ITV exec attacks network’s “unwatchable” drama

Published Monday 21 August 2006 at 12:15 by Liz Thomas

One of ITV’s leading executives has hit out at the broadcaster, saying it had lost its focus on programming, and that drama output had become “unwatchable”.

Andy Harries, who heads ITV Productions’ drama, comedy and film department, said that under Charles Allen [outgoing chief executive] the network had lost its way.

He said: “If you make a two-hour drama for ITV, the actual running time is 94 minutes, for Channel 4 it is 101 minutes, that’s seven more minutes. It’s not about more or less advertising, it is largely promotions clutter. On Channel 4 the drama plays better.

“Don’t you think that the ABs [upmarket viewers] have stopped watching ITV because it has become unwatchable? Hundreds of people tell me this. There is too much clutter and it is putting people off. ITV is so unfashionable. It doesn’t have to be like Channel 4 but it should be modern. It looks like a bargain basement.”

Allen was responsible for the shift of the news to 10.30pm, which Harries says created more problems because it forced ITV to mainly work with 90-minute dramas. Speaking to Media Guardian, he added: “That’s a very uncomfortable slot, writers find it very difficult to write for it. It’s a five-act structure instead of three. I was very vocal about getting it back to an hour [a decision made this year]. Good shows - Murder City, Vincent, Island at War - all suffered, and this may have been a factor in some not being recommissioned.”

Harries also criticised the network’s drama team for missing opportunities. He explained: “Nick Elliott [ITV drama director] doesn’t work in isolation but within a framework. There’s been a deep complacency, combined with arrogance. ITV has been caught napping big time.”