BBC Commissioning Supply Report 2020

Home , Ambulance (TV programme), BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Two Northern Ireland, Diarmuid Gavin, Endemol Shine UK, Gail Porter

BBC Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 1 Welcome to the BBC Commissioning Supply Report 2020

Introduction 1 2 3 Introduction Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: from Charlotte Supporting the Inspiring Great Backing brilliant Moore sector through British creativity ideas, talent and Covid-19 companies

Further 4 5 information Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Looking ahead Delivering our Nations, Children’s and appendix ambitions and and Education, Sport commitments

£1.2 billion 28,000hours Strictly Come Dancing, Original TV content Original TV content BBC Studios, BBC One

Cover image: Noughts + Crosses, Mammoth Screen, BBC One

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 2

his has been one of the have been at the heart of that – toughest years for the UK working with producers to keep television production sector content, commissioning, and Tin living memory. Having to livelihoods going where we could. halt productions in their tracks, see landmark events cancelled, freelance Despite all the challenges thrown up staff furloughed or laid off, was truly by the pandemic, BBC Commissioning heart-breaking for everyone involved has continued to work with the most – and left us short of amazing content exciting talent, producers and for audiences at a time when they partners to bring brilliant British wanted it most. stories to the screen.

However, a world class creative sector Charlotte Moore came up with world class creative BBC Chief Content Officer solutions – and the BBC is proud to At the heart creativity of British

Context What we’ve achieved We are proud of what we achieved in 2020 against the odds – of what we delivered to BBC TV is here to commission bold British In 2020 we maintained our position as the audiences, how many producers we helped content – from world class production broadcaster with the strongest creative and and the support we put in place for talent. teams across the UK. We actively promote economic footprint in the Nations and English But inevitably the Covid-19 crisis has had breadth and diversity across the production regions. We worked with more producers an impact on some of our key performance sector, and across all four Nations, to than any other broadcaster – keeping more metrics in this exceptional year. encourage the richest range of ideas, companies in business, especially the stories and voices. Our goal is for the most vulnerable. Despite dramatic disruption to the production most brilliant producers and talent in the pipeline we met the vast majority of our business to do their best work at the BBC. Despite the pandemic, we maintained the regulatory requirements in 2020/21. range and diversity of our supply base, However, unavoidably we missed three This mission was massively challenged continuing to work with a high volume of new targets in 2020 for the first time in BBC Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia, in 2020 by the Covid-19 pandemic and companies and talent – and we increased our TV’s history. We actively sought to minimise South Shore Productions, BBC One the national lockdown it triggered. Many investment in training and skills to support the those – and have announced new plans of our productions were stopped in their freelance community. to exceed these quotas in future years. I May Destroy You, Various Artists, BBC One tracks, global sporting and entertainment BAFTA Director, Writer, Actress and Mini Series Awards events were cancelled, travel across the This report demonstrates we have: This report focuses on performance in 2020. UK was restricted, and the commissioning • Offered critical support for the TV For more background on how we work, please landscape was turned upside down. production sector through the see the BBC Commissioning Supply Report Covid-19 crisis. 2018 and the BBC Commissioning website. As a commissioning team, we had to tear • Communicated with more producers than The first three chapters focus on Network TV*. up our schedules and focus on what was ever before – sharing opportunities in an possible rather than ideal. We had to design open and transparent way. new content that met the Nation’s needs. We • Delivered against our public purposes and % % listened to producers to understand what the principles of our Commissioning 54 57 they needed from us, and put in place an Process Framework. Network hours Producers outside unprecedented package to support the sector. • Met the vast majority of our regulatory Independent producers London commitments – and increased levels of competition. 343 66 Producers New producers

Lose Weight and Get Fit with Tom Kerridge, Bone Soup Productions, BBC Two

* Network TV covers Network Drama, Comedy, Entertainment, Factual, Daytime and News related Current Affairs. Non‑Network Commissioning Supply Report 2020 TV, Children’s and Sport have their own sections. On page 11 Children’s and Sport are included in Network TV as part of our Nations and English regions support where relevant. Introduction 1: Supporting thethe sectorsector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 4 Chapter 1: Supporting the sector through Covid-19

96 30% As the UK’s biggest broadcaster the BBC has a Small companies supported Increased development spend critical role in supporting the long-term health Hospital, Coronavirus Special, Label1 Television, BBC Two, of the creative sector. If we are to excite, Edinburgh TV Festival Creativity in Crisis Award educate and entertain audiences in the years to come, we need the most creative talent to be there to work with. The events of 2020 put that under threat – and we responded with an unprecedented package of support – to help keep creativity alive, focused and ready to thrive in the future.

Our gratitude and admiration goes out to everyone who worked on a BBC production in 2020 who kept programme making and creativity alive – and put safety centre stage. The BBC, and our audiences, are indebted to your resilience, innovation and imagination in such a challenging year.

Staged, Staged Films, BBC One Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting thethe sectorsector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 5 Support for production companies

In April we announced a five-point plan to A company-centric Case study: support independent producers during the Small Indie Fund disruption of Covid-19 – with a focus on approach smaller companies, diverse led indies and Once the scale of the disruption became Doubling the value of this new fund meant those in the Nations and English regions. clear we reached out to producers – and we could support twice as many companies We have delivered or exceeded on those put their considerations at the heart of through Covid-19. In total in 2020/21 we commitments – with positive outcomes our response. supported nearly 100 companies across all across the UK. four Nations. Our offer included: In the early days of the pandemic we • Flexible delivery, scope adjustments Although the original objective had been to worked closely in partnership with other and changes to cash flow to help support company growth – the focus switched Broadcasters and trade organisations to companies adapt. to survival when Covid hit. introduce health and safety protocols • Fast-tracked topical commissions, to get production back safely, and with compilations and iPlayer acquisitions • 48 companies received a strategic support the government to support the launch of to keep income streams active. package tailored to their needs. This was The Big Night In, BBC Studios, BBC One The Film and TV Production Restart Scheme. • Working in partnership to get shows safely used to strengthen company development back into production as lockdown eased. including funding key additional roles In addition we invested in cultural activity, • Supporting additional Covid-19 safety or pilots. wellbeing support and skills development to costs and Government Restart Scheme • 48 companies received targeted help creative freelance talent through the Normal People, Element Films, BBC Three premiums where appropriate. development funds with clear objectives. pandemic. They are the lifeblood of our BAFTA Leading Actor Award These were smaller investments to keep industry – without them we can’t deliver companies creatively focused in areas outstanding content for audiences. “It felt like a direct conversation on equal terms – shared where there was clear commissioning need. Doubling our investment experience – we’re in this All companies were given a commissioning in small indies together mentality.” mentor. Those with strategic support also had access to commissioning masterclasses and In spring 2020 we announced a £1m fund to BBC Covid-19 Survey 2020 free NFTS training places. support the growth of small independent production companies with turnovers + By April 2021, more than 20 programmes had below £10m. 130 been commissioned from companies on the BBC productions applied fund, with many more ideas still in active After lockdown we doubled that support – and to government Film and development. prioritised the smallest, those out of London TV Production Restart Scheme and those with diverse leadership. See page 13. / rd / m 2 3 1 4 96 £2 Companies based in Companies diverse led Companies supported Small Indie Fund Nations and English regions

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting thethe sectorsector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 6 Support for creativity

Supercharging Expanded BBC Three Case study: Culture in Quarantine development partnerships With many productions closed down, we Building on the success of BBC Three’s In April 2020 BBC Arts announced a co- significantly increased our development Northern Ireland partnership, the channel commissioning programme with Arts Council spend to keep creativity focused on future expanded the approach to all four Nations, England to support the cultural sector and opportunities and development teams active. including a second round in Northern Ireland enable them to create content for a range – guaranteeing commissions for Nations and of platforms. The 25 commissions were Across all Network TV genres development English regions producers – with flexibility organised via The Space in partnership with spend increased by a third. on delivery. arts producers.

In Factual, this included guaranteed Partnerships in all four Nations exceeded In November 2020 BBC Arts launched phase commissions for BBC Two – one per Nation, expectations and led to more ideas and two – specifically for disabled artists. The 10 co-commissioned with local BBC teams. companies being commissioned, providing commissions are co-funded by Arts Council See page 13. much-needed security for companies England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council NI outside London. See page 13. and Arts Council Wales.

This initiative was critical in keeping arts % + producers in business, as well as making 30 4 30 10 cultural activity available for audiences Increase in Nations co‑commissions Companies Nations and English whilst theatres and venues were closed. development spend on BBC Two Paid development regions commissions (April – Sept 2020) 35 20 Life Drawing Live!, Avanti Media, BBC Four Commissions Companies commissioned

The Great British Sewing Bee, Lockdown Learning, Bitesize Love Productions, BBC One Daily Primary, BBC In-house Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting thethe sectorsector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 7 Support for talent

Investing in skills Case study: Building on what The Film and TV Charity and wellbeing Partnership we’ve learnt In 2020 the BBC invested in The Film and TV In autumn 2020 we asked producers about In March 2020 BBC TV and BBC Studios joined Charity to support the freelance community – their experiences of working with the BBC with other partners to support The Film and many of whom lost their livelihoods as during Covid-19 to understand what we can TV Charity’s two-year programme to improve productions shut down. Funding was split learn for the future. the mental health and wellbeing of people between an emergency Covid-19 relief fund working in the TV, film and cinema sector – and a two-year mental health action plan to The pandemic turned working practices with additional funding going towards the address longer-term impacts. upside down, for good as well as bad, and we Emergency Relief Fund set up in response are keen to hold on to the upside producers to Covid-19. The BBC also signed up to The Coalition for experienced: easier access, greater efficiency Change – created in response to the pandemic and swifter communication to the whole sector The charity received more than 6,000 calls to – to devise a code of conduct for working with at once. its Film and TV Support Line – and delivered freelancers. This is looking at recruitment, 350 legal advice or counselling sessions training, culture and behaviours to ensure Face-to-face communication remains critical between March and October. Three thousand freelancers get a fair, inclusive and respectful in a creative industry – so we will shape a individuals received emergency financial The Repair Shop, Ricochet, BBC One experience in the future. blended approach in the future. support. We also significantly increased our We have also built other feedback into our ways The Whole Picture Programme was paused due commitment to the NFTS and Screenskills in of working in our new commissioning structure. to the pandemic, but delivery was restarted in 2020 – to turbo-charge skills development October in partnership with the mental health post the pandemic. charity Mind. “My life has been transformed by not having to hop on a train all k k m+ the time for meetings. We have £700 £400 £5 3,000 completed two BBC productions Marcus Rashford: Feeding Britain’s Children, BBC funding for The BBC funding for Financial support Individuals benefited BBC Sport, BBC One Film and TV Charity Screenskills distributed from economic support in lockdown, without ever (BBC Studios/BBC seeing anyone face to face. I still Content) had as much contact with the Com Ed as I needed.” The Screenskills investment helped to fund: 9,000 (BBC Covid-19 Ways of Working Survey 2020) + + Individuals accessed 580 9,500 services provided Free online training Beneficiaries of free sessions online training

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativitycreativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 8 Chapter 2: Inspiring Great British creativity

Once Upon a Time in Iraq, KEO Films, BBC Two, 25 4,500+ Rose D’Or Golden Rose Award Briefings Attendees

Attracting brilliant ideas is critical to the quality and impact of our programmes. In 2020 we briefed more producers across the UK than ever before, updating them on our commissioning priorities and sharing information and resources to support their development. Our commissioning process is open, fair and transparent – we work with more new suppliers than any other UK public service broadcaster.

Small Axe, Turbine Studios, BBC One Golden Globe Best Actor Award Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting thethe sectorsector 2: Inspiring Great Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19Covid-19 British creativitycreativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 9 Communications

Briefings Commissioning website News updates Case study: New Indie Day In 2020 we increased the volume of editorial We relaunched the Commissioning website We kept our suppliers informed of briefings for the sector, with the inevitable in October 2020, giving it a stronger developments, opportunities and available We held our first New Indie Day in November transfer to online driving record attendance. focus on editorial updates, overall BBC resources in a fast-moving year. for companies looking to build a relationship Some focused on specific targeted Content strategy and more detail on the with BBC Commissioning. opportunities – to deliver tangible outcomes support we offer producers and talent. for the sector in a challenging year. Sessions included: All the genre development briefs were updated 13 • an introduction to how Nearly half of our activity had a focus on for the relaunch and at key points throughout News updates – emails and newsletters BBC Commissioning works. Nations and English regions producers – the year. We created a separate area for 2019: 8 • an editorial briefing from Factual although all online briefings were available production, delivery and business information. across the UK, which increased access overall. commissioning. • an outline of what has impact on iPlayer. No new video briefs were recorded due to • a guide to working with business teams. In 2020 we introduced a new event for Covid-19 restrictions. Overall our traffic producers who didn’t have an established increased in 2020. relationship with the BBC – to discover new All companies had one-to-ones to discuss their talent, ideas and build relationships. ideas and meet commissioners.

Feedback on the event was positive – and + + will inform how we shape similar events in 25 4,500 718,000 the future. Briefings: Attendees Page loads 22 online, 2019: 700,000 3 face to face Piers Wenger - Drama 2019: 22 Carl Callam – Documentaries 13 4 Indies attended Commissioner 1 to 1 sessions 10 Specific to Nation/ English region 2019: 8 cities

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Fiona Campbell – BBC Three Introduction 1: Supporting thethe sectorsector 2: Inspiring Great Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19Covid-19 British creativitycreativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 10 Sharing information and resources Miranda Wayland and Patrick Holland chair masterclass

Audience information Audience insights Case study: Audience Diversity Masterclass We relaunched our Audiences site in May, Audience teams and commissioners held three – December 2020 giving producers access to wider insights to dedicated masterclasses to inspire programme inspire creative ideas. As well as accessing ideas based on our data analysis. More than 400 producers joined Patrick the latest research articles, producers now Holland, Controller of BBC Two, Miranda benefit from improved navigation, a bespoke We also shared additional audience insight in Wayland, Head of Creative Diversity, and homepage and enhanced programme pages eight further genre or channel briefing sessions. Kalpna Patel Knight, Commissioning Editor for their own shows. Entertainment, to understand more about our This year’s audience masterclasses included: new 20% off-screen diversity requirement. For technical reasons, registered companies • Changing viewing habits during lockdown. needed to apply for a new account. However, • Creative insights for Black, Asian and Sam Ripman from BBC Audiences shared with lockdown not all companies took up the minority ethnic audiences. insights with producers to illustrate what invite, so we are re-promoting the site. • On-screen representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic audiences are environmental issues. looking for in our programmes and how this is Key presentations are also available on BBC informing our thinking in commissioning. Pitch for those bidding for new business. + 11 800 An open Q&A session addressed a range Audience insight Producers attended of practical and editorial queries, and the + briefings 2019: 437 Creative Diversity team were on hand to give 100 2019: 5 guidance and share links to resources. Indie audience accounts 2019: 130+ Crip Tales, BBC Studios, BBC Four New resources Producer feedback on the session was positive. Prix Italia TV Performing Arts Award We added or updated the following Archive information to our commissioning website: “a very important and The Archive Search website has broadened the • Sustainable production guidance for Albert. impressive presentation” range of BBC archive available to contracted • Covid-19 production guidance. producers to support their research within • Definitions and guidance around the BBC’s one easy to use search engine. Diversity commitments. “very useful and informative” • New process for completing the Ofcom regional compliance forms. • New reporting requirements for non‑linear. 206 • User guide for Archive Search. 430 Indie archive accounts 2019: 200 Producers attended 6 New website resources 2019: 4

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting thethe sectorsector 2: Inspiring Great Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19Covid-19 British creativitycreativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 11 Supporting creativity across the UK

Supporting the strength of ideas, talent and companies in the Nations and Scotland Wales Northern Ireland England English regions is a BBC priority to meet our ambition of increasing Commissioner support Commissioner support Commissioner support Commissioner support production Across the UK. Drama: Gaynor Holmes Drama: Ben Irving Drama: Tommy Bulfin Drama: Mona Qureshi In 2020 we held 10 dedicated briefings for Nations and English regions producers Comedy: Gregor Sharp Comedy: Gregor Sharp Comedy: Gregor Sharp Comedy: Gregor Sharp – and made available nine guaranteed Factual: Tom Coveney and Emma Factual: Beejal Patel Factual: Clare Mottershead Factual: Emily Smith, North commissions – to maintain the creative Cahusac and Midlands Daytime: Lindsay Bradbury Daytime: Muslim Alim health of the sector outside London. Daytime: Muslim Alim and Neil Daytime: Alex McLeod Children’s: Julia Bond McCallum We have Network commissioning editors to support the development of ideas and Entertainment: Neil McCallum companies in each Nation and for the Children’s: Julia Bond English regions. 16* of our Network commissioners were based outside London in 2020, with two more appointed in 2021.

The Nest, Studio Lambert, BBC One Veganville, Plimsoll Productions, BBC Three Mountain Vets, Rare TV, BBC Two Angels of the North, TwentySix03 Entertainment, BBC Three 3 33 2 20 2 12 3 52 Briefings Companies Briefings Companies Briefings Companies Briefings Companies 2019: 4 supported 2019: 4 supported 2019: 4 supported 2019: 8 supported 2019: 20+ 2019: 10+ 2019: 8 2019: 40+

In 2020 all online briefings were available pan-UK

* Commissioners based outside London include all Network TV genres including Drama, Comedy, Entertainment, Factual, Daytime, Children’s and Sport. Briefings and commissioner support includes Drama, Comedy, Entertainment, Factual, Daytime and Children’s. Briefings includes Drama, Comedy, Entertainment, Factual and Daytime. Commissioner support includes Drama, Comedy, Entertainment, Factual, Daytime and Children’s. We have not included Commissioners’ visits in 2020 as they were not in line with government guidance for much of the year.

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliantbrilliant ideas, ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent andand companiescompanies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 12 Chapter 3: Backing brilliant ideas, talent and companies

A Suitable Boy, Lookout Point, BBC One This year, more than ever, the BBC has actively supported the long-term health of + % the UK creative sector. We have continued 96 30 100 to drive change where the market needs Small indies supported Talent schemes Development spend contestable it, to ensure we can continue to reflect, educate and entertain all audiences. Our current priorities are to increase diverse representation off-screen, to strengthen production in the Nations and English regions, to ensure we tell stories from all communities across the UK, and to promote a greener Britain. Some of this we do ourselves and some we do with partners in the industry.

The Other One, Tiger Aspect, BBC One Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliantbrilliant ideas, ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent andand companiescompanies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 13

What we do The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty, 72 Films, BBC Two

In 2020 we strengthened our support for Business development Case study: Case study: the sector to ensure talent, creativity and Small Indie Fund: Alleycats BBC Two Nations Scheme companies survived lockdown, and were We invest in companies to stimulate growth ready to thrive beyond. We increased our and strengthen their creative pipeline where We supported Derry-based Indie Alleycats BBC Two partnered with each of the BBC investment in ideas, backed more small they play a key role in delivering our creative through the Small Indie Fund, with strategic Nations to co-commission four new series businesses and continued to develop and strategic goals. Our current priorities are investment to broaden their portfolio and that reflect the lives of communities across and nurture the next generation of talent to support promising producers in the Nations mentoring from Factual commissioning. The the UK. Across the UK. Diversity of voice, experience, and English regions, companies with diverse company wanted to consolidate and grow culture and place remain at the heart of leadership or in genres where we have their development team to help win Commissioning teams joined together to everything we do. limited supply. commissions from BBC Three. brief producers in each Nation – targeting ideas of scale with the potential to become Ideas development Small Indie Fund After a successful pitch in the BBC/Northern returning series. Each Nation had a Ireland Screen Partnership, The Fast and the guaranteed commission to support their All genres have dedicated development funds In January 2020 we launched our Small Indie Farmer(ish) was commissioned as a pilot and local sector – with an initial eight-part run. to work with producers to convert ideas from Fund: ringfencing £1m a year to back talented then went on to series. concept to fully formed commissionable small independent production companies with The initiative received a huge response – programmes for our channels and iPlayer. turnovers of less than £10m across Drama, A second idea, The Big Proud Party with more than 300 pitches received from Entertainment, Comedy, Factual and Daytime. Agency, was considered so strong it was over 200 companies. After a selection commissioned straight to series. Their BBC exercise, companies with the strongest ideas % / rds Two series Raiders of the Lost Past was also were shortlisted for paid development to 238 25 2 3 recommissioned. strengthen their proposals further. Companies funded Diverse led Nations and Regions development 2019: 25% 2019: 2/3rds 2019: 260 “The Small Indie Fund has Additionally, in Northern Ireland two indies been a gamechanger for us; pitched ideas that were outside the brief but % % still of interest to the channel and received 7 93 96 it has enabled us to get our funded development outside of the scheme. BBC Studios Indies Companies supported* heads up out of the cycle 2019: 10% 2019: 90% of production and invest + + properly in development, 300 230 and the results have Ideas pitched Companies been fantastic.” Ed Stobart, Alleycats 17 4 Commissions received Guaranteed paid development commissions

The Fast and the Farmer(ish), Alleycats, Winner of BBC/NI Screen partnership first round * Five companies have delayed funding until next year to use against specific business priorities. Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliantbrilliant ideas, ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent andand companiescompanies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 14 What we do continued

Diversity, portrayal Diversity Fund and higher volume of off-screen talent from Case study: our three key under-represented groups: Supporting diversity in the and representation In 2020 Diamond data showed we were the those from black, Asian or ethnic minority Nations and English regions best broadcaster for on-screen representation backgrounds, those with a lived experience – but still had work to do off-screen. So the of a disability, and those from low income Increasingly we are combining activity to m current focus of our Diversity Fund is to backgrounds. support talent development in the Nations £2 166 support producers to develop a stronger range and English regions and drive diversity in those Diversity Fund Programmes supported sectors. In 2020 this was a key focus and three through the fund projects illustrate how we achieved this:

Representing all audiences in the UK is a Drama are partnering with Screen Scotland priority for us. We are increasingly working in and Silverprint to run a diverse talent partnership with BBC Nations commissioning development scheme across series six and teams to drive authentic portrayal and have a seven of Shetland focusing on entry level, dedicated Creative Diversity team to provide script editing, and mid-level roles. They guidance and support to independent supported six placements on series six – with production companies. some roles expected to step up across the two series. In 2020 we announced two new diversity commitments to support progress across the Documentaries have a long-standing industry, in addition to our existing fund. relationship with Dragonfly North on Trainees Disabled writers Ambulance – which has led to two rounds • A commitment for producers to recruit 20% 8 5 I May Destroy You: Various Artists Ltd Ralph and Katie: ITV Studios and Keshet of a co-funded trainee editor scheme in the of their production teams from under- Productions in association with Tiger Aspect North West, and in addition on series seven represented backgrounds. we co-funded two trainee series producers • A commitment for BBC TV to spend to nurture the next generation of senior a minimum of £100m on diverse content. talent in the North West. Three of these six roles were from a black, Asian or More detail about these commitments can minority ethnic background. be found on our Commissioning Website. Entertainment supported Twenty Six 03 to The BBC’s three-year investment in the recruit three production roles from a working Portrayal Fund came to an end in 2019/20 – class background for series three of Angels and portrayal commitments have now been of the North to improve the socio-economic built into commissioning objectives. make-up of their crew and strengthen talent development in the Newcastle and The nine guaranteed Factual commissions on Darlington areas. BBC Two and BBC Three for Nations and 17 Trainees 14 Placements English regions producers all had local Pru: Fully Focused Small Axe: Turbine Studios Limited (Trainees + portrayal at the heart of the brief. stepping up roles)

Talent development Case study: BBC Elevate Talent is the lifeblood of creativity and excellence – we actively nurture and support BBC Elevate supports mid-level disabled new faces and voices. We invest in or manage talent to progress by removing some of the multiple schemes from entry level to barriers they typically face. The scheme showrunner across all genres – and support aims to support up to 40 freelancers over emerging talent to continue their progress two years via 4-12-month placements across the BBC. Writers New talent on BBC productions. The BBC funds We support writers with a number of targeted This year we supported new talent to a substantial part of their salary and Although some of this activity was disrupted initiatives through the BBC Writersroom and develop across a range of genres and roles oversees any reasonable adjustments to in 2020 with productions closing down or BBC Comedy including the Scottish Drama – including in Drama, Comedy and BBC Film. ensure an inclusive experience. We also reduced-team working, most went ahead Writers’ Programme, the Writers’ Access Emerging Factual talent were identified arrange tailored training, coaching and/or as planned or after a delay. Group, Interconnected, and the ‘Voices’ through the BBC Three Pitch at the mentoring for the participants, and provide groups, working with talent in six locations. Sheffield DocFest. support to the host production company, + / rd + including disability confidence training. 30 1 3 22 250 17 At launch BBC Elevate received over 300 Bursaries, talent BAME or disabled Schemes and bursaries Writers supported Schemes schemes and targeted 2019: 1/3 2019: 10 schemes applications. Over 50 were invited to screening initiatives conversations, and 36 went through to a pool 2019: 30 of candidates we aim to find placements for. The scheme was put on hold for six months due to the pandemic.

In September 2020, we adapted to conditions with BBC Elevate Lite: a six month pilot version of the project, aiming to find placements on Comedy New Documentary Directors ‘Covid-19-safe’ productions with candidates who can confidently be placed in roles We set up the Galton and Simpson Bursary, Offering new directors their first break into working-from-home, or who don’t need Image captions alongside our two existing talent bursaries. We longform television Documentary. Each face-to-face training or support. Ten Writers: Anthony, LA Productions, BBC One launched Laugh Lessons with BBC Three to director wins a 60 minute BBC Three candidates have been placed to date. discover upcoming talent from across the UK. commission, backed up by a production Comedy: Alma’s Not Normal, Expectation Entertainment, As part of our Comedy Association plans we company, a mentor and masterclasses New on Two pilot announced The New Comedy Awards. from experienced industry talent. BAFTA Best Comedy Writer New talent: + 10 36 Ambulance, Dragonfly, BBC One 3 40 6 Production partners Disabled talent New Documentary Directors: Sudden Death: My Sister’s Silent Killer Bursaries Writers developed New directors placed Storyvault Films, BBC Three 2019: 2 2019: 16

The BBC is proud to partner with other BFI and Creative England TRC Case study: specialists in the sector to further support NFTS To develop and support new UK film talent To strengthen skills and business ideas, talent, skills and businesses across the through projects such as iFeatures. development in the Nations and UK. We do so where our ambitions and values English regions. The BBC announced a major new partnership align, and where there is clear strategic with NFTS in October 2020 to support skills benefit, outcomes and value for money. development across the UK. BBC public service and BBC Studios sponsor a total of Talent development 12 3 16 14 10 courses and will fund 20 scholarships for diverse students. We work with multiple partners across the Debut film-makers Films taken into Development producers Nations and Regions production Supersizer scheme TV Executives UK to support skills and development across Navigating the New In addition, NFTS will provide 100 free short the sector – with a focus on broadening the Normal programme course places, of which 60 will be reserved for diversity of voices shaping our content, the BBC’s Small Indie Fund companies. Many expand representation on our production Screenskills S4C, Channel 4 and BBC Wales will be delivered at NFTS hubs in Glasgow, teams and strengthen skills in the Nations Cardiff and Leeds. and English regions. To support production training initiatives Factual Fast Track Wales – to strengthen across the UK targeting identified skills gaps. the pipeline of Factual producers. Bespoke The BBC is a founding investor of the new package of training, development The BBC sponsored courses are: Unscripted fund. placements and mentoring. Penguins: Meet the Family, • Assistant Directing and Floor Managing BBC Studios, BBC One Diploma • Production Management for Film and % % TV Diploma 57 24 6 • Script Development Diploma (Drama) Beneficiaries based BAME Series Producer Producers outside London programme • Writing and Producing Comedy Diploma • Directing Fiction MA • Producing MA (Drama) • Directing and Producing Science and Natural History MA • Directing Documentary MA • Screenwriting MA (Drama) NFTS BBC sponsored scholars 2020/21 • Directing and Producing Television Entertainment MA 60 20 Free training places for Diverse scholars small indies

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 w Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliantbrilliant ideas, ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent andand companiescompanies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 17 What we do with others continued

Strategic partnerships Screen Scotland Northern Ireland Screen Case study: BBC Three Partnerships In 2020 we worked closely with our strategic In 2020 Screen Scotland worked with BBC In 2020 BBC Three, BBC NI and NI Screen partners to adapt and respond to the Covid-19 Writersroom to fund eight writers to work with extended their partnership to increase In 2020 BBC Three extended its creative disruption in the industry. All screen agencies eight Scottish producers to strengthen the youth content made in the Nation, partnerships across the UK, in each case put their own local support packages in place portrayal pipeline from the Nation. They commissioning a Fact Ent series from working with the commissioning team in each – and we worked with them to shape targeted partnered with BBC Scotland, BBC Three and Round 1 and Round 2. NI Screen also Nation. The Northern Ireland, Scotland and opportunities to keep creativity focused and BBC Two on guaranteed Factual commissions, invested in the BBC Two returning Wales partnerships were co-funded by commissions coming through. BBC Arts on Scenes for Survival and BBC series opportunity. Drama on a diverse talent scheme on Shetland. relevant screen agencies as they guaranteed 21 BBC commissions for their sector. 10 Companies in paid The partnerships included joint briefing sessions Companies in paid development from Nations and Network commissioners – Bricking It, Button Down, commissioned via development BBC Two and Three audience insight presentations bespoke to the BBC Three Northern Voices BBC Two and Three relevant content brief – and guides to what Pact makes a successful BBC Three pitch. Creative Wales BBC co-funds a Diversity Executive to All shortlisted ideas in paid development had BBC and Creative Wales developed their first support independent producers deliver an identified commissioning contact through MOU in 2020, partnering with BBC Three and diversity goals. Workshops included the process and all ideas had detailed BBC Wales on a guaranteed commission for an Inclusive Leadership and Casting, Hiring for feedback sessions, regardless of outcome. ob doc/structured reality series. Disability and Supporting Mental Health. All partnerships announced to date have exceeded expectations – resulting in more 5 27 2,000 than the original single commission. Companies in paid development, BBC Three Workshops Attendees In the North of England, we commissioned three Indielab Albert companies rather than one, and two series as well as the intended single. All three companies Business accelerator programme to help small In 2020 we introduced changes to the TV were new to Network commissioning. indies supercharge their growth. This year commissioning process to encourage Indielab delivered a successful Masterclass sustainable production practices and series online with additional support through prompt producers to consider sustainable + legal and financial helpdesks and mentoring. themes and behaviours in content. 30 10 Indies in paid Commissions 15 50+ 309 development Producers Industry leaders Programmes Albert certified 2019: 156

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our our ambitions ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 18 Chapter 4: Delivering our ambitions and commitments

Despite the disruptions of Covid-19 our creative and economic footprint remains Anton Ferdinand: Football, Racism & Me, Wonder broader and deeper than any other UK Television, BBC One RTS Documentary Award Winner broadcaster. We work with more producers, in more locations, and constantly refresh our supply base. Our support for the % independent production sector this year 57 66 32 means they have won an increased volume Suppliers outside London New producers New Nations and English of business – and we have maintained the regions producers same volume of companies in the Nations and English regions.

The production lockdown meant many of our planned productions in 2020 did not go ahead or were delayed – this has inevitably impacted on a small number of regulatory targets, particularly those reliant on scripted productions.

This Country, BBC Studios, BBC Three BAFTA Best Male Comedy Performance Award Commissioning Supply Report 2020 a Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our our ambitions ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 19 Volume and location of suppliers

Volume Broadcaster comparison Location

In 2020, despite the production slowdown we BBC: suppliers Our actions to support strategically important worked with the second highest number of 2020 343 smaller companies through Covid have producers on record, and more than double 2019 354 enabled us to maintain the volume of suppliers that of other Broadcasters. Half of the new 2018 328 based in the Nations and English regions. producers we worked with came from the 2017 295 Nations and English regions. Channel 4: suppliers % 2019 166 57 2018 154 Producers out of London 343 66 2017 171 2019: 57% Producers New producers 2019: 354 2019: 77 ITV: suppliers 2020 90 Breakdown of suppliers by substantive base 2019 86 2018 76 London 41% 32 Scotland 19% New Nations and Wales The Grand12% Party Hotel, Spun Gold TV, BBC One English regions Northern Ireland 11% producers North of England 6% 2019: 40 Midlands & East of England 2% South of England 8% Non-UK 1%

Breakdown of suppliers by substantive base

London 41% Scotland 19% Wales 12% Northern Ireland 11% North of England 6% Midlands & East of England 2% South of England 8% Non-UK 1%

Life, Drama Republic, BBC One The Rap Game UK, Naked Television, BBC Three Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our our ambitions ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 20 Supplier mix and response rates

Mix of suppliers Levels of Business of Business trend trend Speed of response

In 2020/21 nearly six out of ten of our 100% The uncertainty on schedules and funding programme hours were made by caused by the pandemic led to some 90% independent producers. commissioning decisions taking longer 80% in 2020. The volume of business won by non-qualifying 70% independent producers continued to grow 60% This meant our speed of decision making on (up 1 percentage point to 20%). active ideas* was down for both independent 50% producers and BBC Studios. The volume of However, the bigger increase was in the 40% ideas submitted by both groups was volume of qualifying independent producers 30% significantly lower than previous years.

(up 3 percentage points to 39%). 20% The remaining ideas were subject to further 10% BBC Studios’ level of business fell by development or funding dependencies. We aim 1 percentage point and public service was 1 111 1112 1213 1314 1415 151 11 11 11 12 221 0% to improve our speed of response once BBC PSB BBC Studios NQI QI down 4 percentage points, driven in part by commissioning patterns return to normal. the lower volume of sporting events. BusinessBusiness by bygenre genre In My Skin, Expectation Entertainment, BBC Three % RTS Best Drama Series Award % % 100% 75 59 41 Final decision in 20 weeks on active ideas 90% Network hours Network hours Independent producers and BBC Studios independent producers BBC producers 80% 2019: 54% 2019: 46% Stand Up For Live Comedy, Phil McIntyre TV, BBC Three 70%

King Gary, Shiny Button Productions, BBC One 60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0% BBC PSB BBC Studios NQI QI

* Active ideas are ideas where a decision is possible. Ideas are classed as Commissioning Supply Report 2020 inactive when they are stalled waiting for confirmation of component elements, e.g. access or talent availability. Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our our ambitions ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 21 Supply quotas

In 2020, despite Covid-19 disruption, we met or Independent production quota Out of London production quota exceeded the majority of our supply quotas – In 2020 we exceeded the independent In 2020 the Covid impact on programme Nations with a high mix of disrupted including all our Nations and regions hours production quota by 8.7%. spend in key genres led us to miss three productions in these genres were therefore targets. However, the unprecedented and out of London production quotas. disproportionately hit, namely: Northern rapid reduction in programme spend led to • 30% of programme hours on BBC One Ireland, Scotland and the English regions. particular challenges in some individual were made by qualifying producers Although spend reduced across all genres Nations and English regions – leading us to (exceeded quota by 5%). and all four Nations – the most significant Although we achieved our English regions miss three spend quotas for the first time. • 47% of programme hours on BBC Two decreases were in Drama, Comedy, Sport quota by the end of the year, we missed our and Children’s. Northern Ireland, Scotland and therefore We moved swiftly to put a number of were made by qualifying producers overall spend quotas outside London. mitigations in place to reduce the impact: (exceeded quota by 22%). using repeats and acquisitions to maintain representation, putting a sector support package in place to drive new business and Independent production quota Yearly spend trend by Nations/English regions commissioning replacement shows where % % N Ireland they could be made safely. % % % Wales We have evidenced to Ofcom how and why this % % happened in all three cases – and the actions % Scotland % we put in place to reduce the shortfall. % Quota MultiRegion % % EnglishRegions We currently expect to be back on track in % % 2021, although this remains subject to ongoing % % Covid-19 regulations. %

% % 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 34% 48% Productions made by Network spend Hours by Nation Quota 2020 Spend by Nation Quota 2020 qualifying independent qualified as Out companies of London Scotland 8% 15.3% Scotland 8% 6.5% Quota 25% Quota 50% Wales 4% 4.6% Wales 5% 8.2% Northern Ireland 2% 2.2% Northern Ireland 3% 1.7% % English regions 30% 37.0% English regions 30% 30.6% 60 Multi-region 0.1% Multi-region 0.9% Network hours qualified Total OOL Hours 50% 60.1% as Out of London Total OOL Spend 50% 47.9% Quota 50%

Casualty, BBC Studios, BBC One Commissioning Supply Report 2020 BAFTA and RTS Continuing Drama Awards Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our our ambitions ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 22 Competition and complaints

Levels of competition Complaints Competition of ideas is baked into our business We received one formal complaint from an model. All ideas are treated on merit with independent production company in 2020. decisions made on consistent criteria* and The indie complained of poor practice in the creative judgement. handling of their commission. A Stage One investigation found no breach of the BBC’s We have continued to make progress towards published commitments. our 2027 target – putting more of our content out to competition – although plans for Fair access Competitive Tenders were put on hold during Saved On Camera, Afro-Mic Productions, BBC One the pandemic to reduce strain on both More than 200 new companies registered on production and commissioning teams. BBC Pitch in 2020 – bringing fresh ideas and perspectives. Where producers didn’t meet our criteria – but have strong talent or ideas – they can still access BBC Pitch on the 64% invitation of a commissioner. Hours contested in 2020 2019: 62% 233 198 New companies New suppliers invited registered directly or approved by Target: 2019: 187 commissioner 100% 2019: 137 Hours to be contested by 2027 Us, Drama Republic, BBC One We expect Competitive Tendering activity to restart once Covid impacts on the production sector have reduced. We remain confident of achieving our target by 2027.

* See page 33 BBC Commissioning Supply Report 2018 https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/site/bbc- Commissioning Supply Report 2020 commissioning-supply-report-2018.pdf Rio and Kate: Becoming a Stepfamily, October Films Ltd, BBC One Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’sChildren’s and and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, SportSport and appendix 23 Chapter 5: Nations, Children’s Couch to 5K, and Education, Sport BBC Sport/BBC Productions

JoJo & Gran Gran, BBC In-house Production, CBeebies

Being Gail Porter, Tern Television, BBC Scotland

Bhangra or Bust, In-house, BBC England

Gardening Together with Diarmuid Gavin, Waddell Media, BBC Northern Ireland

Black and Welsh, Ie Ie Productions, BBC Wales Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’sChildren’s and and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, SportSport and appendix 24 Scotland Getting Hitched Asian Style, Firecracker

2020 saw BBC Scotland produce over 1,500 Strategic partnerships Diversity Levels of Business by genre hours of originated programming across BBC • Partnership with Screen Scotland resulting A bespoke presentation to explain our One Scotland and the BBC Scotland Channel. in co-funding eight projects. off-screen diversity targets was presented at 44% of evening hours on the BBC Scotland • Working with Screen Scotland and the our Christmas briefing. We continue to Channel were originations. Scottish Documentary Institute to deliver accelerate entry level diverse talent. Digital six documentaries over two years. strands like The Social, Short Stuff and iPlayer This content was provided by suppliers from • Worked with BBC Arts, Screen Scotland and commissions encourage suppliers to work with across the sector, representing a mix of both The National Theatre of Scotland to new and diverse off-screen talent. established and new companies. produce Scenes for Survival, commissioning 54 films, mostly from new writers/directors. Continuing Drama River City reframed their • Partnered with MG ALBA to support Gaelic story room and writing process to facilitate 3 7 language programming for BBC ALBA, more opportunities for new writers, bringing Briefings Co-commissions resulting in over 2,600 hours of content through a number of first-time TV writers. transmitting in 2020. They also created two new BAME characters • Continue to work with the BBC Writersroom to improve on-screen diversity. % % Scotland. • Seven titles co-commissioned with Scottish BAFTA-winning Being Gail Porter

49 100 Commissioning Development Network, including Guilt 2, Wild Weekends highlighted mental health, Bash The spend indies* spend indies BBC PSB BBC Studios NQI QI with BBC Three and the return of Murder Entertainer: Behind the Smile gave behind-the- Case on BBC Two. Co-productions included scenes access to child refugee and social Data is for BBC Scotland and BBC One Scotland. Excludes BBC ALBA, which is Briefings and communications natural history series Stormborn and the media sensation Bachala Mbunzama and landmark Factual series Blood of the Clans. My Kind of Town saw disabled presenter 94% PSB and 4% QI and 2% NQI. Three briefings held online: Ian Hamilton explore Scotland’s towns with • BBC Three and BBC Scotland Fact Ent Support for companies during Covid his guide dog. Development Opportunity. 140 attendees Bash The Entertainer: Behind the Smile, Blazing Griffin • BBC Two and BBC Nations As a direct result of Covid, we quickly Co‑commissioning Opportunity. commissioned a number of programmes to 252 attendees help support the sector and reflect audience • BBC Scotland Commissioning Christmas needs: Corona Diaries, Socially Distanced with Briefing. 114 attendees Susan Calman, Jamie Genevieve’s Great Indoors, Reflections at the Quay, Scot Squad – The Chief Our commissioning website is updated in line Does The New Normal, Scenes for Survival. with briefings and throughout the year. We also relicensed popular shows, extended Three opportunities highlighted via email, the run of Inside the Zoo and supported all the website or both: productions by contributing to Covid-related • Scotland’s People costs. • Our Lives Strand • Religious Programming

* Excludes sport Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’sChildren’s and and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, SportSport and appendix 25 Wales

During an unprecedented year, BBC Cymru Briefings Strategic development Diversity Wales remained committed to commissioning • Quick turnaround Covid response-specific Included: We partner with Ffilm Cymru, It’s My Shout and broadcasting high-quality and distinctive commissioning round in April 2020 • Partnerships with BBC Two and Three and Creative Wales to support diversity and content and worked with a large number of • Sector briefing • Ffilm Cymru and It’s My Shout inclusion. The Beacons and the It’s My Shout companies to ensure that audiences would be • BBC Two/BBC Wales • New Director’s Initiative, championing commissions, in particular, provide a platform able to access a diverse range of programmes. • BBC Three/BBC Wales new documentary talent to make their for ‘grass roots’ content makers to make their first film first steps into the industry. We supported the indigenous production sector with fast turnaround commissions, Targeted briefs Strategic partnerships We created bespoke content for Black innovative partnerships and supercharged Three targeted commissioning rounds: History Month 2020. Filmmaker Liana scripted development funds. • Our Lives 2021: 48 submissions, three We partner with Network on the Small Indie Stewart met people who told the story of commissions. Fund and Creative Wales on the BBC Three growing up Black and Welsh. Welsh football Despite the challenge of Covid-safe • BBC Wales/BBC Two co-commission: co-commissioning opportunity. legend, Nathan Blake, shed light on the production, we continued to commission 55 entries, four in development. hidden history of Black Miners. Welsh Drama, Comedy and Factual content • BBC Wales/BBC Three co-commission: We have a number of co-commissions with with the whole sector displaying remarkable 67 entries, five in development. Network, including: resilience and ingenuity. • In My Skin, BBC Wales/BBC Three Levels of Business by genre Ideas development • Our Lives 2020 – Lily Rice Airborne, BBC One Wales/BBC One • Spend committed to in-house: 0% • Our Lives 2020 – Save Our Eco Village, 4 3 • Spend committed to indies: 71% (17 indies) BBC One Wales/BBC One Briefings Co-commissions • Spend committed to BBC Studios: 29% (1 dev) Support for companies during Covid % % Secondary development funding was provided We launched a fast turnaround Covid-specific 53 71 to indies to produce The New Ajanta, Hidden commissioning round in April producing The Commissioning Development spend indies spend indies Series 3, Keeping Faith 3. Great Indoors, helping to support numerous companies. Increased development cash effort in scripted Comedy and Drama.

In Factual, Comedy and Drama we supported the sector with increased Covid-related costs as well as editorial and business affairs

support. BBC PSB BBC Studios NQI QI We also increased Wales-focused BBC iPlayer Data is for BBC One Wales and inventory, buying rights packages in all genres BBC Two Wales. to the benefit of the indigenous sector.

Lily: A Transgender Story, Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Telesgop Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’sChildren’s and and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, SportSport and appendix 26 Northern Ireland

2020 was dominated by a number of high- Ideas development programmes. This resulted in over £4.8m Levels of Business by genre performing fast turnaround commissions, as commissioning spend, representing 30 hours 40 ideas from 18 companies were supported local suppliers responded in remarkable ways of content. with development funding across the year. to the Covid pandemic – we documented life in lockdown, provided escapist lifestyle Almost £100,000 of development funding was content and broadcast a range of nostalgic Strategic development also offered. Of the 30 development ideas and uplifting stories, on BBC One and BBC We jointly developed a new serial Crime Drama arising from targeted rounds, 19 proposals Two Northern Ireland and the BBC iPlayer. Hope Street, set in Northern Ireland, with BBC were commissioned. Daytime and BritBox North America, with Our content was enhanced by strong support from NI Screen. In spring, BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Arts and partnerships and continued growth in co- the Lyric Theatre, in conjunction with the Arts commissioning, with a significant annual Working with partners – strategic Council of Northern Ireland, supported a increase in development funding across partnerships series of Drama commissions under BBC Arts’ all genres. Culture in Quarantine. In October we partnered with Northern Ireland Over 412 hours of non-news content Screen and BBC Two Network to develop and was broadcast on BBC One and BBC Two commission a significant Factual series.

Northern Ireland. 2 5 Briefings Co-commissions Our partnership with BBC Three and NI Screen BBC PSB BBC Studios NQI QI 84% of Factual content was made by continued with a call for ideas in Factual independent producers. Entertainment and supporting development % % Data is for BBC One Northern Ireland proposals in Comedy. 48 100 and BBC Two Northern Ireland. Overall spend Commissioning Development Our work with NI Screen’s Irish and Ulster- • 52% spend committed to in-house spend indies spend indies Scots Broadcast Funds has supported a range A Northern Irish Wedding, Afro-Mic Productions • 48% spend committed to indies of minority language output from the local • 0% spend committed to BBC Studios sector, including development funding in Drama. Briefings We co-hosted webinar briefings with both Five titles broadcast in 2020 were BBC Three and BBC Two. co‑commissions with Network: we co‑commissioned two Factual Entertainment Targeted briefs and commissioning series with BBC Scotland and continued to rounds work with Network channels in Arts and Docs.

Eight targeted briefs were issued in 2020. Over Support for companies during Covid 50% of the ideas submitted in the rounds were invited to pitch and around 70 commissions In March, in response to the pandemic, we were awarded. launched a call for ideas and received 180 Total commissioning rounds: 7 programme proposals from 35 indies, ranging Total commissions: 70 from newly created content to archive-based

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’sChildren’s and and Looking ahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, SportSport and appendix 27 England

In 2020 BBC England continued to develop BBC England/BBC Two 8pm Nations/ the pandemic – either with increased funding, a non-News TV slate which has grown Network Co-commission: flexibility on their delivery and editorial considerably in the last year. We prioritise 8x60’ Factual series requirements or with new commissions. programmes that reflect people’s lives • 86 companies pitched 125 ideas. in communities across England and are • 4 companies selected for funded Diversity particularly interested in unheard and development: Garden North, True North, Diversity on and off-screen is a critical diverse stories from places that are less Nine Lives, Candour. consideration for all England commissions. well represented. • 1 commission.

Highlights include: Targeted briefings Step into the Ring for BBC Three – diverse cast BBC England/BBC Two 8pm Nations/Network and diverse production staff. Winter Walks for Co-commission. 2 6 BBC Four – fronted by diverse talent. A Very Briefings Co-commissions British History for BBC Four focused on the Northern Voices Scheme BBC England/BBC experience of immigrant communities in Britain Our Lives: Soul Boy, BBC England In-house Three Co-commission. and Models: Street to Catwalk for BBC Three was % % about young people from socio-economically Ideas development 75 100 diverse parts of North West England. Commissioning Development Ideas are now submitted to BBC England spend indies* spend indies Levels of Business by genre through Pitch. Strategic development Northern Voices Scheme We work with indies across England but in A partnership with BBC Three for indies in the 2020 we focused almost half our spend in the north of England to pitch for a 1x30 Factual Step into the Ring, BBC England In-house North of England e.g. Yorkshire Firefighters documentary. (Wise Owl), Winter Walks (Atypical).

Thirty-five companies pitched ideas and we commissioned: Working with partners Bricking It – Button Down We collaborated with Coventry City of Culture Nail Bar Boys – LA Productions and BBC Two to co-fund development of a No More Bad Girl – Clockwork 1x60 film about 2 Tone. This has now been commissioned from Birmingham-based indie Full Fat.

Support for companies during Covid We worked hard to support indies working with BBC PSB BBC Studios NQI QI us which were affected by Covid and financially Data is for BBC One England (all regional supported four companies in England during variations).

Winter Walks, Atypical

Children’s offered high-quality content to Pre Covid we held one primary commissioning our 0-12 audience, who turned to us in large briefing day in Salford and a follow up ‘get numbers for education and entertainment together’ in July as a result of Covid, which during lockdown. Fast turnaround content was hosted remotely. from new and diverse suppliers helped fill the gap left by the many productions due to film Targeted briefs, commissioning over the summer months which were delayed rounds and levels of competition or cancelled. Ongoing financial support for delayed productions enabled some 100 ideas were pitched across four productions to restart towards the end commissioning rounds – two in spring and of the year. autumn and two Covid-specific mini-rounds held in April and July. My First Festival, MCC Media, CBeebies Briefings and other communications Over the course of the year we commissioned Blue Peter, BBC Children’s In-house Production, CBBC We issued 37 Newsletters including our five new diverse indies. weekly newsletters, which include the Top Ten titles for CBeebies and CBBC, and one There were 32 confirmed commissions across seasonal newsletter. the year with 66% from qualifying indies. Up to 70% of the slate is now contested. We issued three specific Covid communications updating everyone on the Ideas development situation right at the start of lockdown and carried this on through to summer. We also In 2020/21 we committed development funding to more than 25 companies from a Malory Towers, King Bert Productions, CBBC hosted two specific Covid-related webinars. fully contestable development pot of funding. This year 17% was committed to in-house public service production teams and 83% to independent production companies. Nearly 70% was spent out of London.

What we did to support the sector during Covid The cost of producing content was impacted due to Covid, requiring a balance of increasing funding for titles and/or a reduction in the number of episodes delivered. Creative ambition was also impacted with companies having to scale back production team size and cast sizes.

We quickly went to market during the first Case study: lockdown for fast turnaround programme BBC Education ideas to replace delayed or cancelled content which could be produced under lockdown With less than five weeks of pre-production, conditions. As a result, 33 hours of fast the BBC Education Service was launched on turnaround/Covid commissions were agreed 20 April 2020 to support pupils, parents and with £5.9m spent on these commissions and teachers during the first lockdown school restart costs to support suppliers. closures. Over the 14 weeks of the summer term, 197 hours of Bitesize Daily content was Titles included Celebrity Supply Teacher, made for BBC iPlayer and the Red Button and Operation Ouch! – Do Try This At Home, Tiny Wonders, Freak Productions, CBeebies 2,000 lessons were curated on BBC Bitesize At Home with Mr Tumble, Mimi in Lockdown. online. This was produced by BBC Education with the support of hundreds of partners Diversity including the Premier League, The Science We encourage off-screen diversity Museum, and White Rose Maths. development via our Diversity Fund which supports under-represented groups in Over 200 teachers were involved in creating off-screen roles. The fund size has increased the content and celebrities such as Sir David year on year to £300,000 and is supported by Attenborough, Brian Cox, Danny Dyer and a new Diversity and Inclusion lead. Sergio Aguero signed up to help Bitesize educate kids. The Teen Monologues strand was introduced to enable smaller production companies to have During the second lockdown Bitesize Daily was David Attenborough for Bitesize Daily better chance of securing their first network broadcast on BBC Two and CBBC as well as commission. Many commissions were made to being available on iPlayer, and BBC Bitesize new, diverse led companies we haven’t worked online delivered This Term’s Topics to support with previously. The My Life strands continue learning at home. to support new or smaller indies. Young, Black and British - Hear Us: A Newsround Special, BBC Children’s In-house Production, CBBC 2,000 197 Lessons on Bitesize Hours Bitesize Daily content

2020 was an extremely challenging year The volume of sports tenders in 2020 was for sport. Many events were cancelled, down on normal levels due to the ongoing postponed and/or rescheduled, resulting impact of Covid-19. In October 2020 the in significant impacts to supply, health BBC secured the media rights to the 2022 and wellbeing considerations, changes to Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. In production workflows and additional costs. this instance the rights specified it was a condition of the award that it is to be produced Covid-19 by the BBC’s in-house production teams. The BBC provided ongoing support for Partnerships independent production companies whose World Snooker Championship, IMG Productions transmission obligations were severely BBC Sport are into the fifth year of their disrupted. For example, the BBC worked successful partnership with Public Health very closely with rights-holders and England to promote and provide content for the independent production companies the Couch to 5K app. Since lockdown last responsible for accommodating the move March to end-2020, there were 1.5m new of the World Snooker Championship from downloads in the UK (bringing the total to over April to August and the return of England five million) and over 16m recorded runs. We Test/ODI/T20 cricket highlights to BBC TV are continuing to build on this strong platform for the first time in almost two decades. – for example, through weaving promotion into coverage of the Tokyo Olympics and super- Contestability charging awareness across the BBC’s output. At the start of 2020, the BBC removed the Women’s Super League in-house guarantee for sports programmes and committed to secure competition for In March 2021, the BBC acquired live rights to 100% of relevant TV programmes by the end the Women’s Super League for the first time in of 2027. Which sporting events are subject to a ‘landmark’ three-year broadcast deal. The a domestic production tender is contingent on BBC will commission an independent producer Couch to 5K, BBC Sport/BBC Productions the views of rights-holders as and when new to cover the 22 live matches, with a minimum agreements are reached. of 18 shown on BBC One or BBC Two.

England vs West Indies cricket match, Whisper Productions

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking aheadahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 31 Looking ahead

Looking ahead Delivering a significant shift in Target £100m of our commissioning BBC Scotland will invest in scripted portrayal in the next three years. spend over three years to drive development and increase co-commissioning In 2020 the BBC was at the heart of the positive progress on Diversity across opportunities with a view to improving the national response to an unprecedented This includes: the sector. portrayal of Scotland across all platforms. global crisis. We are proud to have played • A hundred new or returning Drama and We will continue to champion and support a critical role – keeping shows on the road Comedy titles which reflect lives and By asking producers to meet two of our three new talent through digital development where it was safe to do so, supporting communities outside London, of which 20 criteria: pipelines such as Short Stuff and The Social. smaller companies, focusing creativity will portray Scotland, Wales or Northern 1. Diverse stories and portrayal on-screen on guaranteed opportunities, expanding Ireland. BBC Wales will put portrayal and diversity our education offer and continuing to • Two new long-running Drama series – one 2. Diverse production leadership front and centre of our creative ambition. We entertain audiences across the UK. from the North of England and one from aim for audiences both in Wales and across 3. Diverse company leadership one of the Nations. the rest of the UK to see high-quality content The uncertainty and disruption caused by • Doubling the number of co-commissions across a range of genres. To do this we will work in creative partnership Covid-19 has meant we were unable to meet from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales with production companies and other all our ambitions, targets and KPIs for 2020 as which appear on UK-wide channels. BBC Northern Ireland will continue to grow organisations who share our strategic planned – our key focus in 2021 will be to get co-commissioning across Factual, Comedy aims and values. those back on track. In addition, we will use the Placing more decision-making and Drama and look forward to working with post Covid-19 recovery to further drive our outside London. suppliers on the development of longer BBC Children’s and Education have an strategic ambitions as set out in the BBC’s running series and high quality content • We will grow the next generation of ambition to increase our commitment to Annual Plan and Across the UK strategy. for local audiences. commissioning talent across all four original animated content, and will be Nations. boosting development funding to give new In Network TV, we will begin to BBC England will continue to support • We will bring Network and Nations’ teams and established creators the chance to get implement plans to further strengthen production in the North of England and closer to commission content for both UK their ideas to screen. We will also put original our creative and economic impact in the North East in particular, deliver increased and Nations’ audiences to maximise educational content in a dedicated slot on Nations and English regions – alongside spend in the Midlands and work with BBC portrayal, authenticity and impact. CBBC, and focus on strengthening diversity our new Diversity commitments. Three and Genre Heads to focus spend on • We will expand the Writersroom hub in and inclusion both in front of, and behind, co-commissions in order to maximise Salford, with our Head of New Writing being the camera. Over the next three to six years we are impact, value and portrayal. based there. committed to: • We will create four new commissioning BBC Sport will run more independent As we come out of the pandemic, all roles, to lead on writer development and production tenders for major sports events Working towards a BBC target of commissioning teams will work closely in support Drama Commissioning Editors in over the course of the next 12 months, partnership with production companies, 60% of Network TV spend outside each of the Nations. including three major snooker tournaments talent and the wider sector, to ensure we London by the end of the Charter. and the Women’s European Football re-build world class creative momentum Championships in England next summer. – including two-thirds of BBC Three spend. across the UK.

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 Introduction 1: Supporting the sector 2: Inspiring Great 3: Backing brilliant ideas, 4: Delivering our ambitions 5: Nations, Children’s and Looking aheadahead through Covid-19 British creativity talent and companies and commitments Education, Sport and appendix 32 Appendix

The Film and TV Production Restart Scheme Useful links Top ten suppliers The government set up The Film and TV Production Restart Scheme in 2020 to compensate For more background on how we work please producers for the costs of disruption to production due to Covid-19. Funded by the Treasury, the see the following: By hours scheme enabled many BBC commissions to start or continue production, in the absence of usual 1 IMG MEDIA LIMITED production insurance cover. A list of BBC productions which transmitted in 2020/21 and applied The 2019 Commissioning Supply Report: 2 REMARKABLE PRODUCTIONS to the scheme is below.* http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/ 3 CACTUS TV site/bbc-commissioning-supply-report-2019. 4 BOUNDLESS Programme Production company pdf 5 TERN TV Saving Lives At Sea Blast Films 6ENTORN M The 2018 Commissioning Supply Report: The One Show 20/21 Off The Fence Productions Ltd 7 WHISPER FILMS LTD Who Do You Think You Are? Wall to Wall Media Ltd http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/ 8 RICOCHET Ready Steady Cook Endemol Shine UK Ltd t/a Remarkable Television site/bbc-commissioning-supply-report-2018. 9 SHINE Gordon Ramsay’s Bank Balance Humble Pie Productions Limited t/a Studio Ramsay pdf 10 LION TELEVISION The Goes Wrong Show Big Talk Productions Ltd King Gary Shiny Button Productions Ltd The BBC Commissioning website: https:// Vicar of Dibley Tiger Aspect Productions Limited www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/ By spend Pointless Endemol Shine UK Ltd t/a Remarkable Television 1 REMARKABLE PRODUCTIONS Hey You What If? Screen Glue Ltd BBC Scotland commissioning: http://www.bbc. 2 TALKBACK My Mum Tracy Beaker BBC Children’s Productions Ltd co.uk/aboutthebbc/scotland/commissioning 3 SHINE This Is My House Expectation Entertainment Ltd 0121 Fudge Park Productions Ltd 4 STUDIO LAMBERT LIMITED BBC Wales commissioning: http://www.bbc. Beep Happy Tramp North Limited 5 DRAMA REPUBLIC co.uk/aboutthebbc/cymruwales/ Worzel Gummidge Leopard Pictures Ltd 6 NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS LIMITED commissioning Great British Menu Optomen Television Limited 7 DRAGONFLY FILM AND TELEVISION Mary Berry Saves Christmas Rumpus Media Ltd 8 WALL TO WALL TELEVISION The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan Rumpus Media Ltd BBC Northern Ireland commissioning: https:// 9 MODEST TELEVISION LIMITED Jazz 625: The British Jazz Explosion Somethin’ Else Sound Directions Limited www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/northernireland/ 10 MAMMOTH SCREEN My World Kitchen Terrific Television (MWK) Ltd commissioning Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency Twofour Broadcast Limited He Ain’t Heavy Twofour Broadcast Limited BBC England commissioning: https://www. The Ranganation Zeppotron Limited bbc.co.uk/commissioning/bbc-england Royal Institute Christmas Lectures 2020 Windfall Films (Science) Limited Musicals: The Greatest Show TBI Media Limited BBC Children’s commissioning: http://www. The Amelia Gething Complex BBC Children’s Productions Ltd bbc.co.uk/commissioning/childrens The Graham Norton Show So Television Ltd BBC Sport commissioning: https://www.bbc. * Programmes that applied for the scheme in 2020 but transmitted in 2021/22 will be included in next year’s report. co.uk/commissioning/sport

Commissioning Supply Report 2020 British Broadcasting Corporation Broadcasting House London W1A 1AA bbc.co.uk