ITV Expands Drama Team

ITV has expanded its drama team with new hires.

ITV's Head of Drama Polly Hill has has announced that Helen Ziegler will be joining the team as Senior Commissioning Editor.

Helen starts with ITV Drama commissioning in January 2024, following her maternity leave. Helen is thrilled to be joining the ITV drama team to lead on building ITVX’s exciting flourishing slate of drama for new audiences as well as finding the next drama hit on ITV1.

Currently Director of Television at award winning Mammoth Screen Helen’s recent Executive Producer credits include Peter Bowker’s World on Fire for BBC One, recent Agatha Christie adaptations by Sarah Phelps for the BBC One and Hugh Laurie's Why Didn’t They Ask Evans for BritBox UK, Gwyneth Hughes' Tom Jones for Masterpiece and ITV and Russell Lewis' Endeavour for ITV.

Helen Ziegler said: "It is an extraordinary opportunity to be at the heart of the exciting launch of ITVX, with its ambitions for iconic storytelling and groundbreaking series. The chance to work with the UK production community to find bold, innovative shows and champion new and diverse voices is an incredibly special one. I can't wait to get started with Polly and the brilliant ITV drama team."

ITV also announces that Helen Perry is joining as Commissioning Editor, Drama in January 2023, for a fixed-term year contract, to further support the expanded slate. Helen joins from the BBC, where she is currently an Assistant Commissioner, in BBC Drama. In her BBC role Helen works across both development and production for Drama Commissioning, Exec Producing shows including upcoming BBC One true crime Steeltown Murders. She also leads on new writer development for BBC Writersroom.

Before joining BBC Drama Commissioning Helen was Script Executive at Bad Wolf on acclaimed HBO/BBC drama Industry Series 2. Prior to that she was a Development Producer for BBC Writersroom, finding and nurturing emerging talent - particularly from Wales. Helen began her career as an award winning audio drama producer/director creating original dramas for Radio 3, 4, 1Xtra, the World Service and BBC Sounds working with writers such as Alice Birch and Daniel Kaluuya.

www.itv.com