Man dies at Scottish studios during filming of Dept Q - four years after fatality at same site

The incident is understood to have taken place during the dismantling of the set for the popular 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 production company behind the series said it was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the man’s death.

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.

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.”

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.

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. Built in 2000 for engineering firm VA Tech, the building closed in 2004 and later used by wave power firm Pelamis before that company collapsed in 2014. In 2017, the then-empty warehouse was temporarily used as a film studio to support production for Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War. Screen Scotland invested £1 million into the conversion of the facility into a permanent studios in 2020.

Dept Q, which is produced by Left Bank Pictures, is set in Edinburgh. Filming for series two has taken place at locations around the city, as well as in Aberdeen and in FirstStage Studios.

A spokesperson for Left Bank Pictures said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of a member of our Dept Q crew. Our thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time, and we are offering support for those affected.”

A Health and Safety Executive spokesperson said: “We are aware of the incident and currently liaising with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Scotland regarding the incident.”

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 has also not responded to a request 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."