With 91% of deaf audiences preferring BSL-led content, this panel explores how placing sign language at the heart of storytelling can reshape mainstream programming.
Star of Code of Silence (ITVX) and award-winning documentary maker Rose Ayling-Ellis leads a panel of deaf and hearing factual filmmakers, supported by LumoTV, to explore how deaf stories can take centre stage in mainstream programming and resonate with a wide audience.
Recent successes like Code of Silence, Reunion and documentary series Old Hands, New Tricks (BBC iPlayer) highlight the growing appetite for programmes with deaf characters and British Sign Language (BSL) at their heart, offering both creative distinction and clear commercial potential. With new UK research showing 91% of deaf audiences prefer content created in BSL, rather than translated afterwards, the panel will explore how collaboration between deaf and hearing creatives can unlock fresh perspectives, grow audiences and elevate storytelling on and off screen for both deaf and hearing viewers.
Speakers:
Rose Ayling-Ellis (Award-winning Actor, Producer & Activist including Reunion, Code of Silence, Signs for Change & Old Hands, New Tricks)
Faraz Osman (MD Gold Wala & Executive Producer of first ever BSL dating show Hold My Hand & documentary series Deaf Jams, about the immersive world of music through the experiences of Deaf characters)
Rosa Rogers (Redbird Productions, award-winning documentary Director working with deaf-led teams and stories including Deaf Behind Bars, Becoming Jazzy Whipps & The Greatest Show on Earth)
Julian Peedle-Calloo (Actor, BBC Reunion & New Tricks, Writer, Confession & Battle Lines, Presenter, BBC See Hear, and Factual Commissioner for LumoTV, Hold My Hand & Sign2Win)
Moderator:
Camilla Arnold (LumoTV CEO & award-winning Series Producer of Old Hands, New Tricks, School of Life & Deaf and See Hear)
This event will have British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation and live captions.
Supported by LumoTV
Age rating: 16+
