The Stage

McGovern concerned about future of The Street

Published Thursday 2 April 2009 at 16:15 by Matthew Hemley

The Street creator Jimmy McGovern has raised concerns over the show’s future, claiming all the staff on the ITV production unit which makes the show are facing redundancy.

McGovern said he did not know if the BBC programme, which is made by ITV Productions, would be returning after its third series later this year.

He said all of the Manchester-based team that produce the show at ITV were facing redundancy, including Sita Williams, who has executive produced all three series of the drama so far.

McGovern, speaking today at the launch of Moving On, a new BBC daytime drama which he has executive produced, described Williams as a “goddess” and added that he was concerned about the future of ITV.

The broadcaster announced last month that it is to make 600 staff redundant in London, Manchester and Leeds as part of a cost-cutting drive.

“It’s a grim time for ITV and the BBC needs a strong ITV. It’s a hard time,” he said.

McGovern also said there were a lot of writers in the north who are finding it hard to get work.

“Since the end of Brookside we have loads and loads of writers who have nothing to write on and it’s going to get worse. You can see it now,” he said.

He added that the aim of Moving On, which has been made by LA Productions, was to provide writers with work opportunities.

“It was also to allow some potentially very good writers the opportunity to find their voices. We certainly did not do it for the money,” he said.