ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ to spend Β£25m on programmes in North East England

Image caption, A view of Newcastle's famous bridges

The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ is to spend at least Β£25m over the next five years to fund network TV production and develop talent in the North East of England.

Plans include making a new factual series for ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Daytime, filming two series of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One's Ambulance in the region and recording a new comedy series there for ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4.

Newcastle will be the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s first City of Comedy and will host this year’s New Comedy Awards.

Director general Tim Davie said the measures were aimed at making the North East "a major centre for the creative industries".

"We want to see more ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ content coming from the North East and a ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ that’s much more active and visible in the region," he continued.

The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ has signed a "memorandum of understanding" with 12 local authorities and three combined authorities in which it pledges to invest in skills, talent and infrastructure.

The corporation has already pledged to base a ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Daytime TV commissioner permanently in the North East.