2016 in Scottish television

This is a list of events in Scottish television from 2016.

Events

January

• No events.

February

• No events.

March

• 24 March – the first Scottish Parliament election leaders' debate featured Nicola Sturgeon, Patrick Harvie, Ruth Davidson, Kezia Dugdale, Willie Rennie, and David Coburn. ^[1] The live debate was hosted by BBC Scotland in Glasgow.
• 29 March – the second leaders' debate featured the five leaders of the parties which held seats in the last Parliament. ^[2] The live debate was hosted by STV.

April

• No events.

May

• 25 May – Jim McColl and the production team of Tern television for the 1000th episode of The Beechgrove Garden receive the 2016 Royal Television Society Scotland Awards. ^[3]

June to August

• No events.

September

• 21 September – STV announce that they will launch a new half-hourly programme covering domestic, UK and international news- to be rolled out early the following year, ahead of the BBC arriving at a decision about a Scottish Six programme. ^[4]

October

• No events.

November

• 6 November – Shetland won best TV drama and Douglas Henshall was named best TV actor at the BAFTA Scotland awards. ^[5]

December

• 7 December – Donalda MacKinnon appointed BBC Scotland's first female director. ^[6]
  • 14 December – Scotland 2016 is broadcast on BBC Two Scotland for the final time. ^[7]

Debuts

• 5 August – Highlands: Scotland's Wild Heart made for BBC Scotland by Maramedia, a Glasgow-based production company. ^[8]
• The River (2016) on BBC ^[9]

Ending this year

• 14 December – Scotland 2016 (2014)

Television series

• Reporting Scotland (1968–1983; 1984–present)
• Sportscene (1975–present) ^[10]
• Landward (1976–present)
• The Beechgrove Garden (1978–present)
• Eòrpa (1993–present)
• Only an Excuse? (1993–2020) ^[11]
• River City (2002–present)
• The Adventure Show (2005–present)
• An Là (2008–present)
• Trusadh (2008–present)
• STV Rugby (2009–2010; 2011–present)
• Gary: Tank Commander (2009–present)
• STV News at Six (2009–present)
• The Nightshift (2010–present)
• Scotland Tonight (2011–present)
• Shetland (2013–present)
• Scot Squad (2014–present)
• Still Game (2002–2007; 2016–2019) ^[12]
• Two Doors Down (2016–present)

Deaths

• 31 March – Ronnie Corbett, 85, comedian and writer ^[13]

See also

• 2016 in Scotland

References

1. Peterkin, Tom (24 March 2016). "Leaders' debate: Sturgeon confirms 50p tax rate still a possibility". The Scotsman. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
2. "Party leaders trade barbs in Holyrood election debate". BBC News. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
3. "Award for Beechgrove Garden star Jim McColl". BBC News. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
4. Carrell, Severin (21 September 2016). "STV aims to outflank BBC by launching news show before proposed Scottish Six". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
5. Ferguson, Brian (7 November 2016). "Scottish BAFTAs: Outlander and Sean Connery's son among big winners". The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
6. Miller, Phil (7 December 2016). "Donalda MacKinnon appointed new director of BBC Scotland". The Herald. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
7. Carrell, Severin (21 June 2016). "BBC to scrap flagship current affairs show Scotland 2016". The Guardian . Retrieved 5 July 2016.
8. Ferguson, Brian (29 February 2016). "Ewan McGregor to front new BBC TV series about the Highlands". The Scotsman. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
9. Spowart, Nan (7 November 2016). "Hopes for a tourism boost as BBC series The River puts spotlight on the Borders". The National . Retrieved 15 January 2017.
10. "Sportscene at 50: Famous faces back for anniversary". BBC Sport. 6 August 2025. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
11. "Hogmanay favourite Only an Excuse says cheerio. What did you think?". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
12. "Still Game comedy duo say Jack and Victor will not be back". BBC News. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
13. "Ronnie Corbett obituary". the Guardian. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2022.