Makers of Wire in the Blood look to Ofcom as show is axed

Feb 10 2009 by Katy Simpson, The Journal

ROBSON Green’s production company has called for an investigation into ITV’s decision to axe Wire in the Blood.

Newcastle-based Coastal Productions has been told by ITV that it will not commission another series of the popular police drama.

The shock announcement has sparked outrage from fans, filming experts and local MPs, who are all worried that the North East is losing its voice on TV.

Now Sandra Jobling, who runs Coastal with Wire star Robson Green, has called for watchdog Ofcom to investigate.

She said: “Wire is a huge success story and this is a huge blow for the region.

“Wire had up to 6.66million viewers per episode and an audience share of 27%. I just think that somehow they need to be brought to book. I feel Ofcom should look at this.

“It would have been much easier for us to move south, but we didn’t.”

Just last month, ITV was fined £220,000 by Ofcom for failing to meet its programme spending quota outside London for 2006 and 2007.

Rules imposed by the regulatory body insist that at least 50% of expenditure in each calendar year is spent outside the M25 area.

But in 2006, ITV only spent 45.6% of its budget regionally and in 2007 it was just 44.3%.

Ofcom says it can only regulate what percentage is produced outside London. It does not allocate percentages for each region. Sandra’s concerns have been echoed by Tom Harvey, chief executive of Northern Film and Media, who has backed calls for an investigation.

Before Wire was axed, he had already invited MPs and TV production crews to a meeting at Newcastle’s Live Theatre on February 16.

A spokesman for Northern Film and Media said: “It’s quite a concern that none of the broadcast channels seem to be doing any filming in the North East. On an individual basis people can see the benefits of filming here, however it is management and budget constraints which seem to be the problem.

“As a regional screen agency we are very concerned about the lack of broadcast TV in the North East and the affects this is having. We are doing all we can to work on that and we are following other leads.”

For previous stories on this issue, click the links below
North East TV at danger of fading from our screens
Wire in the Blood is axed from ITV