New ITV drama boss unveils first slate

ITV’s new head of drama Polly Hill has ordered four new drama series for the UK broadcaster.

Hill joined ITV from the BBC earlier this year. Her first commissions are medical drama Tauma; Girlfriends, about a trio of female friends facing up to life crises; conspiracy thriller White Dragon; and family drama Next of Kin.

“All four are authored contemporary pieces, from wonderful writers who have a compelling story to tell,” she said. “I think audiences are looking for drama with real authorship, and I am delighted that I start at ITV with a mix of great experience and new voices.

“It’s a great time to be leading ITV drama, and this is just the start of what I hope will be an exciting journey for us and the audience.”

ITV Studios Global Entertainment is the confirmed distributor of Trauma and Next of Kin.

Trauma is a three-parter from Doctor Foster writer Mike Bartlett, and follows a grief-stricken father’s investigation into the death of his teenage son. It will be produced by Tall Story Pictures, an ITV Studios-backed drama indie set up by former ITV programming execs Francis Hopkinson and Catherine Oldfield.

Girlfriends comes from Fat Friends writer Kay Mellor and follows three female friends in crisis, over six episodes. Mellor’s prodco, Rollem Productions, with production getting underway next summer.

White Dragon will be filmed in Asia starting next year, and follow a husband who gets dragged into a conspiracy when he travels to Hong Kong to find out more about his wife’s death. Two Brothers Pictures, producer of critically acclaimed BBC Three comedy Fleabag, will make the eight-part show.

Mammoth Screen will make Next of Kin, a six-parter about a psychologist who unearths a series of secrets about her brother’s death.