Masterchef's Birmingham move will 'tap into city's growing pool of talent '
A senior leader at Birmingham 's leading creative industries and media HE institution has welcomed news that production of flagship BBC food programme Masterchef will be relocating to the city as part of the Corporation 's Across the UK plans.
Professor Peter Francis, deputy vice chancellor at Birmingham City University, which offers a range of industry relevant courses across journalism, media production, broadcast engineering, public relations, event management and stage management, said the announcement by Shine and the BBC is a significant commitment towards Birmingham 's ambition to become a dynamic new UK broadcast and production centre.
Professor Francis (pictured) said: “With the global spotlight shifting to Birmingham throughout this year thanks to major events like the Commonwealth Games, and world-famous TV programming such as the final Peaky Blinders season going to air soon, it is an incredibly exciting time to study, work and live in the city.
“As plans for various major screen industry infrastructure developments begin to take shape across the city, significant commitments such as the Masterchef relocation to Birmingham - of course coupled with the incredible culinary scene in the city and region - will only reinforce the city 's position as a new broadcast and production centre sitting at the heart of the UK.
“Powered by innovation, passion and enthusiasm of an ever increasing pool of media and film graduates - including many Birmingham City University alumni - the future for creative media production in the city is looking very bright indeed. ”
Professor Francis ' comments were echoed by Dr Vanessa Jackson, associate professor in Media Production at Birmingham City University, who said: “It 's very good news that Birmingham has been chosen as the new home of BBC Masterchef. Digbeth has for many years been a focus for the creative sector with a number of Independent TV production companies being based there, so the behind-the-scenes talent is already present.
“This move by the BBC demonstrates an increasing confidence to invest in television production outside the M25.
“It builds on an existing pedigree of culinary productions, with shows like The Great British Menu already being made in Digbeth, and the legacy goes all the way back to BBC series with cookery icons like Delia Smith and Ainsley Harriott, and before that with live cookery from Pebble Mill at One. ”