Sky drama head to depart

Cameron Roach, director of drama at Sky in the UK, is leaving after seven years at the European satcaster.

Cameron Roach

In an internal memo to staff, Sky Studios CEO Gary Davey said Roach was leaving the company to spend more time with his family. He will remain in the position until spring next year while a replacement is sought.

Indie development will continue to be led by the drama commissioners, while Sky Studios chief content officer Jane Millichip will work with Roach and the team on the future structure of the drama department.

Roach first joined Sky in 2013 as commissioning editor, exec producing dramas such as Britannia, Bulletproof and Riviera. He took over from Anne Mensah as head of drama towards the end of 2018 and has since overseen a team that has delivered series such as Chernobyl, Gangs of London and I Hate Suzie.

Davey said: “As well as raising the scale, ambition and critical acclaim of Sky Drama, Cameron has been instrumental in Sky’s drive to produce more diverse programming, both in front of and behind the camera.

“Sky Diversity Table Reads, an initiative that Cameron and the team established in 2015, has continually shone a spotlight on writers and talent from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. Cameron’s passion, prioritisation and commitment to diversity is something for which I will be eternally grateful.”

Roach began his career in script and series editing on long-running drama series such as the BBC’s Casualty, before landing his first producing job on season six of hit ITV prison drama Bad Girls for Shed Productions. He went on to produce two seasons of Footballers’ Wives for ITV.

In 2007, Roach moved to Kudos Productions to produce the International Emmy-winning second season of BBC drama Life on Mars, and in 2009 he produced BBC2’s Moses Jones. Roach’s other BBC credits include Silk and Young James Herriot.

He also previously worked in development for Tiger Aspect Productions, Shed Productions and BBC Productions.