The Favourite, Room and The Lobster production company Element Pictures has hired Channel 4 exec Jonny Richards as Head of TV Development, effective immediately.
The company, best known for its film work, is investing in the further expansion of its television drama activities. It is producing Normal People; an adaption of Sally Rooney’s hit novel. Currently filming in Dublin, the series will air on BBC Three and Hulu. Element is also producing The Dublin Murders along with Euston Films and Veritas, for BBC and Starz.
In the newly created and TV-centred role of Head of TV Development, Richards will oversee Element Pictures’ continued push into television drama, expanding its development slate for the UK, US and international market. Richards will be based at Element Pictures’ London office and will report into Head of Television, Anna Ferguson.
Richards joins Element Pictures from Channel 4, where he was a drama commissioning executive overseeing several dramas, including the third series of No Offence and Humans, James Graham’s critically acclaimed single film Brexit: The Uncivil War and the upcoming six-part drama Baghdad Central, written by Stephen Butchard. He oversaw the BAFTA-nominated anthology On the Edge, as well as Channel 4’s new writer scheme, 4Screenwriting. Previously, Richards spent six years at ITV Studios label Silverprint Pictures, developing new projects and script-editing shows including two series of ITV’s crime drama Vera.
Jonny Richards said of his appointment; “I’ve long admired Element Pictures’ work and am delighted to be joining the company as it grows its original TV output. It’s a privilege to be working with Ed, Andrew, Anna and a team that is passionate about bringing unique voices to the screen.”
Ed Guiney, Company Director of Element Pictures/ Anna Ferguson, Head of Television, said: “We are incredibly proud of our achievements with our feature films, and we are excited to bring the same authentic and visually unique qualities to our television dramas. Jonny has an incredible development track record and a brilliant eye for discovering distinctive and engaging stories, so we are thrilled that he has joined the team to build our current slate and deliver world-class ambitious drama.”
Staff Reporter
Share this story
