Filming wraps on new short-form horror drama Loch nam Madadh/Wolf Bay from BBC Scotland and MG ALBA

Filming has wrapped on Loch nam Madadh/Wolf Bay, a new short-form horror drama co commissioned by BBC Scotland and BBC ALBA for BBC iPlayer and YouTube and developed and produced by Storyboard Studios.

The series will join BBC Scotland’s digital first slate, with BBC ALBA’s YouTube platform carrying the bite-sized instalments in full, building digital engagement with Gaelic content.

This adrenaline-filled, off-kilter drama blends dark humour, island identity and slow burn suspense in a uniquely Scottish story about homecomings — the kind you don’t always survive.

Written and created by Claire Aza-Selinger and Maureen MacLeod, the 6x10 drama follows Angus (Andrew MacInnes, An-t Eilean) who is reluctantly returning to North Uist for his grandfather’s funeral after a decade away. Hoping to slip back unnoticed, he instead finds himself trapped on a ferry with his ex girlfriend Màiri (Ellen Macdonald, Bannan) her fiancé Colin (Alasdair Jordan in his screen debut) and her formidable mother Margaret (Elspeth Turner, An-t Eilean).

When engines fail in the notorious waters of “Wolf Bay”, tensions rise, old grudges resurface, and crew begin to disappear. Forced to confront an inheritance he never wanted, Angus must fight for survival as the terror stalking the decks closes in.

Loch nam Madadh/Wolf Bay has been commissioned under the partnership between BBC Scotland and MG ALBA. The agreement seeks to boost new Gaelic talent and build on BBC Scotland’s established and successful digital-first short-form scripted strategy which has produced award-winning dramas such as Float and Dog Days.

Gavin Smith, commissioning editor, scripted at BBC Scotland said: “We are committed to providing pipelines for talent both in front of and behind the camera whilst at the same time creating content that engages audiences where they are watching. We’re delighted to add Wolf Bay to our expanding list of short-form drama — it marks a first for us leaning into the horror genre and is a quirky tale full of jump scare moments to thrill the audience.”

Bill Macleod, commissioning editor for BBC ALBA added: “Loch nam Madadh is a brilliant riff on the horror genre – fast, fun and frightening. Aimed full-square at a younger audience it’s distinctively Gaelic in terms of language and setting but will thrill and entertain anyone who loves a bit of bite to their drama!”

Natalie Humphreys, Executive Producer for Storyboard Studios, said: “From the outset, we wanted to make something that felt tonally fresh for the audience — leaning into genre while staying rooted in character, language and place- and it’s a real privilege to bring that to screen with such a brilliant cast and crew. This production has also been about creating meaningful opportunities for people, which is central to how we work as a company.”

Margaret Cameron, Director of Content at MG ALBA said: “MG ALBA is delighted to co-fund this exciting new Gaelic language drama series with BBC Scotland and Screen Scotland. It is aimed at the 18–24 audience demographic and will meet them where they are consuming content on BBC iPlayer and BBC ALBA YouTube.”

David Smith, Director of Screen Scotland said: “Building on the critical and popular success of An t-Eilean, which Screen Scotland funded alongside BBC ALBA and MG ALBA, Loch nam Madadh has the potential to replicate that reach and continue the welcome growth in Gaelic-language drama within the mainstream of our shared screen culture. It’s a horror series, in Gaelic, released on YouTube as well as the iPlayer, nobody can call this business as usual.”

Loch nam Madadh/Wolf Bay is a Storyboard Studios production. It is written and created by Claire Aza-Selinger and Maureen Macleod, both from the Western Isles, and directed by Alasdair MacLean. Natalie Humphreys is executive producer, Lauren Lamarr is consultant executive producer, with Misha McCullagh as producer, Pennie Davies as co-producer, Kevin Walker as production executive, Parker Dawes serving as shadow director and Kier Greatorex as editor. Bill Macleod is commissioning editor for MG ALBA and Gavin Smith is commissioning editor for BBC Scotland.

The series will debut on BBC iPlayer and the BBC ALBA YouTube channel, with a linear broadcast release scheduled later in the year. Details will be announced in due course.