Buccaneer Appoints New Creative Director

Buccaneer Scotland has tapped Neil Duncan as creative director.

Duncan joins Buccaneer from The Lighthouse, where he held the role of head of development since 2020, overseeing the company’s slate of projects.

Prior, Duncan held a similar role at BBC Studios Drama London. He began his career at the BBC as a script editor on EastEnders before moving on to story produce Fortitude, New Tricks, Strike Back and Ackley Bridge. As a series producer, his credits include Endeavour, Clique and Skins. Neil also spent over two years as head of development for BBC Scotland Drama.

Buccaneer was co-founded by Tony Wood, Richard Tulk-Hart and actor Dougray Scott, Buccaneer co-CEOs, with a commitment to showcasing Scottish literary, acting and behind-the-camera talent via its extensive worldwide partnerships.

Buccaneer is currently in development on an adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s The Blade Artist. The company has also announced a partnership with author Jenni Fagan that will see her adapting her novels The Panopticon and Luckenbooth for TV.

Duncan commented: “Buccaneer’s writer-led approach and commitment to telling bold, ambitious stories from Scotland feels like the perfect fit. I can’t wait to get started and am looking forward to building on Buccaneer’s existing reputation as a home for creative talent north of the border.”

Tulk-Hart, Wood and Scott said: “Having built a strong foundation for the company, we feel we are now in a great position to bring established and emerging Scottish talent to the market that will showcase a stream of ideas and content that feel fresh and exciting. The industry is going through a period of fundamental change, but it is our strong belief that strength of voice and originality will remain the cornerstone of keeping audiences entertained, wherever that voice originates from. At Buccaneer, we are here to amplify those voices and push boundaries.”