Rare TV Scores BBC Four Commission

Rare TV’s The River: A Year in the Life of the Tay has been ordered by BBC Four, marking the first commission for the recently formed independent production company under its new banner.

The 90-minute documentary follows Scotland’s longest river, the Tay, over the course of a year. Award-winning writer and naturalist Helen Macdonald (H is for Hawk) tells the story of the living creatures in the river, from the salmon to the microorganisms, as well as the people who work to preserve the Tay’s natural resources as it passes through Scotland. The doc features natural history, travelogue and cutting-edge science.

Formed by the merger of 360 Production and ScreenCut TV, Rare TV has had several BBC commissions in the past, including the recent Robb Leech-directed series Tagged for BBC Three and upcoming observational documentary series Mountain Vets for BBC Two.

The River: A Year in the Life of the Tay will be executive produced for Rare TV by creative director Rory Wheeler and Belinda Cherrington. It will be produced and directed by Nathan Budd (Yellowstone, Springwatch).

Wheeler said: “The coming together of Helen Macdonald and the Tay promises to deliver a truly spectacular documentary. Helen’s passion for wild places is infectious. The River has it all, from natural wonders to human endeavours. We’re proud and excited to be producing another landmark program for the BBC.”