BBC Studios-owned UKTV has appointed Claire Hookway to the newly created role of commissioning executive to bolster the development of the multi-channel broadcaster’s slate of original drama. She joins a team led by Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning for UKTV, and reports to Helen Perry, head of drama, supporting the delivery of drama programmes across UKTV’s Alibi, U&Drama and U&Dave channels.
Hookway was previously senior creative executive at Paramount Television International Studios, working across multiple original drama commissions for Paramount+ including "A Gentleman in Moscow", "No Escape", "Sexy Beast" and upcoming series "The Road Trip". Before Paramount, Hookway was a development editor at Big Light Productions where her credits included "Leonardo" for Amazon and Rai in Italy and "Radio Man" for Audible. Meanwhile, Kirsty Hanson, formerly commissioning editor, has been promoted to senior commissioning editor for factual and factual entertainment.
UKTV’s slate of original dramas includes U&Drama 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.
Upcoming drama series include Chris Lang’s "I, Jack Wright"; "Bookish", created by Mark Gatiss; and "Mudtown", a copro with S4C in Wales for Alibi; alongside a reboot of "Bergerac" and the Mitford sisters’ drama "Outrageous", both of which will launch on U&Drama and U in 2025.
Helen Perry, head of Drama prasied the exec: “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" stated.