EXCLUSIVE: The creator of Nordic drama Trom, who helped pave the way for the game-changing Faroe Islands tax credit, has proposed an “independent premium tier” UK credit that would “better reflect how great TV is actually made in 2025.”
Speaking to Deadline, Torfinnur Jákupsson joined the chorus of voices calling for an improved UK tax credit amid the scripted funding crisis. He set out plans for a rebate that would support shows made for between £750,000 ($1M) and £950,000 per hour that “meet rigorous editorial, cultural, and sustainability criteria.”
The move would “support scripted drama that is culturally ambitious, internationally co-produced, and sustainably made,” according to Jákupsson, while “better reflecting how great TV is actually made in 2025.”
At present, shows that cost more than £1M per hour are handed a circa-25% rebate in the UK if they meet a cultural test, but Jákupsson believes the credit system needs to evolve to suit today’s market.
“The current threshold, set over a decade ago, blocks access for smart scripted drama that is independently produced, regionally based, and sustainably made under £1M per hour,” he said. “These shows are often critically and commercially successful yet can’t qualify for support.”
Amid a scripted funding crisis and with Americans rowing back on co-productions, drama has become harder and harder to get off the ground even as the popularity of British shows like Adolescence soars.
Dozens of UK scripted producers have banded together to push for an improved tax credit system and the Culture, Media & Sport Committee recently urged the BFI to “conduct analysis on the potential design and return on investment of a targeted uplift” to the tax credit. BBC comedy boss Jon Petrie has in the past called for a comedy credit to help cheaper comedy shows.
Jákupsson’s proposal addresses potential concerns that lowering the threshold might inflate costs as streamers take advantage of the credit. “Rather than a free-for-all, it’s a smarter framework,” he added. “Tight criteria will protect the integrity and the intent. We’re just asking for smarter access. If we want culturally ambitious drama to thrive beyond the streamer system, we need a model that rewards quality and value, which doesn’t always require a higher spend.”
In today’s TV drama climate, he is in particular pushing for better funding for international co-pros. Jákupsson created Trom, a Faroese crime procedural that was picked up by networks across Europe including the BBC, while his GRÓ Studios recently opened a UK label. He was heavily involved with the Faroese rebate, which has seen huge projects like No Time to Die and Disney+’s Peter Pan & Wendy film on the island.
Jákupsson’s statement came in time for this week’s SXSW London and as the BFI and scripted producers continue debating the shape of an improved credit. He says he is open to discussing with policymakers and will be spreading the word about the “independent premium tier.”
The post ‘Trom’ Creator Proposes “Independent Premium Tier” UK Tax Credit That Would Support Shows Made For Less Than £1M Per Hour appeared first on Deadline.
