ITV aims to diversify drama with commissioning hires

ITV has hired an assistant drama commissioner with a remit to champion disabled creatives as it bolsters its scripted team to deliver an upswing in drama for new platform ITVX.

Callum Dziedzic, who set up ITV Studios' Disabled Writers in Development Programme, will work across drama and comedy.

Dziedzic, who will continue to run the writers programme, said ITVX represented “a brilliant opportunity to diversify ITV’s drama offering”.

He added: “As a disabled person, I am passionate about championing disabled creators and empathetic to the stories they want to tell.”

ITV has also brought in Mammoth Screen creative director of television Helen Ziegler as senior commissioning editor, who will join in January 2024 after a period of maternity leave.

Ziegler’s credits include BritBox’s recent Agatha Christie adaptation Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?.

Finally, BBC drama assistant commissioner Helen Parry joins on a fixed term contract in January.

Parry, who led on new writer development at the BBC Writersroom and previously script executive on Bad Wolf’s HBO/BBC drama Industry, described ITVX as “a game changer for the industry” and “an opportunity to push the boundaries of creative storytelling”.

ITVX, which launches on 8 December, will launch at least one new show each week, including dramas, comedies and documentaries.