ITV to focus on long-running drama

In another statement of intent regarding the channel's drama output, Michael Grade, Chairman of ITV, has said that improving the mid-week 9pm drama slot on ITV1 remains a key priority, reports Katie Allen for Media Guardian.

"I'm talking about series that run 12, 14, 15 weeks a year, every year for three, four or five years, that is where we have been weak," he said.

"Short series we are brilliant at, whether it's Commander or Wire in the Blood and so on, these are terrific series but they are not 16 weeks a year, that's where we are short and we are working very very hard on that. That will take some time to come through."