The popular reality show "The Traitors," filmed near Alness in the Scottish Highlands, has recently come under scrutiny for its lack of Scottish-based production staff. Despite being classified as a Scottish production and contributing to the BBC's commitment to spend 8% of its production hours and expenditure in Scotland, only 6% of the current production team reside in Scotland. This revelation has prompted Culture Secretary Angus Robertson to request a meeting with the BBC and media regulator Ofcom to address concerns about Scottish representation in production roles.
The show's finale captivated more than seven million viewers last Friday night. Produced by Studio Lambert for the BBC, "The Traitors" has been a significant part of the network's regional production strategy aimed at increasing TV production spending in Scotland. This strategy aligns with Ofcom's efforts to boost local industry contributions. Since 2010, TV production expenditure in Scotland has surged from £119 million to £225 million in 2022, attributed to the skills within Scotland's production sector and strategic commissioning practices.
Stephen Lambert, chief executive of Studio Lambert, praised the Scottish television community as "large and talented." Despite this acknowledgment, anonymous Scottish-based freelancers have expressed frustration over the limited opportunities for local talent. One freelancer lamented the struggle for work in the region, while another noted that many colleagues had little experience in Scotland beyond their show-related duties.
"As a Scottish freelancer in TV it was so frustrating… especially considering how much we are struggling for work up here." – Anonymous Scottish-based TV freelancer
"I quickly learned that many of my peers had never spent much time in Scotland outside of working on the show." – Anonymous Scottish-based TV freelancer
Senior producer and director Peter Strachan echoed these concerns on social media, emphasizing that the show should transcend its scenic backdrop and local economic contributions. He urged that the program focus more on integrating Scottish talent behind the scenes.
"The Traitors is a fantastic show, but it needs to be about more than just the on-screen talent," – Peter Strachan
Scottish actor Alan Cumming, who hosts the US version of "The Traitors," has also advocated for greater Scottish involvement in production roles. Meanwhile, Stephen Lambert remains optimistic about future developments.
"We're confident that over the coming years the proportion of that talent who are based in Scotland will increase and it is great news for the industry as a whole that such a well-loved show is coming from this part of the UK." – Stephen Lambert
Lambert acknowledges that producing a reality show on the scale of "The Traitors" necessitates specialized skills, which may currently be more prevalent outside Scotland. Nonetheless, Studio Lambert is committed to employing and training Scottish-based individuals.
"But a very different set of specialised skills and experience are required to make reality shows on the scale of The Traitors," – Stephen Lambert
"We are employing and training talented people based in Scotland to work on The Traitors." – Stephen Lambert
The BBC Press Office affirms that "The Traitors" meets Ofcom's regional production criteria, being filmed in the Scottish Highlands. This designation underscores efforts to nurture local talent and expand production capabilities.
"As per Ofcom's regional production definition, The Traitors qualifies as a Scotland production and is clearly made in the Scottish Highlands, as viewers will know." – BBC Press Office
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