The BBC, Screen Scotland and broadcast and digital training provider TRC, have come together in partnership to find the next entertainment format “to capture imaginations and get audiences talking.”
Supersizing Entertainment Formats will be open to independent production companies based in Scotland and will run from November 2025 to April 2026. The fully funded training programme has been launched to support BBC Entertainment and BBC Scotland’s aspiration to find ambitious and distinctive entertainment formats to develop as potential co-commissions. Central to this vision is a commitment to growing big ideas from Scotland, seeing talent in Scotland on network screens and building the entertainment industry in the country.
Through a combination of in-person training, masterclasses, cases studies and business advice, successful applicants will learn what it takes to develop impactful formats of scale and benefit from direct access to experienced entertainment executives who’ve built global hits and returning series.
Louise Thornton, Senior Head of Commissioning BBC Scotland: “Scotland is full of creative talent and we know the next big smash hit entertainment format could be sitting here, we just need to find it. We have a great heritage in scripted and unscripted factual brands and now we want to support growth in the entertainment genre. This training programme is a catalyst which will nurture and support the development of ideas that could be tomorrow’s next television obsession. Working alongside our partners Screen Scotland and TRC I am excited to see what ideas and formats this new training programme can spark.”
Kalpna Patel Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC says: “We are passionate about discovering bold, original entertainment formats that resonate with audiences across the UK and beyond. Supersizing Entertainment Formats is a brilliant opportunity to tap into Scotland’s creative energy and support the next generation of standout ideas. We can’t wait to see which ambitious ideas emerge from this initiative”
Dani Carlaw, Head of Unscripted at Screen Scotland said: “We’re thrilled to join forces with BBC Scotland, BBC Entertainment and TRC on this ambitious new initiative. It’s all about unlocking potential — giving Scotland-based production companies the insight and tools they need to lead the way in entertainment, at home and across the globe.”
Claire Scally, Managing Director of TRC comments: “Following the success of FormatLab, our training programme aimed at creating the next wave of entertainment development talent in Scotland, we are delighted to launch SuperSizing Entertainment Formats, a new programme developed in partnership with BBC Entertainment, BBC Scotland and Screen Scotland. This programme will empower creative teams to shape bold scalable TV formats and position them for success on the global stage. We look forward to continuing to support the developing entertainment sector in Scotland.”
This programme is funded by the BBC and Screen Scotland. Screen Scotland drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and TV industry, through funding and strategic support from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery.
Details and T&C’s of SuperSizing Entertainment Formats can be found on the external TRC Media website. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 5 November 2025, 5pm.
Pippa Considine
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