Britain is Netflix’s TV superpower with three of streaming giant’s biggest shows filmed in UK

Britain is the TV powerhouse at Netflix — as the streaming platform’s three biggest shows this year were all filmed in the UK.

Netflix bosses are urging the new government to continue backing the TV industry, which has benefited heavily from tax credits, allowing more shows and jobs to be made here.

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Top Netflix exec Anna Mallett said: “Britain is a cultural superpower and a global hub for film and TV production — but we can’t afford to be complacent.

“With other countries snapping at our heels, intent on recreating what we do so well, we call on government to ensure we keep our competitive edge.”

TV executives have put forward Hungary as an increasingly attractive alternative to the UK as it offers a 30 per cent rebate. However, the UK remains highly popular as cast and crew prefer staying and filming in Britain.

Since 2020, Netflix has spent nearly £6billion on shows filmed in the UK, with another £1.1billion in the next year geared to homegrown content.

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And it has enjoyed some spectacular successes.

The third series of Bridgerton, filmed near Bath, has clocked up 105million views this year. Fool Me Once, with Michelle Keegan, racked up 98.2million while Baby Reindeer, created by Richard Gadd, has 88.4million.

More than 35 titles filmed in the UK, including One Day and Supacell, have all featured in Netflix’s global “top ten” views at some point this year, it said.

Netflix recently revealed that Bridgerton had contributed £275million to the UK economy in the last five years across its supply chain. It has also encouraged an influx of international visitors to the stately Regency piles featured.

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Ones to watch

On her own fave show, Anna said: “Kaos. But I’m excited for Black Doves, starring Keira Knightley, Sarah Lancashire, and Ben Whishaw, which is coming soon, and The Thursday Murder Club, which just started production.”

Creatives job drive

Netflix has teamed up with the National Youth Theatre to help working-class young people join the TV industry and bridge what they call a “class chasm.”

Research shows 89 per cent of working-class parents want their kid to swerve a creative career for more job security and higher wages. Yet in 2021 the average salary for a creative was £35,000, a third higher than the UK average.

National Youth Theatre boss Paul Roseby said the Ignite Your Creativity scheme will “redress the imbalance of access.”

Open doors for working class

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• By Anna Mallett, vice-president of Netflix production (UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa)

Film, TV, and radio have become an exclusive club for the privately educated and well-connected. Just 8 per cent of people in the creative industries are working class.

Here’s the kicker; from Banksy to Oasis, Corrie to Peaky Blinders, our nation’s creative identity is deeply rooted in working-class culture.

Why are they shut out? Research suggests it starts at home. Almost 90 per cent of working-class parents want their children to choose a career in law, finance, or tech, citing stability and good pay.

We must prove creative careers are a good option with a great range of fantastic jobs available.

Netflix and the National Youth Theatre’s Ignite Your Creativity programme will offer free workshops, visits to sets, and work experience to young people.

It’s time the doors of the creative industries were thrown open.

Uptick’s on time

Britain’s biggest seller of Rolexes believes the worst is over for the luxury market as demand for expensive watches is now outstripping supply.

Watches of Switzerland said the UK market had faced some “challenging” conditions but has since stabilised.

The company, which has 221 showrooms globally, confirmed it was on track for sales to grow by 12 per cent to £1.73billion this year.

Rolex does not let retailers sell its watches online, but Watches of Switzerland has £7,500 Omega watches for sale via its website.

Cathay’s jets woe

Cathay Pacific has grounded 40 flights after finding issues with its engines.

The carrier, which flies from Heathrow to Hong Kong, found a problem with the Rolls-Royce engines on its Airbus 350 jets.

It said 15 planes need parts changed after one had to dump fuel and make an emergency landing on Monday. Full service is expected by Saturday.

Rolls-Royce shares rose yesterday after diving on Monday. Investors were encouraged the problems are not as grave as those of Boeing, which had a door blow off a jet midflight in January.

Flat out at Lewis

John Lewis has revealed plans to turn one of its former warehouses into 215 rental homes.

The employee-owned retailer said it will spend £80million turning the distribution site in Reading into flats.

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The move comes a month after the firm secured planning permission to build 353 flats above a Waitrose in Bromley, south London.

Dame Sharon White, the outgoing chairman of John Lewis, had spearheaded its move into housing as part of her plan to generate profits outside of retail.