ITV confirms return of £80m diversity commissioning spend and development fund

ITV has announced £80 million in ringfenced commissioning spend for diverse projects over the next three years, and a doubling of the Diversity Development Fund to £1 million.

The news follows ITV's report on the inaugural Diversity Commissioning Spend (formerly Diversity Commissioning Fund). In 2022, ITV ringfenced £80 million over three years for diverse commissions, alongside the £500k Diversity Development Fund to develop ideas that could qualify for the fund. 

The investment drives racial and disability equity across the TV industry, and is available for qualifying companies who can demonstrate diverse ownership or leadership, or two of the remaining three criteria around either diverse creative leadership, diverse stories and portrayal on-screen, or diverse salary spend. Ideas should be pitched to ITV’s commissioning teams and must fit existing editorial briefs for specific departments.  

The Diversity Development Fund has been expanded to include making sets more accessible and developing underrepresented trainees. 

Upcoming dramas with funding from the Diversity Commissioning Spend include crime drama Code of Silence, starring Deaf actor Rose Ayling-Ellis and supported by a largely Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent cast and crew.; and Saviour, produced by Nisha Parti’s Parti Productions alongside production partners Drama Republic, written by first-time screenwriter Imran Mahmood.