ITV Studios: where great drama has lived for 70 years

From its early days of regional productions to today’s global streaming sensations, ITV Studios has been at the heart of television drama, delivering iconic, award-winning stories that resonate with audiences wherever, however and whenever they’re watched.

Now home to more than 30 scripted production labels and some of the industry’s most visionary creative talents, it hasn’t just shaped the history of television, it is actively defining what comes next.

With deep-rooted partnerships across major broadcasters and a rapidly growing footprint on the world’s biggest streaming platforms, the studio is well positioned to meet the demands of an ever-evolving global audience, whether it’s a Sunday night favourite, a midweek binge, or a premiere subtitled in 50-plus languages.

Delivering iconic series

With a legacy rooted in genre-defining drama, ITV Studios has shaped culture and helped launch the careers of some of the UK’s most celebrated actors. Prime Suspect, Cracker and Agatha Christie’s Poirot didn’t just top rati ngs, they set a benchmark for smart, character-led storytelling, introducing viewers to talent including Helen Mirren, Robbie Coltrane and David Suchet.

That legacy also includes period favourites such as Poldark and Victoria, and relationship-led hits like Cold Feet – series that captured hearts, refl ected their times and built loyal audiences. And while these tiles are part of television history, the catalogue they belong to continues to fuel the future.

ITV Studios holds a wealth of proven IP ready for adaptation, from cult drama The Prisoner to timeless classics like Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter, with format rights acquired by broadcasters around the world.

The tradition of delivering genre-leading, must-watch drama continues with standout recent releases. Mammoth Screen’s Code Of Silence is a bold crime series for ITVX and ITV1, led by a deaf protagonist played by Rose Ayling-Ellis. Described as “a landmark moment for inclusion and representation” and widely praised by both audiences and critics, the series became the biggest new drama launch of the year across all channels and streaming platforms.

Meanwhile, Ludwig, by Big Talk Studios, was the BBC’s biggest scripted launch in two years, showcasing ITV Studios’ ability to shape modern audience trends with bold, genre-bending storytelling.

A world of drama

One ITV Studios label that has dominated broadcast television with some of the most talked-about drama of the past three decades is World Productions. For 35 years, the team, led by CEO and Creative Director Simon Heath, has blazed a trail of gripping, contemporary TV that combines human stories with high-stakes drama and authenticity, both in fictional and true-life narratives.

Over that time, its programmes, performers and crews have earned 17 Baftas and 23 RTS Awards, a testament to the label’s enduring impact and excellence.

An early cultural landmark for the indie was This Life, reflecting a new generation of young adults with raw, honest storytelling and a distinctive, documentary-style look using handheld cameras, quick cuts and natural lighting.

Building on that legacy, it went on to deliver some of the 21st century’s most iconic dramas, including Line Of Duty, a series that didn’t just top the rati ngs but transformed British crime drama. Since its 2012 debut, it has become the most-watched BBC drama of the decade, peaking at more than 15.2 million viewers for its season six finale. “

Line Of Duty challenged conventional narratives, placing moral ambiguity at the centre of the genre,” says Heath. “Its long-term impact lies in how it opened the door for more complex, socially resonant crime storytelling.”

The show became a cultural touchstone that helped usher in a wave of high-stakes thrillers – among them Bodyguard, a political drama that quickly gained global attention. Premiering on BBC1 in 2018, it was the UK’s most-watched drama since 2008 and reached an even broader international audience via Netflix. The series earned widespread critical acclaim and a Golden Globe win for Richard Madden.

That momentum continued with Vigil for BBC1, the most-watched UK drama of 2021. The International Emmy-winning series has been sold to more than 100 territories and, now in its third season, remains a key part of the label’s growing slate of globally successful drama.

Alongside fictional drama, the team has also pioneered a line of dramatised true stories, from Ahead Of The Class in 2005, to the award-winning Hillsborough drama Anne in 2021, and most recently The Bombing Of Pan Am 103 for the BBC and Netflix.

Since 2017, World has expanded further, with offices in Glasgow – home to Vigil and Grams, a new BBC commission – and Cardiff , home to C4’s The Gathering.

Whether exploring state secrets or corrupt cops, the label continues to set the pace for smart, gripping drama that reflects the world in which we live.

Streamer success

As streamers continue to reshape how we watch, they’ve opened the door to new creative possibilities – drama with cinematic scale and even greater global ambition, and the freedom to explore bolder, more emotionally complex storytelling. ITV Studios has become a trusted partner for platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video, with its labels producing premium, must-watch dramas that travel.

Happy Prince’s much-talked-about Rivals, for example, re-imagines Jilly Cooper’s beloved novel for today’s global audience on Disney+. With its standout cast including David Tennant, Aidan Turner and Katherine Parkinson, the series brings glamour, wit and modern flair to a classic piece of British heritage IP. A second season is already in the works.

That same appetite for reinventing iconic stories is evident in One Piece (pictured top) from Tomorrow Studios, an adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s record-breaking manga and Japan’s best-selling comic series of all time.

This high-seas adventure quickly sailed to the top of Netflix’s English-language TV list, reaching the No.1 spot in 84 countries and securing a second season commission soon aft er launch.

Building on this global demand for bold, emotionally resonant storytelling – whether drawn from bestselling IP or original ideas – Quay Street Productions is also delivering some of the most high-profile scripted hits in the streaming space. With a sleek, character-driven and emotionally charged approach, their storytelling is perfectly tuned to the bingeworthy drama audiences crave.

Quay Street’s Netflix thriller Fool Me Once, adapted from the Harlan Coben bestseller, became a breakout sensation. It soared into the Top 10 in 85-plus countries, notching more than 108 million views and earning a spot among the platform’s all-time top English-language series.

That success was followed by The Stolen Girl for Disney+, a gripping thriller written by Catherine Moulton and starring Denise Gough, Holliday Grainger and Ambika Mod. And among its upcoming titles is Lazarus, a psychological mystery for Prime Video, written by Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst, produced with Amazon MGM Studios and starring Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy and Alexandra Roach.

As much a force in the global streaming space as it is a firm fixture in traditional drama, ITV Studios continues to shape what powerful, resonant storytelling looks like. Across genres, platforms and territories, its producers are stealing the spotlight with award-winning, headline-grabbing shows that appeal all around the world.