Uk's ITV rashapped its commissioning teams

ITV’s Director of Entertainment, Reality and Daytime, Katie Rawcliffe, has announced two key appointments as part of her strategy to strengthen and expand the network’s entertainment and daytime division. Iona Mackenzie joins as Commissioning Editor, Entertainment and Reality, while Paula Thomas has been promoted to Commissioning Editor, Daytime and Advertiser-Funded Entertainment.

Mackenzie, an experienced executive producer, arrives from ITV Studios-owned Lifted Entertainment, replacing Lily Wilson, who will head ITV Studios’ new unscripted label in 2026. Thomas, who joined ITV in December 2024, expands her remit to oversee the network’s daytime slate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and manage advertiser-funded programming. Leanne Clarke will support her as Assistant Commissioner, Entertainment and Daytime. Mackenzie will take up her new role later this year, with both appointments preparing the team for ITV’s 2026 programming slate.

The appointments strengthen ITV’s London-based Entertainment, Reality and Daytime division, which already includes commissioning editors Joe Mace, Kevin O’Brien, Louise Major, and Amanda Stavri, and commissioners David Smyth and Gemma John Lewis.

The move aligns with Rawcliffe’s broader strategy to build a dynamic, experienced commissioning team capable of developing and delivering innovative formats that expand ITV’s entertainment and reality offering. The team will also collaborate with ITV’s BE Studio to create branded content that connects advertisers with ITV’s audience through new, original formats. Looking ahead to 2026, ITV will launch a slate of new entertainment and reality formats, including "The Neighbourhood," "The Summit," "The Box," "The Floor," "The Heat," and "Celebrity Sabotage."

Rawcliffe welcomed the team: “I’m really pleased to confirm Iona and Paula in these roles and excited to head into 2026 with lots of big new formats coming up and a fantastic, experienced team working on them, who will also be searching for the next big entertaining formats to further grow our slate," stated.