Sherwood writer James Graham: Streamers ‘stunned’ by UK government threat to BBC and Channel 4

Streamers such as Netflix, Prime Video and Paramount+ have been “caught off guard” by government threats against Britain’s public service broadcaster (PSB). Sherwood Author James Graham.

Graham, one of Britain’s leading television and theater writers, gave the example of Phoebe Waller-Bridge who broke through the theater system to create the BBC series. flea bag before it was snapped up by Amazon as part of a Golden Handcuffs deal.

He reflected on the BBC’s funding problems stemming from the government’s two-year license fee freeze and the threat to Channel 4’s position as a public service broadcaster, although this was recently reversed.

“We have the best of both worlds [in the UK]said Graham during today’s Freeview Outside the Box 2023 event with Banijay UK chairman Patrick Holland. “Streamers benefit from PSB development. People like Amazon will be amazed at the threat this pipeline poses.”

Graham said his hit BBC One drama Sherwood which took place during the Nottinghamshire miners’ strikes in the 1980s would never have been commissioned by a streamer. The show was one of the BBC’s most watched new dramas of 2022 and a second season is in the pipeline.

Graham, who also wrote the Channel 4 drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch Brexit: the civil war, argued that during a crisis the nation only shouts about the strength of PSBs.

“In anticipation of a crisis, we have to say how wonderful it is that 10 million people make it to the finals [BBC One drama] mandatory rule”, he added. “In good times, when it’s not scary, we have to find the language and argue for both the government and the public. There should be a sense of pride in broadcasters who culturally lift us out of proportion around the world.”

Holland, who has been at the helm of Banijay UK for almost a year, said the British broadcasting model “makes the world jealous”.

Contrary to popular belief, the former BBC Two controller argued that winning a deal with a PSB is just as difficult as with a streamer.

“Getting a commission from the BBC or Channel 4 is not a licence,” he said. “It is very difficult when you are short of money and you have to be innovative and distinctive, with high demands from the public.”