Channel 4 has announced fresh investment in TV talent outside London creating two junior commissioning roles in Glasgow and Leeds and offering 24 production companies across the UK bespoke growth support.
The move is part of the broadcaster’s wider strategy to strengthen the nations and regions production sector and keep creative jobs beyond the capital, it says. Dave Donald, from Glasgow, and Coral Lawson, based in Leeds, have been appointed to the channel’s Lifestyle team as the first participants in its new Junior Commissioning Editor Programme. The pair will work alongside senior executives to help shape shows and develop new formats.
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Coral Lawson said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the Channel 4 Lifestyle team. Their content has long been my go-to for pure viewing pleasure, and I’ve been fortunate enough to contribute to some of the team’s most successful returning series. Having been based in the north of England for nearly 15 years, it’s fantastic to see Channel 4’s continued commitment to supporting and developing talent across the Nations and Regions.”
Dave Donald said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the Lifestyle team at Channel 4. Having produced content for them, I’ve seen first-hand how creative they are, and how the audience is front-and-centre in everything they do. The team shape some truly brilliant shows, and I’m so excited to be part of that. As someone who has built a career in Glasgow, it’s great to see Channel 4 further invest in the Nations and Regions while championing diverse voices. I can’t wait to get started!”
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A third junior commissioning role will be based in Bristol, with further positions planned later this year in drama, reality and digital.
Channel 4 has also confirmed the 2025 cohort for its Business Boost programme, which provides training and mentoring to help production companies scale up.
Smaller outfits such as Button Down (North) and Wander Films (North East) are part of the “Foundations” strand, while more established companies including Freedom Scripted (Scotland) and Candour Productions (North) will join the “Next Level” track.
Managing Director for Nations and Regions Sinead Rocks said the investment would “lay the groundwork for a more sustainable, resilient and regionally representative broadcast sector.”
The broadcaster has pledged to invest millions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over the next few years, increase content spend outside London, and reserve all new More4 commissions for regional indies in 2025–26.
The production companies selected for Channel 4’s 2025 Business Boost cohort are:
Business Boost Foundations – for smaller or early-stage indies
- Crash Productions (Wales)
- Bowled Over Media (South)
- Calling the Shots Films Limited (South West)
- Walk on Air Films (Northern Ireland)
- Wander Films (North East)
- Afro-Mic Productions (Northern Ireland)
- Angel Eye Media Ltd (South West)
- High Rock Media (Northern Ireland)
- Button Down (North)
- Recorded Time (Northern Ireland)
- Circus 68 Scotland Ltd (Scotland)
- GOSH TV LTD (Midlands)
Business Boost Next Level production companies are:
- Freedom Scripted (Scotland)
- Chatterbox Media (South)
- Candour Productions (North)
- Kailash Films Ltd (Wales)
- Zandland Ltd (North)
- Afanti Media Ltd (Wales)
- Monster Films (Wales)
- Black Camel Pictures (Scotland)
- ScreenDog Productions (South)
- Salamanda Media Limited (North)
- Waddell Media Limited (Northern Ireland)
- Full Fat Television Ltd (Midlands)
