Outlander celebrated with special Bafta Scotland award

The team behind the historic-fantasy TV series Outlander are to be honoured by Bafta Scotland for their contributions to the industry.

Sam Heughan, who played Jacobite soldier Jamie Fraser, is one of four members of the show's production team who will get the Outstanding Contribution to Television award at a ceremony later this month.

Outlander ended in the summer after a 12-year run spanning eight seasons.

The awards body said Outlander has had an "undeniable" impact on Scotland's screen industry while also providing opportunities for local talent.

Throughout the show's run, more than 170 trainee roles were created through an initiative led by the production team.

Scotland's tourist agency has also heralded the impact of the "Outlander effect" for boosting the country's image on the world stage, with thousands of visitors now saying they have come to Scotland to see the landscapes seen in TV and film productions.

Alongside Heughan and his co-star Catriona Balfe, who played his time-travelling love interest, two other executive producers will be given the special Bafta award.

Ronald D. Moore will receive it for his role in adapting the story from Diana Gabaldon's original novels into the TV format.

He said: "It has been a tremendous pleasure to work with our Scottish crew, to utilise the Scottish locations and to learn more about Scottish culture and history.

"It's been a huge joy for all of us on the production."

American showrunner Matthew B. Roberts added: "When we first landed in Scotland, we were outsiders – Sassenachs – strangers in a strange land telling a very Scottish story.

"What we found was a country that opened its doors and a crew that opened their hearts.

"They welcomed us, guided us when we needed it, and made us feel like we belonged.

"Thirteen years on and I don't feel like a visitor when I step off the plane; I feel like I'm home."

While Outlander concluded earlier this year, a sequel premiered in 2025 and continues to attract fans to visit Scotland.

Blood of My Blood follows the lives of the Jamie and Claire Fraser's parents with a second season having premiered in September.

The full Bafta Scotland ceremony will be held in Glasgow on November 15.

I Swear, the biographical film about John Davidson's life growing up with Tourette syndrome, has received seven nominations for awards, while Edinburgh-based crime thriller Dept. Q has been nominated in three categories.