ITV Delivers More Drama For Winter
ITV is attempting to deliver Michael Grade’s pledge of more drama programmes following the unveiling of its winter schedule for the broadcaster’s flagship channel.
Modern comedies and drama seem to be largely the focus, with a fictional drama called Rock Rivals in which viewers call in and vote for their preferred ending.
The programme, from the makers of Bad Girls and Footballers’ Wives, is set against the backdrop of a bitchy music talent show not unlike The X Factor, and stars Michelle Collins and Sean Gallagher as married judges.
The broadcaster revealed new programmes such as The Fixer, from Kudos, the production company behind successful BBC shows such as Spooks and Life On Mars.
The Fixer features Peter Mullan as a retired police officer working on an unofficial operation to remove untouchable criminals from society.
In the summer Grade said: “We want the next Life On Mars, the next Spooks and, yes, we’re still in the market for the next Morse, the next Foyle’s War or the next Doc Martin.”
He said: “I am hopeful of an end to ITV’s copycat phase – Simon Shaps is leading the way (see
ITV1’s Top Priority Is 9pm Drama
ITV1’s Top Priority Is 9pm Drama
ITV1’s Top Priority Is 9pm Drama
ITV1’s Top Priority Is 9pm Drama
ITV1’s Top Priority Is 9pm Drama Lewis Remains Strong Whilst Primeval Sheds A Million), will return, alongside award-winning Stephen Fry drama, Kingdom.
Last month, Grade announced at the MediaGuardian Changing Broadcast summit in London, that ITV1’s schedule is to be relaunched next year.
“We have been planning for a year to relaunch ITV1’s schedule next year,” he said. “We have been desperately trying to keep this a secret, but hopelessly. This is a very sensitive commercial secret for us.”
Shaps added that the focus of the ITV1 relaunch would be on new programming, although there were no plans to dump shows wholesale or change the channel’s branding. (see Michael Grade Reveals Major Schedule Relaunch For ITV1).
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