Commissions
Greenlit: The Last Miners, BBC1
Once known as “The Big K”, Kellingley Colliery began production in 1965 and was the largest coalmine in Europe. At its peak it employed more than 2,300 miners but in 2013 its owners UK Coal went into administration. A £4million government loan could only prolong the pit’s life for another two years and the miners faced the almost impossible task of hitting their target and getting the best possible redundancy deal.
The BBC documentary crew followed the 450 workers – some of whom only ever knew life in the pit – as they faced new careers in industries completely unknown to them. As we discover their hidden world, we ask: what will become of the men who spent their days in the dark to keep our lights on?
Throughout their mining careers, they’ve gone through strikes, pit closures and a shrinking workforce, but these last five weeks are the most important weeks of their career. They can’t afford to make any mistakes and a mechanical problem means the loss of 6,000 tonnes of coal, resulting in a loss of £350,000-£400,000 revenue.
This candid documentary follows them on their last commute to work, dropping over 800 metres below ground before taking a paddy train for four miles to the coalface. As temperatures rise to 33 degrees, it’s a hostile and dangerous environment to work in, but their black humour is never far from the surface.
Will they achieve their ambitious target, and will this historic moment change their lives for better or worse? As they enter their last ever shift with a smile on their faces, it becomes evident that this closure doesn’t mean the end of their friendship.
Platform: BBC1
Producer: Keo Films
TX: 21st November 2016
Source: BBC press release
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