640 Projects Supported by U.K. Restart Production Scheme

In the last 12 months, the U.K.’s Film and TV Production Restart Scheme has helped 640 projects.

The scheme was unveiled last July to help U.K. companies resume production, delivering £500 million in assistance to film and TV projects that were ready to start or restart but unable to secure insurance against potential coronavirus-related delays and interruptions.

The 600-plus projects have a total budget spend of £1.9 billion and provide more than 55,000 jobs. Among the projects to have benefited from the scheme are Midsomer Murders, Peaky Blinders and Gentleman Jack.

Oliver Dowden, culture secretary, commented, “I’ve seen firsthand how this scheme has been a lifeline during this pandemic, keeping the cameras rolling on TV and film sets across the country, and supporting tens of thousands of jobs in the process—from actors, make-up artists and technicians all the way to catering companies and transport firms. Thanks to this scheme, our screen industry is raring to go—and British-made productions will be at the heart of our recovery.”

“Our world-leading film and TV industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs,” said Rishi Sunak, chancellor of the Exchequer. “That’s why it was so important we helped it to get up and running again as part of our Plan for Jobs. It’s great that one year on since its launch the Restart Scheme has given so many productions the confidence to keep shooting, supporting jobs across the U.K. and producing the film and TV we all love.”