Hot Shots 2025: Destiny Williams

Destiny Williams once made YouTube videos for fun, but hadn’t seriously expected to land a TV job when a development researcher role came their way in 2021, while they finished a degree in Mandarin and politics.

Williams’ overriding passion is casting – “it’s where I first found my rhythm”. Casting assistant credits include Channel 4’s Late Night Lycett, two series of BBC3’s The Rap Game, Comedy Central’s Out Of Order and Channel 4.0 series Nella Rose’s Flight Mode, winner of Best Short-Form Format at the Broadcast Digital Awards 2023.

Last year, Williams was one of three black producer/directors picked for ITV’s Fresh Cuts strand, delivering five-part short-form series Dogs Of Grime, which showcased five British rappers and their canine companions.

Natalie Rose, the series’ commissioning editor and exec producer, praises Williams’ “outstanding leadership, editorial judgement and creativity” as a first-time producer/director. “Dogs Of Grime demanded expert talent casting and producing, humour and creative flair, all of which they achieved with confidence, tenacity and focus.

“For someone who came to Fresh Cuts with modest experience, their series stood out as one executed by talent with confidence, personality and a clear understanding of how to reach youth-skewing audiences.”

Elsewhere, with their company OLAM (Of Lipstick and Melanin) Productions, Williams is giving a multimedia platform to showcase black and brown creatives over 25. “As a black queer person, I know that I’m living in a world that wasn’t made for people like me, and that drives me. On every job I work on, I am driven by the chance to champion under-represented people.”