CHANNEL 5 PILOTS DIVERSE DIRECTOR TRAINING SCHEME FOR EPISODIC TV
Channel 5
18 February 2025
In Conjunction With Clapperboard, The Initiative Will Offer Candidates The Opportunity To Direct A Prime-Time Drama Episode For The Channel
Munir Malik Chosen As First Director To Take Part In The Scheme
18th February, 2025, London, UK – Channel 5 today announced that it is piloting a new director training scheme, aimed at creating opportunities for diverse talent in episodic drama. The inaugural scheme, developed in collaboration with production company Clapperboard, is designed to provide emerging directors with the opportunity to step up into prime-time episodic drama.
Clapperboard has selected Munir Malik as the first director to participate in the pilot scheme. Having previously directed episodes of Channel 4’s Hollyoaks and ITV’s Emmerdale, Malik will now be tasked with the challenge of helming an episode of Channel 5’s cruise ship crime drama The Good Ship Murder. Produced by Clapperboard for Channel 5, the episode will air later this year on the channel as part of series 3.
During production, Malik will work closely with lead director Steve Hughes and receive support from Clapperboard through production and post-production.
“We’ve achieved real momentum with our drama on Channel 5 and as the slate expands further, it’s really important that we continue broadening our talent pool behind the scenes,” Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5 and Paramount+ commented. “We know how important it is for new directors to get credits in primetime TV and we hope this scheme will be an important stepping stone to directors, particularly at a time when the traditional breakthrough opportunities in continuing drama are getting fewer...”
Mike Benson, Managing Director, Clapperboard commented, “We know what a rich seam of directing talent work in continuing drama – but often the opportunities to move on to direct a peak drama series can be limited. We hope this partnership with 5 will provide an ongoing opportunity for Directors to further diversify their experience and CV.”
Munir Malik said: “It’s a major career milestone to be given the chance to step up on the primetime show, The Good Ship Murder. I see it as an opportunity to learn and grow with the support of the brilliant director Steve Hughes and the teams at Channel 5 and Clapperboard. I am very much looking forward to getting stuck in.”
The pilot scheme will run throughout this year, with the intention of cementing it next year, offering more directors the opportunity to break into episodic drama via a wider application process.
The announcement today comes in the wake of the news that Channel 5 will relaunch as 5 in March, with the service set to provide a refreshed identity to engage audiences across the UK, uniting its linear, streaming, and digital platforms under one roof to create a seamless viewing experience for audiences.
-ENDS-
Press contacts:
Anna Dally, Senior Manager, Communications - anna.dally@paramount.com
Harriet Otoo, Senior Director, Corporate Communications – harriet.otoo@paramount.com
About Channel 5
Channel 5 is a multi-award-winning public service broadcaster and the UK’s third largest commercial TV station. Launched in March 1997, Channel 5 has been part of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS) since its acquisition in September 2014. Its portfolio includes digital channels 5STAR, 5USA, 5SELECT, 5ACTION.
Channel 5 and on-demand platform My5 offer a diverse range of critically acclaimed, original programmes featuring well-known faces and fresh new talent – from issues-led documentaries, popular factual series and accessible history shows to premium drama and agenda-setting news & current affairs. Channel 5 is the only PSB to air children’s content daily through its much-loved programming strand Milkshake!, home to some of the world’s favourite pre-school characters. The free to air channel’s distinctive British programming aims to tell the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the UK.
Channel 5 has continued to attract industry acclaim for its content during 2024, including BAFTA Television and an RTS Awards for the documentary White Nanny Black Child. In addition, the documentary Air Fryers and factual hit The Yorkshire Vet won RTS Yorkshire Awards, while Michael Palin received the Radio Times Screen Test Award Special Judges Award for his Channel 5 documentaries.
About Clapperboard
Since launch, Clapperboard has delivered over 25 series and 100 hours of television, including critically acclaimed ratings winners The Teacher, The Holiday, The Ex Wife, The Cuckoo, and Maxine for Channel 5 and The Castaways and The Serial Killer's Wife for Paramount+. It was shortlisted for Best Production Company in the Edinburgh TV Awards 2022 and Best Independent Production Company at the Broadcast Awards 2024.
Dramas currently in production include The Ex Wife Series 2 for Paramount+ and The Rumour and Catch You Later, both for Channel 5.
Currently airing on Channel 5 is The Good Ship Murder Series 2, which is already commissioned for series 3. Hit comedy drama series, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, created and co-written by Sally Lindsay and co-produced by Clapperboard, is due to air later this year.
Clapperboard along with its partner companies, Chalkboard and Storyboard Studios, are part of iZen, the producer-led content group comprising a network of independent production companies in Spain, the Middle East and the UK.
