BBC is accused of 'breathtaking arrogance' in a new Traitors row as broadcaster blasted for 'importing crews from London' and 'ignoring local talent' in a 'breach of Ofcom rules'
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The BBC has been thrown into a new storm over hit TV show the Traitors after critics accused the corporation of 'breathtaking arrogance' by ignoring local talent while filming the show. The reality show, which has pulled in 10 million viewers a night, is filmed at Ardross Castle, about 30 minutes north of Iverness in the Scottish Highlands.
While the show is officially part of BBC Scotland, dozens of Scottish TV professionals have hit out at the national broadcaster for bringing in staff from London to work on the show which brings 'little benefit' north of the border. Under Ofcom rules, public service broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5) must hit a quota for the number of shows made outside of London.
The corporation has now come under scrutiny 'faking numbers', by misreporting how many Scots are working on the show's first season. The row began following the first season of the Traitors in 2022, when Studio Lambert - the production company that makes the show for the BBC - reported that half the off-screen talent working on the show were Scottish.
Those working in the TV industry in Scotland contacted Ofcom over what they believed to be a discrepancy, which the regulator upheld. 'Following spot checks, two BBC titles and one Channel 5 title were found to have contained reporting errors,' Ofcom told Deadline.