Chalkboard TV Taps Former BBC Producer in Scotland Push

Chalkboard TV has appointed former BBC series producer Jon Willers as its first hire as part of the company’s continued expansion in Scotland.

In less than ten years, Willers (The One Show, Time Team) has produced a range of acclaimed science, history and arts titles for BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4 and National Geographic. Additional high-profile appointments are expected to be made in the coming months.

The expanded production base in Glasgow, Chalkboard Scotland, will seek to build on the success of two major Chalkboard productions—the documentary Life Behind Bars: Visiting Hour and the kids’ drama Logan High. Both titles have been produced out of Glasgow since 2016. Life Behind Bars was commissioned by Channel 4 in March 2017. Logan High, which debuted on CBBC earlier this year, marked Chalkboard’s first kids’ commission from the BBC.

Mike Benson, executive producer and director of Chalkboard, said, “The opportunities for funding in the U.K.’s nations and regions continue to grow, and we’re eager to be part of this new creative movement. We’ve had a production presence in Glasgow for two years now, and it feels like the right time to put down deeper roots. I’ve worked with Jon before and he’s one of the most exciting young series producers in the country. With this caliber of talent on board, I’m confident that we’ll continue to build on the successful slate of shows we’ve already produced in Scotland.”