Emily Russell head to ITVS label as incumbent Ronnie Castillo steps down after 14 years

Bad Wolf’s director of production Emily Russell is heading to Code of Silence and The Serpent indie Mammoth Screen replacing long-term incumbent Ronnie Castillo.

Russell joins the ITV Studios label in the same role with immediate effect as Castillo steps down after 14 years at Mammoth Screen.

At Bad Wolf, Russell oversaw scripted projects including Doctor Who, Industry and The Other Bennet Sister. She has also worked for many years as a freelance line producer, previously crewing on Mammoth projects as a production executive on The Serpent, War of the Worlds and Endeavour, as well as supporting other projects in development.

Russell has also served as director of production at New Pictures, where she was responsible for dramas No Escape, Champion, The Long Shadow and Dalgliesh.

“I’m excited to be back with the wonderful team at Mammoth Screen,” said Russel.

“They have proven themselves to be at the forefront of high-end television dramas, working with tremendous talent in our industry and I can’t wait to get to work to support their continued success.”

Mammoth Screen’s chief operating officer Jon Williams added: “The Mammoth family is thrilled to have Emily back in the fold, and we have a strong slate of ambitious dramas ready for her to get her teeth into.

“We also extend our enormous gratitude to Ronnie Castillo who has been an integral part of our journey for the past 14 years.”

Castillo will continue to look after its newly announced ITV drama First Woman, which will begin filming in Belfast in the summer.

Among Mammoth’s upcoming slate is supernatural thriller The Witch Farm for the BBC, a second series of Code of Silence for ITV1 and Agatha Christie’s Endless Night for the BBC and BritBox.

Russell’s hire follows James Gandhi’s promotion to executive producer and director of development and Rebecca Durbin’s move to exec producer. Ben Rosa also joined Mammoth as production executive from Left Bank Pictures.