Why ITV is making shows for the Beeb

ITV’s booming production arm helped boost revenue in the first quarter as the advertising market remained choppy.

Britain’s biggest commercial broadcaster said sales at ITV Studios rose 11pc thanks to the success of programmes it is selling to rivals and streaming services. New productions include The War Of The Worlds for the BBc, Unforgotten, The Voice and Queer Eye For The Straight Guy.

It also revealed that sales of online advertising were up and its internet audience grew 31pc.

But TV advertising has been volatile this year. It fell slightly in January and February, rose 7pc in March, plunged by 15pc in April, and is forecast to be flat in May.

But it is expected to surge 15pc in June when ITV and the BBc start broadcasting the football World cup.

Among ITV’s hits are Britain’s Got Talent and Love Island. Shares rose 6.1pc, or 9.15p, to 160.35p.