Dragonfly Sets Up Northern Office

Dragonfly, part of Banijay UK, has established a new hub in Manchester to produce a further 12 episodes of the BAFTA Award-winning observational documentary Ambulance.

The 12-episode commission will span across two new seasons. Season seven returns to BBC One this year, following crews at the North West Ambulance Service, which receives over 4,000 emergency calls a day and dispatches 400 ambulances, 40 rapid response vehicles and three air ambulances. The season was filmed earlier this year and will highlight the crucial work the ambulance service provided during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dragonfly is working with the BBC to find and develop the next generation of documentary talent and ideas from the region. In partnership, Dragonfly has recruited two trainee film editors for Ambulance season eight. The two ten-week training schemes will teach the craft of editing and storytelling, working alongside an experienced film editor, while cutting at postproduction houses in Manchester and central London.

Richard Bond, managing director of Dragonfly Film and TV, said: “I very much see this as a high-end obs doc unit in the north. There’s such an impressive pool of local talent, it’s the perfect base for Ambulance, and I’m hugely excited by the prospect of developing new stories and voices from the region.”

Beejal Patel, BBC commissioning editor, added: “Ambulance has a fantastic track record of bringing stories from across the U.K. to the screen and developing production talent. I’m delighted that it is returning for a further two seasons and I’m looking forward to working with the team at Dragonfly North to build on its success and use this as a real opportunity to support and grow talent and skills in the north of England.”