BAFTA Celebrates Success Of Welsh Government Backed Sherlock

Wales’ reputation as a top destination for high end TV production gets a further boost this week when a special event at BAFTA’s London headquarters celebrates the phenomenally successful Sherlock TV series that was predominantly shot in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All four series, backed by the Welsh Government and assisted by Wales Screen, were filmed and produced in Wales and based in and around Cardiff. The award winning show has proved to have massive appeal for audiences in the UK and overseas and the third series was the UK’s most watched drama series since 2001. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An average 11.82 million people watched the series, with about 12.72 million tuning in for the first episode. The hotly awaited fourth series of Sherlock – again shot in Wales – returns to TV screens on 1 January 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The BAFTA Cymru event in London on Friday 9 December is supported by Hartswood Films and Wales Screen when journalist, author, critic and broadcaster Boyd Hilton hosts a conversation with some of the key individuals that helped make Sherlock such a success. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They include: Steven Moffat, Executive Producer and Co-Creator of Sherlock and Showrunner, Writer and Executive Producer of Doctor Who; Mark Gatiss, co-creator of Sherlock and who has also written and acted in Sherlock and Doctor Who; Series Producer Sue Vertue and actress Amanda Abbington who plays Mary Watson. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The TV and film production sector in Wales is going from strength to strength and we have gained a well deserved reputation as a great location for filming with experienced and talented crew and facilities which is backed by a highly professional service from Wales Screen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Sherlock celebration event is a great platform to highlight and take stock of what Wales can offer TV productions in terms of skills, expertise and support. It will provide an opportunity to network with established contacts in the film/TV sector as well as engage with prospective producers who are currently considering bringing their projects to Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Since 2012 we have hosted 185 film and TV productions in Wales. The productions – which were all filmed on location in Wales and assisted by Wales Screen – spent more than £138.6m boosting local economies throughout Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Last year was one of the most successful to date with 55 productions filming in Wales that together brought in £38.8m to the economy. 2016 looks to be equally successful and only last week I announced that Will – which is supported by the Welsh Government, is currently filming in Wales. This is the biggest budget US TV production ever shot in Wales and is expected to generate £18m into the local economy.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Earlier this week Wales Screen attended FOCUS – the international location production event in London which attracted production and photography professionals from the film, television and commercials industries from 55 countries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​