Fully-made dramas that have been put on ice include a one-off adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Octavia (Touchpaper Television); Whatever It Takes, a 90-minute single starring Shane Ritchie and written by Paula Milne (Twenty Twenty Television); the 7 x 60-minute workplace drama Monday Monday (Talkback Thames); and Andrew Davies' adaptation of Joanna Briscoe's Sleep with Me (Clerkenwell Films).
All were originally expected to TX in 2008.
ITV said some of the delays were driven by creative reasons, but postponing shows helps it manage its balance sheet, as it does not factor in their cost until after TX.
One prominent producer said: “When something's ‘put on ice' it's a euphemism and it will probably never happen. But retreating on drama is so short-termist and ITV could lose viewer loyalty.”
However, an ITV spokeswoman said all of the dramas except Octavia were tabled for later this year, and that it too may still air.
“In this climate everyone is going to have to make adjustments - but I don't think it's as harsh as everyone's making out. None of them are shelved or forgotten about. Until a drama is actually billed, nothing is pulled or postponed. It's a big jigsaw. We are absolutely committed to drama.”
ITV is currently overhauling its existing drama slate, deciding to either drop or recommission shows that have been staples in recent years (see below).
Out with a bang? ITV's drama decisions
Wire In The Blood (Coastal Productions) Axed last week after six series
Heartbeat and The Royal (Yorkshire Television) Production shelved indefinitely. ITV has episodes until late 2010
The Bill (Talkback Thames) Cut from two episodes a week to one. Set for a new 9pm slot
Doc Martin (Buffalo Pictures)Eight-part series commissioned
Foyle's War (Green Inc) Axed under Simon Shaps but resurrected under Peter FinchamMidsomer Murders (Bentley Productions) Commissioned until 2012. Looking for a successor to John Nettles, who will leave at end of series 13
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