NEW EPISODES of a popular Gaelic-speaking series are to be filmed in August, it has been announced.

Bannan, which is filmed on the Isle of Skye, is one of the most watched programmes on BBC ALBA, and has had 18 episodes screened to date.

The show's creators said the further five episodes which have been commissioned will give a significant boost to the creative industries in Scotland.

The announcement was made at the Edinburgh Film Festival at a preview screening of the latest series, which is funded by MG ALBA, the Gaelic Media Service.

Bannan producer Chris Young, who also produced TV series The Inbetweeners, made the announcement, saying "With these new episodes Bannan will be heading in an exciting new direction. Shooting starts in August so watch this space."

MG ALBA also said its vision was to continue to "build on the success of the channel" as it works in partnership with the BBC to deliver BBC ALBA.

With the launch of its annual report, chairperson Maggie Cunningham said: "We’re delighted the channel enjoys very high levels of awareness in Scotland, offering both Gaelic speakers and non-Gaelic speakers unique programmes of interest and value.

"We continue to work on increasing our already significant impact on the independent production sector in Scotland, as we increase our expenditure on the sector and help create a culture of ambition and aspiration in our creative community and nowhere is this most evident than in our commitment to Bannan."

However she also called for further investment to developing the channel, adding that it needed "a greater number of original programmes and a wider variety of content" to progress.