ITV Studios boss pens BBC drama

Kevin Lygo, the managing director of ITV Studios, has had a drama series picked up by ITV’s chief rival the BBC.

Lygo submitted the idea for cop series Walter to the BBC under a pen name, Ruby Solomon.

The UK public broadcaster then greenlit a broadcast pilot for flagship channel BBC One without knowing Lygo was behind it. The pilot will go out on BBC One on August 8.

ITV Studios will make the show, which will also star Lygo’s daughter Madison as wells as Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty) and Alexandra Roache (The Iron Lady).

It is unprecedented for a senior executive at one broadcaster to write a project for another channel, but Lygo told UK newspaper The Guardian that he felt Walter was a better fit for the BBC than ITV.

Lygo has been instrumental in ITV Studios aggressive international expansion and acquisition of a raft of production companies.