New dramas and Masterchef studio unveiled
The BBC has confirmed its biggest expansion in the West Midlands in over a decade, with new investment, drama commissions, and exclusive first images of the relocated MasterChef studio in Birmingham.
The announcement comes as the broadcaster signed a second memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Create Central, doubling down on its Across the UK strategy to grow regional production and talent.
Doubling production spend
Under the new agreement, BBC network television production spend in the West Midlands will almost double from £24m to £40m a year by the end of 2027. Analysis shows that additional investment since 2021 is set to deliver £282m in economic benefit to the region by 2031 – a figure expected to rise further under this deal.
BBC Director-General Tim Davie described the expansion as “another transformative moment for the creative industries in the West Midlands”, adding: “The MOU will significantly boost investment in skills, opportunity and talent for local people, as well as stories from the region in BBC programmes.”
Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker hailed the announcement as vital for an industry that is becoming “a powerhouse of our regional economy”, while Ed Shedd, Chair of Create Central, said it would help cement the region as “one of the UK’s most exciting places to make content.”
Digbeth at the heart
The deal builds on earlier moves by the BBC to relocate its Midlands HQ to the Tea Factory site in Digbeth and establish a major creative hub in the district. Digbeth now houses operations for BBC Asian Network, BBC 1Xtra, and Silent Witness, alongside BBC Newsbeat and Verify teams.
BBC Studios will also establish a new purpose-built production base in Digbeth, replacing its Drama Village, while a new operational partnership with Digbeth Loc Studios will strengthen Birmingham’s reputation as a home for world-class storytelling.
Alongside, the WMCA has pledged a minimum of £5m a year in creative industries infrastructure, including a new £2m regional production fund, a production services office, and investment in skills and talent pipelines.
Exclusive look: Masterchef moves in
At the centre of the expansion is the relocation of MasterChef to Digbeth Loc Studios. Exclusive images released today reveal the new set – a state-of-the-art production space designed to host the BBC’s flagship cookery competition and its spin-offs.
The move places one of the UK’s most recognisable formats firmly in Birmingham, alongside Great British Menu and Garden Rescue, further cementing the region’s place in the national TV landscape.
Two new dramas announced
Alongside unscripted successes, scripted drama is also receiving a boost. The BBC has commissioned two new series for BBC iPlayer and Daytime from the West Midlands.
The Hairdresser Mysteries (6×45), written by Jim Cartwright, will star Sally Phillips as Lily Petal, a glamorous 1970s stylist who swaps the city for a small village salon. Using her intuitive empathy, she finds herself at the centre of community secrets and crime-solving. Filming begins in September across the West Midlands.
Produced by Mill Bay Media in association with Night Train Media, the series will be helmed by a creative team including Will Trotter and Oliver Kent as executive producers, with Grainne O’Boyle producing.
Meanwhile, The Detection Club (10×45), set in 1930s London, imagines Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and G.K. Chesterton banding together to solve real-life murders. Produced by BBC Studios Drama Productions, filming will begin in 2026 with global sales also handled by BBC Studios.
Training and opportunity
Both dramas build on the BBC’s pledge to re-invest the former Doctors spend into scripted programming in the region. They will also expand opportunities for training and placements, following the success of BBC Studios Drama Productions’ initiatives at Portland House in Digbeth.
That hub has already provided 54 placements on local productions and won recognition as Workplace Learning Champion at the West Midlands Adult Learning Awards.
Helen Munson, Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime, said the two dramas reflected the BBC’s promise to support regional growth. “Commissioning The Detection Club and The Hairdresser Mysteries will offer more jobs to the region and showcase what the area has to offer,” she said.
Creative cluster growth
The wider investment has already helped Birmingham become the UK’s second-largest hub for Banijay Group, with Shine and Kudos Knight opening regional bases after securing BBC commissions. Other suppliers, including Spun Gold and Full Fat TV, are also rooted in Digbeth, producing titles such as Garden Rescue and Policing Paradise.
The expansion comes as the BBC launches its new Made Of campaign, celebrating storytelling inspired by places across the UK. Birmingham is featured alongside Peaky Blinders and Man Like Mobeen in a film described as the broadcaster’s “love letter” to regional creativity.
Securing the future
With around 600 BBC roles now based in the West Midlands, and fresh investment flowing into both scripted and unscripted production, the region is positioning itself as a creative powerhouse.
Davie said: “Our agreement with the WMCA and Create Central deepens our partnership with the West Midlands to secure its place as a world-class centre for film and TV production.”
