MasterChef to move to Birmingham in boost for Digbeth

The BBC's MasterChef is moving to Birmingham, in a move the city council says will give a major boost to plans to regenerate Digbeth.

The announcement on 18 February is part of the BBC's plans to move more of its programme-making out of London and into the rest of the country.

"One of the leading creative quarters"

Paul Kitson, the council's strategic director for place, prosperity and sustainability, said the move fitted with work already under way through the council's Our Future City Plan.

"Digbeth is a fantastic part of our great city, boldly showcasing everything great about our past, present and future - it really is one of the leading creative quarters, not just in the UK, but internationally," he said.

"We have the skills, the talent and are developing the infrastructure to enable this to happen - and the MasterChef relocation is an endorsement of everything that partners in the city are doing."

He said the announcement had been made possible by partners including the regional combined authority and Homes England working together, and that there was "a growing confidence there will be plenty more to come".

A city of food

The move plays to one of Birmingham's strengths. The city is home to five Michelin-starred restaurants, a thriving street food scene, the famous Balti Triangle and a host of well-regarded independent restaurants, and its food sector is playing an increasingly important part in the local economy.

"Although we have the creative and culinary talent here that makes the MasterChef move a perfect partnership for Birmingham and the BBC, there is much we can gain in the future," Mr Kitson said.

"We want to use projects like this to develop home-grown talent and skills, so the relocation of this show actually becomes a real investment by the BBC in this city. There will also be positives for the supply chain, and this will open doors for local innovation and entrepreneurism."

Digbeth on the rise

Digbeth, once the industrial heart of Birmingham, has become known as the city's creative quarter, home to the Custard Factory, music venues, independent businesses and some of the country's most striking street art. The area is also close to the new HS2 station at Curzon Street, and a Metro tram extension to Digbeth is under construction.

Work is also under way to transform Digbeth High Street, with wider pavements, trees and seating, funded by £15 million from the Local Enterprise Partnership.

The BBC in Birmingham

The BBC has a long history in Birmingham, where it has been based at the Mailbox in the city centre for many years. Last year, the corporation announced plans to move more programmes and staff to the city as part of its commitment to spend more of its licence fee money outside London.

Programmes such as Peaky Blinders, set in the city, have already helped put Birmingham on the map for audiences around the world. Bringing one of the BBC's best-known programmes to Digbeth could help establish the area as a centre for television production and create opportunities for local people to work in the industry.