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ITV drama director to exit

ITV’s director of drama is leaving after 16 years with the UK commercial broadcaster.

Steve November

Steve November

Steve November was appointed to the role in April 2013 and oversaw shows including Downton Abbey, Doc Martin and Broadchurch, alongside commissions such as Cilla, Black Work, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies and Prey.

He was also behind Grantchester, Home Fires and Unforgotten, as well as forthcoming series including The Durrells, Marcella, Brief Encounters, Victoria and Cold Feet.

November joined ITV’s commissioning team in 2008 as head of drama series and worked on Foyle’s War, Whitechapel, Law & Order: UK and DCI Banks, amongst others. Prior to that he produced ITV soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

November, whose next move is not yet known, said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to be involved with ITV drama for 16 years and to have worked with so many great people, from runners to writers, through such exciting times for drama.

“ITV is going through a period of change now which affords me the perfect opportunity to move on to new adventures. I wish ITV drama every success in the future.”

November is the latest senior exec to leave ITV following director of TV Peter Fincham and entertainment and comedy chief Elaine Bedell, whose departures were both confirmed in January.

Fincham, whose next move is also not yet known, revealed he would be leaving the broadcaster after almost eight years to be replaced by ITV Studios MD Kevin Lygo.

Julian Bellamy, MD of ITV Studios in the UK, stepped up to take overall control of ITV Studios globally, replacing Lygo.

ITV director of entertainment and comedy Bedell, meanwhile, stepped down after seven years with the broadcaster having worked on shows such as Britain’s Got Talent, The X Factor and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.

The broadcaster’s director of factual Richard Klein then revealed he too would be leaving the company, having joined ITV in 2013 after a five-year stint as controller of BBC4 where he imported Scandinavian dramas such as The Killing, Borgen and The Bridge.

Lygo said November’s “contribution to the success of ITV over many years has been huge and I wish him all the best for the future.”

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