Broadcast Engineering for Inclusion. Innovating Television Production
- Catherine O'Halloran
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Hold My Hand is the first television dating show produced entirely in British Sign Language. High Viz Media worked with production company Gold Wala to design an accessible broadcast workflow, combining PTZ camera systems, integrated interpreters and adapted gallery communications to support both Deaf and hearing crew.
We wanted to spend some time delving into the making of ground breaking show Hold My Hand, which was released last month, and to share some of the collaborative innovations it took to deliver the first ever dating show made entirely in BSL.
For production company Gold Wala, it was vital that accessibility was the core of delivery. Founder, Faraz Osman says "This project is genuinely ground breaking. Not because it’s 'worthy', but because it’s bold, entertaining, emotionally honest and unapologetically accessible."
Understanding this, the High Viz Media team were motivated to co-design an approach which enabled the cast and crew to be at their best, rather than restricting them with rigid workflows. We worked together on solutions for how to seamlessly blend a hearing and Deaf crew together and limit language barriers, from designing the set, choosing locations and gallery functionality as well as full consultation on camera positioning and allocation.
Behind the Scenes of the First BSL Dating Production
For a BSL-led television production, clear solo shots of signing and gestures were essential: cropped hands are simply not an option. High Viz Media Group collaborated on the custom design and build of a circular table that discreetly housed eight Panasonic UE70 PTZ cameras, fully embedded into the set. Each chair position was securely marked to ensure consistent framing even when seating plans changed.
Our team engineered:
15 mixed PTZs with custom mounting solutions
A bespoke loom
Ultrix routing for clean signal management
17 record paths (programme main & backup)
10 radio mic channels
A TX mix for the edit house
The result was clean, uninterrupted signing coverage without disrupting contributors who needed to focus on the task ahead (getting a date!).
Rethinking the Production Gallery
The standard for Deaf and HOH productions is that the gallery and gallery crew are in the same room as the main action and contributors. This is not common practice outside the Deaf and HOH production community, as it’s easier for the production to achieve set focus, audio isolation and lighting control when you separate the main action and gallery. This separation also reduces the chance of accidentally capturing the gallery team asking a runner for a cup of builders tea, during the record...
However, Deaf and HOH productions need the gallery and action in the same room so that the director can communicate visually with the floor manager and talent. This is understandably the top priority.
In this context, High Viz and Gold Wala developed a workflow that allowed the gallery/MCR to operate from a separate space without compromising accessibility or clarity. This included integrating a lead interpreter into the production comms structure, simplifying talkback channels and providing visual programme monitoring and cue systems. The result was that we had all the benefits of full operational separation, with no Audio or Visual compromise.
The news coverage the programme has received across the BBC, Guardian and Radio Times is testament to Gold Wala’s vision of producing the world’s first BSL dating show. The real hope is that this type of production becomes the norm. As Faraz says: '"A dating show led by Deaf contributors, using BSL as its primary language, without compromise. That shouldn’t feel radical. In TV, it still is..."
BSL television production refers to broadcast content designed around British Sign Language as the primary language of communication, requiring specific camera framing, accessible workflows and production environments that support Deaf and hearing crews working together.
What is the first BSL dating show?
Hold My Hand is the first television dating show created entirely in British Sign Language (BSL), designed to centre Deaf culture and accessible storytelling.
How do you film British Sign Language for television?
Filming BSL requires clear framing of hands, gestures and facial expressions. Productions often use PTZ cameras and carefully positioned angles to ensure signing remains fully visible.
How can television production be accessible for Deaf crews?
Accessible workflows include integrated interpreters, visual cue systems, adapted communications channels and production layouts that allow both Deaf and hearing crew members to collaborate effectively.
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