The Cleaner indie lands ex-Sky commissioner

The Cleaner indie Studio Hamburg UK (SHUK) has snapped up former Sky commissioner Tilusha Ghelani for a newly created senior scripted role, Broadcast can reveal. 

As head of scripted TV content, Ghelani will help shape SHUK’s high-end drama and comedy slates. 

The position is both strategic and creative, with Gehlani focused on originating and securing greenlights for distinctive, returnable series, while also helping to steer the company’s creative direction in TV. 

She will also contribute to the ongoing expansion of SHUK’s feature film activity. 

Ghelani most recently served as a comedy commissioner at Sky Studios, before stepping away from the pay-TV giant in 2023 to return to production. She commissioned and exec produced Sky comedies inlcuding Bloods, Breeders and Funny Woman. 

SHUK has already made a name for itself with scripted comedy. Last year, Broadcast revealed the London-based outfit - the only English-language subsidiary owned by German media giant Studio Hamburg - was prepping a high-profile English-language adaptation of South Korean powerhouse Astory’s comedy thriller The Kidnapping Day, which is in long-term paid development, with Irish screenwriter Ronan Blaney attached. 

The indie also has another high-end drama project in development with Germany’s ZDF Studios, details of which are currently under wraps. 

Ghelani will also be tasked with deepening SHUK’s collaborations with its Studio Hamburg sister companies in Germany. Its drama siblings have recently produced high-profile titles including Berlin ER (Krank) for Apple TV+ and Call My Agent Berlin for Disney+. 

SHUK’s recent productions include three series of BBC1 comedy The Cleaner, created by and starring Greg Davies. It is also behind Désirée Nosbusch-helmed feature Poison starring Tim Roth and Trine Dyrholm, and Sky original film The Heist Before Christmas, starring Timothy Spall and James Nesbitt, directed by Edward Hall (Gentleman Jack, Blithe Spirit).  

Ghelani told Broadcast: “I am delighted to be taking on this role at such an exciting time for the company. SHUK is already known for championing a culture that places creative talent at the very heart of what we do, and my focus will be on building on that strong foundation – empowering world-class writers, producers and directors to deliver their very best work with us.  

“Together, we aim to create distinctive shows that audiences will take to their hearts.” 

SHUK managing director Vivien Muller-Rommel added: “She’s an exceptionally experienced executive with impeccable taste, a network that stretches both comedy and drama, and luckily for us, a great sense of humour too.”