“Last weekend, Sunderland hosted an unforgettable start to the UK’s festival season. Radio 1’s Big Weekend brought 100,000 music fans to Herrington Country Park, with more than 100 artists, from internationally renowned headliners to emerging homegrown talent, entertaining crowds while driving tourism, revenue and investment.
The BBC is focused on bringing people together, and Big Weekend was a powerful reminder of the North East’s thriving music scene and its strength in storytelling. Among the 14 North East artists on the BBC Introducing stage, six were Sunderland-born acts.
The momentum is only building. The Proms will return to the North East this summer, spotlighting some of its most loved spaces and local voices. We want to go even further, bringing even more major events, more investment and more opportunities to the area.
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This ambition sits at the heart of our Across the UK strategy. The BBC has deliberately moved network teams out of London, creating high-quality roles and career pathways in communities right across the country.
It reflects our fundamental duty to serve audiences across the UK. In his first week as the new BBC Director-General, Matt Brittin spoke of the need to be closer to our audiences, reflecting the UK’s rich diversity in all our content and services.
Since our initial commitment to the North East in 2021, we’ve seen strong progress through returning series, new commissions and network-scale programming – all rooted in telling the stories and unlocking the creative talent of the region.
The award-winning Smoggie Queens is a perfect example of authentically local storytelling with national reach. Written by and starring Middlesbrough-born Phil Dunning, and filmed and set in the town, its return for a second series underlines how regional stories can resonate far beyond their roots.
We’re also investing in the infrastructure behind that success. In partnership with the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP), we have set out new commitments to support what is now the UK’s fastest-growing production sector, with a minimum of £40m to be delivered over six years.
This momentum continues with major new projects. The forthcoming adaptation of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, filming at The Northern Studios in Hartlepool and on location in Sunderland, will support jobs, skills and long-term growth in the region.
Our commitment extends beyond traditional production. We continue to grow our Tech Hub at BBC Newcastle, now employing 100 people in product and technology roles and helping to shape the BBC’s digital-first future. From virtual production to responsible AI use, new technology is transforming the ways programmes are made, and our teams in the region are harnessing this to deliver for our audiences.
The message is clear: you should not have to move to London to build a nationally recognised career in broadcasting or production.
Looking ahead, the North East will remain a priority region during the BBC’s next Charter period. Our ambition is to deepen our presence, increase network spend and move more senior leaders and commissioning roles across the UK.
The North East’s strength lies in its people, through their pride, creativity and distinctive voice. By continuing to back the region for the long term, the BBC and its partners can help redefine where and how the UK tells its stories in the decades to come.”
Heidi Dawson is the BBC’s Head of the North of England.
