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Acclaimed period drama Wolf Hall faced a near-cancellation of its second series due to budget pressures according to director Peter Kosminsky. The British TV industry is grappling with a financial crisis, leading to drastic cost-cutting measures. Kosminsky revealed that costly exterior scenes were axed from Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light, resulting in a shift to more interior-based dialogue-driven scenes for the Tudor drama aired by the BBC.
Kosminsky emphasizes that public service broadcasters like the BBC and ITV are struggling to finance high-end British drama productions. He is advocating for a 5% levy on UK subscription streaming revenues to create a British cultural fund. The enforced cuts for Wolf Hall included sacrifices such as an “extraordinary” joust scene, leading to a significant transformation in the original concept of the program.
The escalating costs of TV production, exacerbated by the impact of Covid and industry strikes, are making it challenging for traditional broadcasters to compete with streaming platforms. The prevalence of international funding for such shows has declined, leaving creators and producers in a tight financial spot. The debate around implementing a streaming levy in the UK to support domestic content creation continues to gain momentum.
Former subpostmaster Sir Alan Bates expressed disappointment at the prospect of these crucial dramas no longer being feasible to produce. This sentiment is echoed by industry professionals who fear losing the ability to tell impactful stories due to financial constraints. As the UK TV landscape undergoes significant shifts, stakeholders are exploring various solutions to sustain the production of high-quality British content amidst increasing financial challenges
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