Man killed at film studios during filming of Dept Q - four years after fatality at same site

The Rig brought a huge TV production to Edinburgh's FirstStage Studios | Courtesy of FirstStage Studios

placeholder image — The Rig brought a huge TV production to Edinburgh's FirstStage Studios | Courtesy of FirstStage Studios

The fatality is the second to occur at the studios in four years

A man has been killed in an incident at an Edinburgh studio during the filming of Netflix Dept Q - four years after a separate fatality of a worker occurred at the same site.

The incident is understood to have taken place during the dismantling of the set for the crime show, which has filmed its second series in Scotland over the past four months.

Police Scotland said the fatality occurred on Thursday afternoon at FirstStage Studios in the Leith area of Edinburgh.

Emergency services were called to a report of a man who had been seriously injured, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The main filming of Dept Q finished around two weeks ago, however, staff are believed to have been working on de-rigging and removing the set when the incident took place. The series is produced by Left Bank Pictures.

In July 2022, Philip Ross, 30, is believed to have died in an accident involving a hydraulic lift at the studios while working on a production of The Outrun.

Mr Ross’ death is currently the subject of a Fatal Accident Inquiry.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3pm on Thursday, 12 November, 2026, we were called to a report of a man seriously injured at an industrial premises in the Bath Road area of Edinburgh.

“Emergency services attended, however, the man was pronounced dead a short time later.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious, however enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

It is not known what production was being filmed at the studios at the time of the incident. The studios, which was set up in 2018 on a 8.9 acres site and has 115,000sq ft of stage space, has previously been the site for filming of shows including Dept Q and The Rig.

FirstStage, headed by chief executive Bob Last, who co-owns the company with Jason Connery, son of Sir Sean Connery, has not yet responded to requests for comment. Netflix and Left Bank Pictures have also not responded to requests for comment.

Following Mr Ross’ death in 2022, a spokesperson for FirstStage said: "FirstStage Studios was devastated to learn of the tragic death of a contractor working for one of our production customers. We understand an investigation is under way so cannot comment further save to offer our condolences to the contractor's family and colleagues."