BBC Wales: Difference between revisions
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'''BBC Wales''' (known in Welsh as '''BBC Cymru''') is the [[Wales|Welsh]] division of the [[ | |aka = BBC Cymru | ||
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|founding date = 13 February 1964 | |||
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|non dwu = | |||
|official site = www.bbc.co.uk/wales/ | |||
|twitter = BBCWales | |||
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|altvid = <!--Made in Wales - Trailer - BBC Cymru Wales--> | |||
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'''BBC Wales''' (known in Welsh as '''BBC Cymru'''), sometimes known as '''BBC Cymru Wales''', is the [[Wales|Welsh]] division of the [[BBC]]. Although based in and around [[Cardiff]], it also operates from other sites in Wales, including one at [[Aberystwyth University]]. It operates the Welsh regional variants of [[BBC One]] and [[BBC Two]]. However, the bulk of its employees were concerned with the production of new content until the restructuring of the BBC's commercial subsidiary [[BBC Studios]], which around 2018 became the subsequent main producer of all scripted and factual BBC productions including ''[[Doctor Who]]''. | |||
==As sole producer== | == As sole producer == | ||
BBC Wales | BBC Wales transmits television programmes in both the English and Welsh languages. It was the largest BBC production centre outside [[London]]. Some of what the channel has produced was been for consumption throughout the whole of the [[UK]], but much of it was only broadcast within Wales. | ||
Around | Around 2003, the BBC successfully untangled the rights issues surrounding ''[[Doctor Who]]'', which had plagued the possible return of the program for most of the 1990s. BBC Wales became the production base for a new, televised version of ''Doctor Who'' and its behind-the-scenes companion, ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]]''. After these shows proved successful, BBC Wales supplemented the series with the spin-off shows ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'', ''[[Torchwood Declassified]]'', ''[[Totally Doctor Who]]'' and ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'', later commissioning related additions such as ''[[Doctor Who Extra]]'' and ''[[Class (TV series)|Class]]''. | ||
The heavy output of material related to the [[Whoniverse]] prompted the largest expansion of production facilities in the division's history. In 2006, BBC Wales leased a site at Upper Boat in [[Pontypridd]], where they constructed studio space entirely dedicated to the production of ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-offs, known as [[Upper Boat Studios]]. Later restructuring in 2012 would see BBC Wales' studio space moved to [[Roath Lock]], in the [[Cardiff Bay]] area. | |||
BBC Wales has not restricted the production of ''Doctor Who'' and its | BBC Wales has not restricted the production of ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-offs to Welsh facilities, however, as both ''Doctor Who'' and ''Torchwood'' have utilised other British Isles locations and BBC Wales-sponsored ''Doctor Who'' production has also taken place abroad. To date this had included the United States (for second unit work on ''[[Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)|Daleks in Manhattan]]'' and primary shooting in ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]''/''[[Day of the Moon (TV story)|Day of the Moon]]'' and ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]''), Rome (''[[The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)|The Fires of Pompeii]]''), Croatia (for the [[Series 5 (Doctor Who 2005)|Series 5]] episodes ''[[The Vampires of Venice (TV story)|The Vampires of Venice]]'' and ''[[Vincent and the Doctor (TV story)|Vincent and the Doctor]]'') and even the United Arab Emirates (''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'').<!--BBC Wales stopped being credited from series 11 onwards, so don't include foreign productions from that point on.--> | ||
Despite the centrality of ''Doctor Who'' to BBC Wales' production output, the division a wide body of other work, mostly for consumption in Wales itself. | Despite the centrality of ''Doctor Who'' to BBC Wales' production output, the division has turned out a wide body of other work, mostly for consumption in Wales itself. {{as of|2016}}, its Welsh language soap opera, {{wi|Pobol y Cwm}}, had been on the air for 42 years. Its longest-running English language drama, {{wi|Belonging (TV series)|Belonging}} — co-starring [[Eve Myles]] for a time — lasted ten series. | ||
==As commissioning agent== | == As commissioning agent == | ||
Like its BBC parent, BBC Wales can opt to pursue another production path. | Like its BBC parent, BBC Wales can opt to pursue another production path. Instead of making the programmes themselves, they have an ability to commission programmes from other producers. This arrangement allows them to share both risk and reward with the contracted producer. Comparatively little of its Welsh language output is produced through such arrangements, but most of the programmes it shares with the national BBC are in fact commissioned work. Among the more famous commissioned BBC Wales programmes are: {{wi|Casanova (2005 TV serial)|Casanova}} (created by [[Russell T Davies]] and starring [[David Tennant]], with [[Nina Sosanya]] and [[Shaun Parkes]]), ''[[Life on Mars (TV series)|Life on Mars]]'' (co-created by [[Matthew Graham]] and starring [[John Simm]], [[Marshall Lancaster]] and [[Liz White]]), {{wi|Merlin (TV series)|Merlin}} (starring [[Colin Morgan]], [[Anthony Head]], [[Angel Coulby]], [[Richard Wilson (actor)|Richard Wilson]] and [[John Hurt]]), and {{wi|Being Human (British TV series)|Being Human}} (created by [[Toby Whithouse]] and starring [[Russell Tovey]], [[Lenora Crichlow]] and [[Sinead Keenan]]). In the summer of 2009, ''Merlin'' became the first BBC Wales-commissioned series to air on a mainstream American network when its first series was shown on NBC, while ''Life on Mars'' and ''Being Human'' were subject to Americanised remakes. | ||
== | == External links == | ||
{{official website|www.bbc.co.uk/wales/}} | |||
{{twitter|BBCWales}} | |||
{{facebook|BBCCymruWales}} | |||
[[Category:British Broadcasting Corporation]] | |||
[[Category:Real world broadcasters]] | |||
[[Category:Real world production companies]] | |||
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Latest revision as of 19:49, 25 April 2024
BBC Wales (known in Welsh as BBC Cymru), sometimes known as BBC Cymru Wales, is the Welsh division of the BBC. Although based in and around Cardiff, it also operates from other sites in Wales, including one at Aberystwyth University. It operates the Welsh regional variants of BBC One and BBC Two. However, the bulk of its employees were concerned with the production of new content until the restructuring of the BBC's commercial subsidiary BBC Studios, which around 2018 became the subsequent main producer of all scripted and factual BBC productions including Doctor Who.
As sole producer[[edit] | [edit source]]
BBC Wales transmits television programmes in both the English and Welsh languages. It was the largest BBC production centre outside London. Some of what the channel has produced was been for consumption throughout the whole of the UK, but much of it was only broadcast within Wales.
Around 2003, the BBC successfully untangled the rights issues surrounding Doctor Who, which had plagued the possible return of the program for most of the 1990s. BBC Wales became the production base for a new, televised version of Doctor Who and its behind-the-scenes companion, Doctor Who Confidential. After these shows proved successful, BBC Wales supplemented the series with the spin-off shows Torchwood, Torchwood Declassified, Totally Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures, later commissioning related additions such as Doctor Who Extra and Class.
The heavy output of material related to the Whoniverse prompted the largest expansion of production facilities in the division's history. In 2006, BBC Wales leased a site at Upper Boat in Pontypridd, where they constructed studio space entirely dedicated to the production of Doctor Who and its spin-offs, known as Upper Boat Studios. Later restructuring in 2012 would see BBC Wales' studio space moved to Roath Lock, in the Cardiff Bay area.
BBC Wales has not restricted the production of Doctor Who and its spin-offs to Welsh facilities, however, as both Doctor Who and Torchwood have utilised other British Isles locations and BBC Wales-sponsored Doctor Who production has also taken place abroad. To date this had included the United States (for second unit work on Daleks in Manhattan and primary shooting in The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon and The Angels Take Manhattan), Rome (The Fires of Pompeii), Croatia (for the Series 5 episodes The Vampires of Venice and Vincent and the Doctor) and even the United Arab Emirates (Planet of the Dead).
Despite the centrality of Doctor Who to BBC Wales' production output, the division has turned out a wide body of other work, mostly for consumption in Wales itself. As of 2016[update], its Welsh language soap opera, Pobol y Cwm, had been on the air for 42 years. Its longest-running English language drama, Belonging — co-starring Eve Myles for a time — lasted ten series.
As commissioning agent[[edit] | [edit source]]
Like its BBC parent, BBC Wales can opt to pursue another production path. Instead of making the programmes themselves, they have an ability to commission programmes from other producers. This arrangement allows them to share both risk and reward with the contracted producer. Comparatively little of its Welsh language output is produced through such arrangements, but most of the programmes it shares with the national BBC are in fact commissioned work. Among the more famous commissioned BBC Wales programmes are: Casanova (created by Russell T Davies and starring David Tennant, with Nina Sosanya and Shaun Parkes), Life on Mars (co-created by Matthew Graham and starring John Simm, Marshall Lancaster and Liz White), Merlin (starring Colin Morgan, Anthony Head, Angel Coulby, Richard Wilson and John Hurt), and Being Human (created by Toby Whithouse and starring Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Sinead Keenan). In the summer of 2009, Merlin became the first BBC Wales-commissioned series to air on a mainstream American network when its first series was shown on NBC, while Life on Mars and Being Human were subject to Americanised remakes.
