The BBC has unveiled a raft of new North East commissions and casting announcements as it revealed the corporation contributed more than £133m to the region’s economy last year.
The broadcaster used a new projection and drone film at Alnwick Castle featuring North East actor Robson Green to spotlight its growing production activity in the region, alongside fresh details on upcoming scripted and factual projects.
Among the announcements was confirmation that actor Liz White will star alongside Green in new daytime drama The Northumbria Mysteries, which is currently filming across Northumberland.
White, known for roles in Life on Mars and Call the Midwife, will play Oxford-educated DI Rose O’Connell opposite Green’s character Joe Ruby, an ex-convict and gambler.
Filming locations include Alnmouth, Bamburgh, Rothbury, Morpeth and Dunstanburgh Castle.
The BBC also confirmed a new comedy, Sarnies, from Smoggie Queens writer Elijah Young and Gateshead production company Candle & Bell. The short-form comedy, set in a sandwich shop in Newcastle’s Bigg Market, begins filming in June.
Elsewhere, the broadcaster announced a new gardening series, Growing Home with Robson Green, which will be filmed at the presenter’s 350-year-old cottage on the banks of the Tyne.
Green narrated the new Made Of Here projection film, which featured references to programmes and locations linked to the North East, including Byker Grove, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Smoggie Queens and Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes.
Robson said: “The North East is rich in stories and in the people who tell them best. Seeing some of our most loved programmes, places and distinct identity projected onto Alnwick Castle and set against the Northumberland night sky, has been a real joy.
“I’m incredibly proud to be from here and it’s definitely a place of straight talkers and hard grafters.”
The announcements come as BBC-backed analysis found the corporation contributed more than £133m to the North East economy in 2024/25, supporting 2,314 full-time equivalent jobs.
According to the BBC, it now accounts for 27% of economic activity across the region’s audiovisual sector.
Helen Munson, BBC Commissioning Editor Daytime and Early Peak, said: “I’m also incredibly excited about our new casting announcements for The Northumbria Mysteries which shows the scale and ambition of our new drama filming here in the region over the summer.
“The passion and skills being poured into these productions by local talent demonstrates that this is a region with ambition, and it feels like we are only just getting started.”
The broadcaster also used the update to highlight its wider partnership with the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP), which is backed by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.
Additional BBC productions linked to the region include the second series of Smoggie Queens, a new adaptation of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ and CBBC series The Lady Grace Mysteries.
Earlier this week Sunderland also hosted Radio 1’s Big Weekend, attracting thousands of music fans to Herrington Country Park.
