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BBC Scotland Boss: Tough Calls Defined My Year
5 Dec
Summary
- Valentine axed the long-running soap River City, ending in 2026.
- She secured exclusive rights for Scotland's memorable World Cup qualifier.
- Valentine embraces audience feedback, even criticism, for BBC Scotland.
Hayley Valentine, Director of BBC Scotland, has navigated a year of significant broadcasting decisions. Among the most notable was the decision to end the long-running Glasgow-based soap River City in 2026, a move driven by changing audience preferences and budget reallocation. Valentine also successfully secured exclusive rights for Scotland's pivotal World Cup qualifier, a highly celebrated broadcast moment.
Her tenure has also seen the 'refreshing' of the national radio news program Good Morning Scotland and strategic programming changes, including the cancellation of "The Shereen" show. Valentine views these actions not as personal projects but as responses to audience needs, citing data that indicates shifts in viewing habits and content consumption.
Valentine embraces feedback, acknowledging that not all decisions are popular but maintains they are guided by a pragmatic assessment of audience desires. She sees her role as ensuring BBC Scotland remains relevant and in tune with modern Scotland, rather than solely targeting younger demographics, and believes in the organization's ability to maintain impartiality.
