News Story

New OU/BBC Series: Gold Town

Monday 1 Mar 2021

Dr Julie Robson from EEES has been working alongside colleagues from FASS as an academic consultant on a new OU/BBC series called Gold Town. Starting on Sunday 7 March (21.00), this series will be on BBC Scotland (a digital channel).

Buried deep in the spectacular landscape of Scotland’s highlands, there’s gold! This 3-part series follows the fortunes of a band of miners, many of whom are new to the job, as they attempt to get it out. If the mining company can make it work, this will be Scotland’s very first commercial gold mine.

Filmed in the Scottish Highlands over a year and a half, the series follows the constant challenges at the mine, and life in the local community, a busy tourist hub that up until now relies mainly on tourism.

Episode 1: A mining company are attempting to establish Scotland’s first gold mine. It could bring valuable employment to the local community, but the conditions are challenging

Episode 2: Winter creates more problems at the mine. An accident rocks the team. Over 24 million pounds in the red, the whole project is at risk.

Episode 3: The pandemic hits the UK, and all mining stops. Local businesses take a terrible hit, but the price of hold is on the up. By the end of the year many fortunes hang in the balance.