UKTV has appointed Paramount commissioning exec, Claire Hookway, to the newly created role of Commissioning Executive to bolster the development of the broadcaster’s slate of original drama.

Joining the team led by Hilary Rosen, Director of Commissioning for UKTV, and reporting to Helen Perry, Head of Drama, Hookway will support the delivery of scripted drama programmes across UKTV’s Alibi, U&DRAMA and U&Dave channels.

UKTV’s growing portfolio of original dramas includes U&DRAMA’s hit show The Marlow Murder Club, which is returning to screens next year; and Alibi series’ The Red King and Annika, the latter of which was UKTV’s highest-rating show of 2023.

New upcoming drama series include Chris Lang’s I, Jack Wright; Bookish created by Mark Gatiss; and Mudtown, a co-pro with S4C, for Alibi; alongside the reimagining of Bergerac and the Mitford sisters’ drama Outrageous, both of which will launch on U&DRAMA and U in 2025.

Hookway joins UKTV from Paramount where she was a Senior Creative Executive at Paramount Television International Studios (PTIS), working across multiple original drama commissions for Paramount+ including A Gentleman in Moscow, No Escape, Sexy Beast and the upcoming series The Road Trip, an adaptation of Beth O’Leary’s novel of the same name.

Claire Hookway said, “I am delighted to be joining Hilary Rosen and Helen Perry at such an exciting time for UKTV and can’t wait to support Helen’s bold and ambitious drama strategy. UKTV is home to some of the most beloved shows across the nation, and I’m excited to join an exceptional team of creatives who are striving to grow the TV drama landscape and deliver high-quality entertainment for UK audiences. It is a huge privilege to be joining Helen’s team as she leads us into a new phase of UKTV drama, and I’m looking forward to working with producers, writers, and directors to deliver record-breaking drama content, whilst championing distinctive storytelling.”

Helen Perry, Head of Drama, UKTV, said: “I am delighted Claire is joining the commissioning team at this brilliant time for UKTV drama. Claire’s arrival marks an exciting point of expansion as we are increasing not only our investment in original drama, but also our ambition to deliver high quality popular drama to a growing audience. Claire brings a wealth of experience and a fresh creative perspective, and her range and versality will be invaluable in continuing to realise UKTV’s ambition to be the home of bold, unmissable and entertaining drama. I can’t wait to work with her.”

Also Kirsty Hanson, formerly Commissioning Editor, has been promoted to the role of Senior Commissioning Editor for Factual and Factual Entertainment. Her commissioning credits at UKTV include Alex Jones: Making Babies, Katherine Ryan: Parental Guidance, Blackadder: A Cunning Storyand Blackadder: The Lost Pilot, and the recently announced Back from the Dead: Who Kidnapped Me? and Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out.

 

Jon Creamer

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