Massive Slate of 12 New Dramas Announced for BBC

At a recent BBC event, Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, emphasised the importance of taking risks and pushing boundaries in television production. She outlined her vision to redefine ‘state of the nation’ drama and make it accessible to audiences of all ages.

Salt stated, “I believe that the BBC is the only place that can promise true boldness and braveness… In an era of caution, it’s our time to shine.” She acknowledged the shift from ‘Peak TV’ to ‘Peak Caution’ in recent years and expressed concern over risk-taking becoming stigmatized. However, she reassured that the BBC would continue to take risks when others might become more cautious.

As part of her plan for BBC Drama, Salt aims to redefine what ‘state of the nation’ drama means. She wants these stories to be honest, emotional, and reflective of different age groups and communities. Citing shows like State of Play, Three Girls, Our Friends in the North, I May Destroy You, and This is Going to Hurt as examples of state of the nation dramas with urgency and relevance.

Salt highlighted three priorities for redefining state of the nation drama: currency, character development, and empathy. Currency refers to creating work that feels alive by exploring slices of life that speak to the human condition. Character development aims to strike a balance between flashy concepts and authentic characterization. Finally, empathy should be at the heart of commissioning decisions in order to create television that resonates on a soulful level.

The twelve new dramas commissioned by BBC Drama across various genres are:

– Blue Lights: Two more series of this Belfast-based police drama series.
– Dear England: A drama based on James Graham’s play about Gareth Southgate and the England men’s football team.
– Film Club: A romantic comedy-drama marking the screenwriting debut for actors Aimee Lou Wood and Ralph Davis.
– Lions (working title): An original drama exploring the lives of two men across different decades.
– Mint: A darkly comic and unconventional crime family drama from writer and filmmaker Charlotte Regan.
– Reunion: An emotional thriller following the journey of Brennan, a deaf man seeking revenge and redemption.
– The Dream Lands: A coming-of-age story based on Rosa Rankin-Gee’s novel, brought to life by BAFTA-winning creator Kayleigh Llewellyn.
– The Listeners: Starring Rebecca Hall, based on Jordan Tannahill’s novel about eavesdropping and surveillance culture.
– The Ministry of Time: A drama adapted from Kaliane Bradley’s debut novel, written by Alice Birch.
– The Split Up: A series set in Manchester’s divorce law circuit featuring one powerful family of lawyers.
– This City is Ours: An epic crime drama created by Stephen Butchard for BBC One and iPlayer.
– We Go Again (working title): A new drama from award-winning writer Janice Okoh.

These dramas cover a wide range of themes and genres, reflecting the diversity and innovation within BBC Drama. The announcement demonstrates the commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering compelling storytelling to audiences across the UK.