The production team behind the historic-fantasy television series Outlander is set to receive a special Bafta Scotland award for Outstanding Contribution to Television. The award recognizes the show's significant impact on Scotland's screen industry and its role in providing opportunities for local talent.
Among those being honored are stars Sam Heughan, who portrayed Jamie Fraser, and Catriona Balfe, who played Claire Fraser. Executive producers Ronald D. Moore, credited with adapting Diana Gabaldon's novels for television, and showrunner Matthew B. Roberts will also receive the award. Roberts expressed a sense of belonging in Scotland, stating, "Thirteen years on and I don't feel like a visitor when I step off the plane; I feel like I'm home."
Throughout its eight seasons, Outlander, which concluded this past summer after a 12-year run, created over 170 trainee roles through a dedicated initiative. Scotland's tourist agency has also noted the "Outlander effect," attributing a boost in the country's global image and a rise in tourism to the show's depiction of its landscapes.
A sequel series, "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," which explores the lives of Jamie and Claire Fraser's parents, premiered in September. The full Bafta Scotland ceremony is scheduled to take place in Glasgow on November 15. Other productions recognized at the upcoming awards include the biographical film "I Swear," with seven nominations, and the crime thriller "Dept. Q," with three nominations.