ITV is yet to find itself in a position where it is “turning stuff down because we can’t afford it,” according to programs boss Kevin Lygo, who nonetheless acknowledged “the middle ground has gone” from the the market due to massive hits like Netflix’s The Gentlemen.Addressing the Edinburgh TV Festival, Lygo attempted to calm nerves among the producers watching his session over a lack of work, coming after a panel during which a number of execs said there are far too many production companies in the ecosystem.Lygo said his commissioning team is constantly thinking about the balance between not wanting to “mortgage the whole future” and commissioning a producer “walking in with something that you suddenly want to do next week.”In the face of market contraction and dozens of layoffs, he said he “understands how hard it is for small indies to get business away but we are open for business,” adding that it has been “a real focus of the company in these hard times to maintain spend and program budget.” “We’re not yet turning stuff down because we can’t afford it,” he added.But as discussed in depth by execs earlier today, he acknowledged “the slightly soft middle ground we used to make a lot of has gone from ITV.” “Why would you watch that when you have Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen, or Mr Bates vs the Post Office?,” he queried.With Nigel Farage back in the headlines following the UK riots, Lygo faced questions over whether he should have been allowed to appear on last year’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!Panel host Rhianna Dhillon posited to Lygo that she “wouldn’t exist” if people like Farage had their way, due to the fact that her father is an immigrant.But Lygo said it “wasn’t meant to offend anyone” and pointed out that Farage is an “elected MP.”Although Farage has criticized him, Lygo also poured scorn on a general “industry-focused judgemental attitude” that says the Reform UK leader shouldn’t have been allowed to appear on the show.“Audiences are sophisticated and can see what’s going on,” he added. “It’s fine to have these controversial figures. Would we put another politician in? Only if we want to, and we will decide when they step forward whether we think it is a good idea.”Lygo was speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival on the same day as the likes of Warren Littlefield and Anne Mensah.
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