alive in the TV industry in our region is vital to the health of our film industry too.”