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BBC donates £700,000 to Film and TV Charity

Aimed at those affected by production hiatus

By Dan Meier

The BBC has donated £700,000 to The Film and TV Charity to assist those affected by the hiatus in film and TV production caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The corporation said £500,000 would go towards the new Film and TV COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI).

The other £200,000 will go into the charity’s two-year mental health action plan, known as the Whole Picture Programme, to address the mental health crisis found in the sector.

The funds will come principally from the BBC’s commercial production and distribution arm, BBC Studios, with contributions from public service commissioning teams, including BBC Content.

BBC content director Charlotte Moore said: “Freelancers are the lifeblood of our industry, keeping our shows creatively brilliant for all audiences. At times like these it is critical we stand by them. We are proud to contribute to The Film and TV Charity, to support our industry’s freelance community during these unprecedented times.”

BBC Studios CEO Tim Davie added: “This is a critical time for our industry, and we want to do all we can to support the talented and hard-working individuals who are so essential to our sector. As part of that, we are glad to back The Film and TV Charity’s important mission. I hope that this will play a part to ease the difficulties some are facing, and protect those who help to make the UK’s creative sector the envy of the world.”