Press release -
Hebrides to be broadcast UK-wide
Due to popular demand, Hebrides - Islands on the Edge, is to be broadcast throughout the UK.
Originally only available to viewers in Scotland, the hit BBC television series will begin its four-week run on BBC2 from Thursday 11 July at 9pm.
Narrated by Hollywood movie star Ewan McGregor and produced by Glasgow-based Maramedia, the acclaimed series focuses on the stunning landscapes and wildlife of the Hebrides.
National tourism organisation VisitScotland, which uses footage filmed for Hebrides - Islands on the Edge - in its latest television advertising campaign, hailed the BBC’s decision as a fantastic move for Scottish tourism.
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: “I am not surprised that the BBC has decided to broadcast Hebrides - Islands on the Edge throughout the UK, offering around ten times as many people the chance to see this magnificent series. In the Year of Natural Scotland, it is the perfect time to showcase our country’s beautiful natural surroundings and wildlife, and I am sure that Hebrides - Islands on the Edge will prove a big hit with UK audiences and encourage more people to come and explore this stunning area for themselves.”
Nigel Pope, Executive Producer of the series and Director of Maramedia, said: “We are delighted that the BBC will now be screening Hebrides - Islands on the Edge to a UK-wide audience. We captured some truly spectacular footage during the making of the programme, showing natural Scotland at its very best. People and wild places need each other in the Hebrides, hopefully this series will shine a spotlight on both.”
When Hebrides was broadcast on BBC1 Scotland during May, around a quarter of the TV total audience tuned in to watch the programme.
This is not the first time that the Hebrides have featured prominently on UK television. An Island Parish, filmed on Barra, saw the local VisitScotland Information Centre’s football rise by 10 per cent, while the number of people catching the ferry to Mull increased by 15.5 per cent at the height of Balamory’s popularity.
ENDS
For further information contact:
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Tom Maxwell Corporate Press Officer Tel: 0131 472 2409 Out of hours media enquiries: 07699 766986 |
Topics
- Cinema, Film, Photo
Categories
- corporate communications
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors:
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation has three key roles:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
- To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com
- The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
- For more information on VisitScotland’s annual review please go to www.visitscotland.org/about_us/our_focus/annual_report.aspx
