Scottish Gaelic Drama Bannan Reaches New International Audience

Bannan is a Gaelic-language television series produced by Young Films and first broadcast in 2014. The long-running Gaelic drama is broadcast by BBC Alba. BBC Alba is a Scottish Gaelic-language free-to-air television channel jointly owned by the BBC and MG Alba, which is the operating name of the Gaelic Media Service (Scottish Gaelic: Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig). The drama has English subtitles when aired on BBC Alba (the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland).

Bannan has already had its first eighteen episodes successfully launched in France, with subtitles in French. Where a further ten episodes have already been sold. Now the series has been picked up by the streaming service MHz Choice for broadcast in the USA and Canada from early March 2021. MHz Choice  has been described as one of the leading distributors of foreign-language entertainment in North America.

Bannan is a character driven drama set in a Scottish island community and shot on the Isle of Skye (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Eilean Sgitheanach). Although set in a rural community the series has tackled a number of challenging and thought-provoking storylines including child grooming, terminal illness and murder.  Chris Young, founder of Skye-based Young Films and producer of Bannan, said: “Once again we see the power of our Gaelic drama to touch people thousands of miles away with different languages and culture from our own.

“Audiences in the USA, Canada and France can connect with characters like Màiri and Ceitidh and their emotional journeys.

“Whether subtitled in English or French or dubbed in Breton these stories resonate as strongly abroad as they do at home.

“And with a new American audience we are confident that Bannan will travel further around the world and reach an even wider viewership.”

Margaret Mary Murray, BBC ALBA’s Head of Service, said: “Bannan is a hit with viewers in Scotland and it’s exciting that we are able to share that success with international audiences and that they too can enjoy our language and rich culture of storytelling.”

Susan Strand of MHz said:” This is a gripping, evocative drama, a door into the Scottish Gaelic culture.”

Image: Lucas played by Iain MacSween in Bannan