ITV

Rob Lowe to star in new ITV drama Wild Bill

(Credit: Sky)

Wild Bill centres around US cop Bill Hixon (Rob Lowe) who transfers to Boston, Lincolnshire, with his 14-year-old daughter Kelsey, in the hopes of escaping a recent tragedy.

Impressively qualified, Hixon is promoted to Chief Constable of the East Lincolnshire Police Force but is taken aback by the unimpressed Boston community who share similar attitudes to his own.

Hixon adapts to his new environment as he reconsiders his relationships with those he holds dear.

ITV factual controller talks pitching and "Netflix quality" productions

(Credit: Justin Yockney)

The ITV factual controller was in discussion with Stephen McQuillan, head of factual at Bristol indie Icon Films, at an RTS West of England event in September.

Her message to producers in the room was clear – it’s the 9pm slot that is important given there are few pre-watershed slots available. Clinton-Davis said: “I’m looking for very direct, simple propositions, which will appeal to a broad audience.”

ITV commissions fourth series of Unforgotten

(Credit: ITV/Mainstreet Pictures)

The commission builds on the success of the critically-acclaimed third season, which peaked with 6.9 million viewers.

ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill, praised creator Chris Lang for his powerful and compelling writing. “We have been delighted with the reception of the first three series of Unforgotten and are thrilled to commission a fourth instalment. Chris Lang’s writing is incredibly powerful and his storytelling utterly compelling, so we have no doubt that the new case will have viewers gripped again.”

It’s a Full English for ITV

(Credit: kstuttard/Pixabay)

Led by Harry Redknapp, a renowned manager who has led the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers to victory, the team consists of a who’s who of 1980s and 1990s footballing heroes. All a little over the hill, the goal is to get back in shape and on the pitch once more.

The team of eleven includes: John Barnes, David Seaman, Robbie Fowler, Mark Wright, Matthew Le Tissier, Chris Waddle, Rob Lee, Ray Parlour, Lee Sharpe,Mark Chamberlain, Paul Merson, and Razor Ruddock. They’ll be trying to prove that it’s never too late to get fit.

ITV announces Torvill and Dean biopic

(Credit: Pixabay)

The film has been written by prominent writer of film, television and theatre William Ivory (Made in Dagenham, Burton and Taylor), and will be directed by Gillies MacKinnon (Hideous Kinky, Small Faces)

Dramatising the story of Jayne Torvill and Chris Dean’s partnership, it will feature a host of British acting talent.

The story follows the pair’s motivations for taking to the ice, as Torvill found confidence in her dancing, and Dean channelled his anger from his parents’ separation into skating.

Major broadcasters take TV production to the regions, finds new Ofcom report

The results from the register show that the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 all met their value and volume-based regional production quotes in 2017. 

To be considered a regional production, Ofcom requires that productions to either be based outside of the M25, spend at least 70% of their budget outside the M25, or ensure that at least 50% of the production talent come from outside of London.

STV's new Chief Executive Simon Pitts unveils new growth plan

STV CEO Simon Pitts (Credit: STV)

STV’s new drama The Victim, a legal thriller set in Scotland and made for BBC One, is told through the eyes of both plaintiff and accused. All stories have two sides to them. The narrative concerning the changes going on in Scottish broadcasting is no different.

Glasgow-based STV has a new Chief Executive, Simon Pitts, formerly ITV’s director of transformation and strategy. His new strategy has gone down well in the city and with some producers, but less so with certain journalists and politicians.