The group’s aim is to make the TV industry more accessible for working-class people

TV Foundation has unveiled the 24 industry figures who will be part of the new Impact Unit, inspired by James Graham’s recent MacTaggart Lecture in which he called for more socio-economic diversity in the industry.

The working group has been more than 18 months in the making, with members drawn from almost 130 submissions. The 24 who make up the unit include freelancers, CEOs, producers and writers and well-known industry names such as Patrick Holland, Tessa Matchett, Karl Warner and Gina Lyons.

Amongst the first tasks to be addressed will be to contribute towards raising the visibility of people from working class backgrounds already in the industry; understanding the current landscape and its effects on recruitment from different socio-economic groups; and what a Class Confident organisation in TV looks like.

The Impact Unit will be led by Gemma Bradshaw, Impact Director, in an expansion of her remit since joining the TV Foundation last year from One World Media.

Bradshaw said: “The overwhelming response to the announcement of the working group showed how James Graham’s MacTaggart touched people. Finally, they felt seen, and it gave them space to be open about their working-class background and how it impacts their careers. There is definitely a momentum building, recognising that supporting working class people getting into, and crucially moving up in, the industry is not only the right thing to do, it’s what audiences want; to have more authentic stories on screen.

“This is not a small task, but the working group are ready to show it can be possible to have a career in the industry and to find ways to make it achievable not only for those from working class backgrounds, but for everyone.”

Members of the working group are:

• Alison Ramsay, freelance director & development exec
• Amber Haquem, freelance presenter & documentary maker
• Bradley Down, BBC Drama commissioning executive
• Ceri Aston, creative director, MultiStory Media
• Chanise Evans, BBC presenter, senior advisor
• David Leach, head of unscripted/development exec, Climate Spring
• David Macpherson, freelance writer
• Emma Morris, executive editor of Morning Live and The One Show, BBC Studios
• Gama Gbio, freelance development producer
• Gina Lyons, founder – Gobby Girl Productions
• Hannah Livingston, freelance shooting producer/director
• Jackie Myburgh, Apple TV+ head of production, UK & Europe
• Jon Green, creative director, unscripted formats, Fulwell 73
• Karl Warner, EVP UK entertainment and digital development, BBC Studios
• Lisa Gifford, freelance screenwriter
• Lucie Duxbury, head of programmes, The Garden
• Luke Seraphin, head of diversity, equity, and inclusion – Sky Original Programming
• Mark Wynter, director of client partnerships UK, Picture Shop
• Neila Butt, creative equity lead, Channel 4
• Nicola Crowther, head of audience engagement/co-chair of BBC RAISED
• Patrick Holland, chair and CEO, Banijay UK
• Sabrina Parmar, assistant commissioner, Sky
• Tammie Meera Ash, freelance assistant producer
• Tessa Matchett, head of group communications, ITV Studios

The Foundation’s existing career development programmes and events, such as The Network, Ones To Watch, ReConnect and Amplify x New Voice Awards, have helped more than 4000 individuals since 1991 and the Impact Unit will work alongside all these schemes and support events and initiatives to improve inclusion.