Chalkboard TV is to “bolster its presence” in Scotland with a more “substantive-base production operation” in Glasgow and has made its first major hire in the shape of BBC series producer Jon Willers.
Chalkboard says the move reflects the indie’s focus on “seeking creative and commercial opportunities in the UK’s nations and regions.”
Chalkboard Scotland, aims to build on its single-access doc Life Behind Bars: Visiting Hour and kids’ school-based drama Logan High — both of which have been produced out of Glasgow since 2016. Life Behind Bars, an intimate look at visiting hour at Scotland’s maximum-security prison HMS Low Moss, was commissioned by Channel 4 in March 2017. Logan High, which debuted on CBBC earlier this year, marked Chalkboard’s first kids’ commission from the BBC.
Jon Willers has worked on both The One Show and Time Team and has produced science, history and arts titles for BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4 and National Geographic. Chalkboard says that more high-profile appointments will be made in the coming months.
Mike Benson, executive producer and director of Chalkboard, said: “The opportunities for funding in the UK’s nations and regions continue to grow, and we’re eager to be part of this new creative movement. We’ve had a production presence in Glasgow for two years now, and it feels like the right time to put down deeper roots. I’ve worked with Jon before and he’s one of the most exciting young series producers in the country. With this calibre of talent on board, I’m confident that we’ll continue to build on the successful slate of shows we’ve already produced in Scotland.”
Jon Creamer
Share this story
