“People don't always understand the way it works with casting. TV projects tend to be commissioned to screen at a particular time of year, so your shooting dates are chosen to meet that. And then the casting is a matter of choosing from the actors who are available for those dates.”

British television writer, producer, director and novelist

Jed Mercurio is a British television writer, producer, director and novelist. Before turning to television, he worked as a hospital doctor and served as a Royal Air Force officer. He was born Gerald Gary Mercurio and has been ranked among the leading writers in UK television. Mercurio is known for his work across drama, as well as for moving from medicine into writing and production. In 2017, he received a Fellowship of the Royal Television Society and the Baird Medal from RTS Midlands, recognition that reflects his standing in British television.