THE production company behind programmes such as Have I Got News for You is to open its first regional office in Manchester.
Hat-Trick, which was also behind Father Ted, intends to begin making a new wave of programmes under the title Hat Trick North.
A new comedy and an original drama are already in the final stages of develop ment.
Jimmy Mulville, managing director of Hat Trick, has said that he wants to see at least two entertainment formats as well as a comedy and a drama before the end of next year.
The arrival of the award-winning company is welcome relief to the region after reports that some of ITV's regional programming faces the axe next year, including popular shows such as Granada Reports.
Changes
The decision to scrap regional programming is due to drastic proposals by Ofcom who are in favour of more lucrative network programming.
Should these proposals go ahead, the first changes would take place next year with non-news regional programming being reduced from three to 1.5 hours a week.
But the new move for Hat Trick coincides with BBC proposals to take a significant number of service and production departments from London and home them in Manchester.
This could increase the number of independent production companies setting up in the area.
The BBC intends to increase spending on regional programmes by around 35 per cent to at least '1 billion a year.
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I think this move to de-regionalise local television stinks to high heaven. There should be more programmes reflecting the North West - not less. There used to be a remit for Granada to reflect the locality as part of the conditions of the franchise. What happened to that? Remember People and Places? Well this is a fantastic area with great people and great places. Let's celebrate that instead of trying to turn the country into one faceless amorphous mass. I look forward to seeing the productions of Hat Trick North though. Well done them.