BBC Creative Diversity Head Joanna Abeyie to Exit (EXCLUSIVE)

The BBC has drafted in a senior partner from Deloitte to help with its high-profile review into protocols following the Huw Edwards scandal, which Tim Davie revealed should complete in the late Autumn.

Actor Timothy Spall has been praised for his performance in the new BBC drama The Sixth Commandment.

One of the stars of BBC Breakfast was left having to halt a planned part of the programme as some technical gremlins struck. Sports presenter Mike Bushell was doing his latest report on the BBC One news programme on Tuesday morning (July 18) when he crossed live to Shaimaa Khalil.

Naman Ramachandran BBC Studios will produce adaptations of All3Media scripted dramas “Shameless” and “Strangers” for the Indian market. Comedy drama “Shameless,” created originally by Paul Abbot and Company Pictures for Channel 4, is set in a dilapidated housing estate and revolves around an unemployed and perpetually drunken father who is consistently expanding his lineage amidst the challenges of adolescence and the allure of first love. Two Brothers Pictures’ crime drama “Strangers” AKA “White Dragon,” originally created for ITV in the U.K. and written by Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood, Marston Bloom and Harry & Jack Williams, follows professor Jonah Mulray, whose wife dies in a car accident in Hong Kong, where she frequently visited for work. He decides to visit the city, where he stumbles upon a startling revelation about his wife, plunging him into a labyrinth of conspiracy.

Yellowstone is set to make its broadcast debut as part of CBS’ fall schedule, which now includes a slew of reality series as well as a number of Paramount+ series such as SEAL Team and the original incarnation of Ghosts.

A new four-part TV drama series, The Sixth Commandment, starts on BBC One tonight (Monday, July 17). The programme is based on a true story which the broadcaster describes as "one of the most complex and confounding criminal cases in recent memory".

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences sent a letter to its members on Friday evening, addressing the recent departure of multiple Black executives from its organization over the past few weeks. Signed by Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang, the statement, obtained by Variety, includes an affirmation of the organization’s commitment to its diversity and inclusion programs, as well as efforts to “expanding” their promotion. “We have heard from some of you who have asked about our Academy DEAI programs as these efforts across our film community and other industries have been called into question,” the letter begins. “A number of Black executives in Hollywood have exited their roles, including within the Academy, and we recognize the concern this creates. Given all of this, we want to reiterate, in the strongest possible terms, the Academy’s commitment to not only continuing, but expanding our efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within our organization and the film industry at large.”

EXCLUSIVE: The pandemic thriller Yesteryear has wrapped production and confirm they rounded out the cast with Jesse Garcia (Flamin Hot), Joanna Cassidy (Blade Runner), Timothy V. Murphy (The Lone Ranger), Tiffany Chu (Ms. Purple), Yusuke Ogasawara (In Full Bloom), Crystal Echohawk (Founder of IllumiNative) and Chester Gregory (Hairspray).

TelevisaUnivision’s Univision News division, is departing the Spanish-language media and content company after 25 years. TelevisaUnivision announced Gómez’s exit on Monday. Gómez had headed Univision News for the past two years, and served as VP of news at Televisa for 23 years before that. Gómez’s interim replacement will be executive VP of news Maria Martinez-Guzman, who will begin after his July 14 departure. During his time at Univision News, Gómez launched Univision’s fact-checking platform “elDetector,” created a number of news specials, produced “Despierta America” and “Noticiero Univision,” and garnered two Edward R. Murrow awards and three News and Documentary Emmy awards.

Media law experts have explained why there have been no reports identifying the suspended BBC presenter who allegedly paid a teenager for explicit pictures.

The young person at the centre of the BBC controversy said “nothing inappropriate or unlawful” took place between them and the presenter, according to their lawyer. It follows allegations that the unnamed presenter, who has now been suspended, paid a teenager for sexual images.

The young person at the centre of the BBC controversy said "nothing inappropriate or unlawful" took place between them and the presenter.

BreAnna Bell Janet Hubert is making her way from Belair to Serenity, SC (or, more accurately Tampa, Florida) as she joins “Sweet Magnolias” for Season 3. Variety has learned Hubert will guest star as Bev Decatur, Helen’s (Heather Headley) mother. In a moment of crisis, Helen goes to Tampa to visit her mother, needing Bev’s unique blend of humor, compassion, and tough love. “Following the brawl at Sullivan’s, Maddie wrestles with the best way to help Cal and works to clear her own emotional path. Helen faces difficult decisions about the men in her life. And Dana Sue searches for a way to use Miss Frances’ check to help the community, without upending her family. The identity of the tire slasher sends shockwaves through Serenity, the recall causes unexpected consequences, and there are romantic surprises in every generation. Throughout the season, the ladies tackle these problems — and all the complications they cause — with their trademark warmth, humor, and devotion to each other and those they love. And margaritas,” reads the Season 3 logline, per Netflix.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor A mass exodus of Black women from senior leadership posts across Hollywood during the last few weeks is raising questions about the depth of the film and television industry’s commitment to diversifying the top ranks of the entertainment industry. The high-profile departures have sparked outrage on social media, with mounting concerns that major studios are only performing lip service after pledging to elevate more people of color to positions of influence. In the last month, six Black women executives in prominent leadership roles have abruptly left their positions in the studio system. Many oversaw DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) departments, putting them on the frontlines of larger effort to change corporate cultures and hiring practices. The exits include Karen Horne, who led DEI efforts at Warner Bros. Discovery and Jeanell English, executive VP of impact and inclusion at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. The other prominent executives are Netflix’s Vernā Myers, the streamer’s first head of inclusion; Disney’s LaTondra Newton, chief diversity officer and senior VP; and another Warner Bros. executive, Terra Potts, VP of worldwide marketing. On Monday, Joanna Abeyie, the BBC’s creative diversity director, joined their ranks. And even though the steady stream of departures is alarming, multiple industry sources tell Variety that more BIPOC executives are expected to join them in the coming weeks.

BBC Unveils Trio Of Animation Series As It Steps Up Search For British ‘Simpsons’

BBC Breakfast presenter Nina Warhurst has welcomed her third bundle of joy - a beautiful baby girl.The 42-year-old, who married Ed Fraser in 2014, is already mum to sons Digby, seven, and Michael, five, only recently went on maternity leave but co-stars Sally Nugent and Jon Kay revealed that the baby has arrived already. Sharing the excitement announcement on an instalment on the morning programme, BBC presenter Sally told the audience: "She has welcomed a very healthy, beautiful baby girl." While John said, "and there she is" as they showed an adorable picture of the newborn on screen to viewers.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Sony Pictures Television has announced a new division focusing on music development, headed by Palash Ahmed, who worked as a music producer before joining the company in 2017. The move is intended to leverage the company’s ties to Sony Music Group and the larger music industry. In this role, Ahmed will be collaborating on music-related projects across SPT’s production groups (U.S. scripted, international production, nonfiction and kids divisions).  SPT Chairman Ravi Ahuja made the announcement in an internal note to staff, obtained by Variety. 

EastEnders viewers were left "disappointed" on Wednesday's episode as fan favourite, Finlay Baker, played by Ashley Byam, left Walford. Finlay, who first made his appearance in July 2022, has recently found himself caught in a feud with the Panesar family after Vinny tampered his car. And in a further twist, it was revealed that Finlay wasn't the intended victim and it was in fact Eve Unwin, who has been having an affair with Suki Panesar, as she was supposed to drive the vehicle.

K.J. Yossman Jessica Hynes (“Shaun of the Dead”) and Akemnji Ndifornyen (“Famalam”) are among the cast set to join Adjani Salmon’s BBC and A24 series “Dreaming Whilst Black.” The show, which Salmon (“Doctor Who”) created and stars in, is based on a web-series of the same name. It was adapted into a critically acclaimed pilot in 2021 and greenlit for a six-part series last fall. The series will see Salmon reprise his role as Kwabena alongside Dani Moseley (“The Kitchen”) as Amy. They will be joined by newcomers to the show Hynes and Ndifornyen as well as Isy Suttie (“Peep Show”), Peter Serafinowicz (“The Tick”), Roger Griffiths (“Chef!”), Martina Laird (“The Little Mermaid”), Jo Martin (“Doctor Who”), Steve Furst (“The Serpent Queen”) and “Love Island’s” Ovie Soko.

BBC presenter Lucy Owen has revealed that she was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery, after nearly losing her sight.The 52-year-old presenter, who is often seen fronting BBC Wales Today, had to go for the emergency op after a routine trip to the opticians led to her being diagnosed with a detached retina - which can cause blindness in some cases if not treated correctly. Taking to Twitter, Lucy posted a selfie as she sat in the car with an eye patch over one eye – seemingly on her way home from hospital. She wrote: "Again I need to say a huge thank you to the #NHS.