Shetland

BBC Scotland crime drama Shetland, which celebrated its first decade on screen last year, was put under the spotlight at an RTS Scotland event in February.

The event was held in partnership with the Bring the Drama Festival, which complements the six-part BBC Two talent show Bring the Drama, fronted by Bill Bailey. The festival opens up the world of drama to people interested in a career on screen or stage.

Key crew members discussed how they contribute to the success of Shetland, which is made by ITV Studios company Silverprint Pictures.

Is the glass half full or half empty? That classic question, or cliché, is actually a really useful way to look at the production industry in Scotland. On the surface, all appears rosy. 

The BBC has survived largely intact from the Charter renewal process. Whatever emerges from the scrapping of the in-house guarantee and the establishment of BBC Studios, the corporation’s spending commitment in the nations and regions of the UK remains undamaged.  

With Team 56 – as SNP MPs call themselves – forming the third-largest party in Parliament, the impact on broadcasting in the UK is likely to be profound. And the effects are certain to spread beyond the BBC Charter debate.

The economist Jeremy Peat, a former BBC Scotland Governor and Trustee, observes that the general election outcome "represents a massive vote for change," requiring "not sticking plaster, but fundamental change." He adds: "We are miles away from a stable equilibrium."