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Blow for North East TV as drama axed

The North East television industry has taken another blow as a major prime-time series produced and filmed entirely in the region is axed.

Wire in the Blood, produced by Robson Green and Sandra Jobling’s Newcastle production company, Coastal Productions, has not been re-commissioned by ITV.

After six years of filming, the last episode of Wire in the Blood was screened in the autumn of 2008 and was watched by more than 4.5m people. The series has sold for millions world wide and consistently employed almost 100 crew when filming in the region. On average, a production such as Wire in the Blood would spend around £750,000 on an hour-long episode.

Tom Harvey, chief Executive of Northern Film & Media, said: “This is a very sad day for North East network TV… an absolute tragedy. Coastal Productions have done a fantastic job of securing prime time drama for the North East. They have provided much needed jobs for local crew and ensured that North East locations have appeared in front of national audiences.

“Northern Film & Media’s warning that the North East could disappear from national TV screens is fast becoming a reality. Culturally, it is vital the North East is represented on national screens. Without our people, our stories and our locations on network TV the North East becomes invisible.”

Sandra Jobling of Coastal Productions released a statement saying: “After a very productive 2008 which included the sixth series of Wire in the Blood, and the highly successful Place of Execution, naturally we at Coastal are very disappointed. We are especially sad for the creative talent in the North East who have contributed to Wire’s longevity. However, Coastal continues to work closely with ITV and other broadcasters on developing new projects.”

Wire in the Blood has shot extensively across the North East and there has been much reaction across the region.

Northern Film & Media have arranged a special meeting for all concerned with the current situation of North East network television to be held at the Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, on Monday 16 February from 6pm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .