Outlander to be honoured with outstanding contribution award at Scottish Baftas

The Outlander series is set to be honoured with an outstanding contribution to television award at an upcoming Scottish Bafta awards ceremony.

Bafta Scotland revealed the recipients for this year’s special awards on Monday morning.

The outstanding contribution to television award will be presented to four individuals who have been instrumental in Outlander’s impact, including Sam Heughan, who starred in the series and served as an executive producer.

The renowned series, based on the Diana Gabaldon novels of the same name, concluded earlier this year after 12 years and eight seasons.

Outlander premiered in 2014, captivating millions of viewers worldwide with its time-travelling story and the enduring romance between Jamie and Claire Fraser.

According to research by VisitScotland, the series has become one of the most significant drivers of screen tourism, encouraging visitors to explore historic sites, castles, villages and landscapes across the country.

The awards body said Outlander has also had an “undeniable” impact on Scotland’s screen industry, providing opportunities for local talent to develop and flourish.

The Outlander Training Programme, established before Outlander’s first series, has supported more than 170 new entrants through intensive on-the-job training alongside some of the industry’s most experienced technicians.

Matthew B Roberts, who served as showrunner and executive producer, is one of four people on the Outlander team to be honoured by the outstanding contribution to television award on November 15.

“When we first landed in Scotland, we were outsiders – sassenachs – strangers in a strange land telling a very Scottish story,” Mr Roberts said.

“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. That welcome is the real heart of Outlander and Blood of My Blood And it never ended.”

He continued: “Thirteen years on and I don’t feel like a visitor when I step off the plane; I feel like I’m home.”

Bafta Scotland also revealed that the outstanding contribution to craft award, in memory of Robert McCann, will be presented to Lloret MacKenna Dunm, a supervising location manager in Scotland’s film and TV industry.

Ms Dunm has been bringing Scottish locations to the screen for over 30 years, and her work includes the upcoming Sky series Meantime, The Great Beyond, Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein, The Lost King, T2: Trainspotting, Doctor Finlay and much-loved Scottish comedies Only An Excuse? and Rab C Nesbitt.

The Bafta Scotland Awards 2026 will take place on Sunday November 15 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Glasgow Central, in a ceremony hosted by Edith Bowman.