Film and TV Charity unveils first ambassadors

Director and filmmaker Amma Asante MBE, actor and producer David Morrissey, screenwriter Kit de Waal, and journalist and broadcaster Marverine Cole have been named as the charity’s inaugural ambassadors.

The Film and TV Charity said all four were invited to join its ambassador programme because of their shared commitment to supporting behind the scenes talent.

“Each of them has also demonstrated a passion for the Charity’s mission to create an industry that’s a happy, healthy, and inclusive place to work by improving wellbeing and promoting healthier working practices and culture,” said the charity in a statement.

“Change takes time, and I’m looking forward to joining the charity’s team on their journey to a more supportive and inclusive environment for all,” said Amma Asante, who is the first Black director to win a BAFTA Film Award for writing and director a feature film, 2004’s A Way Of Life. Her films also include Belle, A United Kingdom and Where Hands Touch.

Kit de Waal set up the Kit de Waal Creative Writing Scholarship to help improve working-class representation in the arts. In 2020 she turned her hand to screenwriting with The Third Day, a TV series starring Jude Law and Emily Watson.

Marverine Cole is an award-winning broadcast journalist who’s worked in the industry for the last 21 years – 16 of those as a freelancer. Currently one of the newsreader team for ITV’s Good Morning Britain, she is a long-time supporter of the charity’s work and will use her role as ambassador to highlight the challenges faced by freelancers.

Actor David Morrissey’s credits include The Walking Dead, Sherwood, Daddy Issues and The Long Shadow. He has also directed Passer-By, Sweet Revenge (both for BBC) and the feature film Don’t Worry About Me.

Morrissey said: ​“When I heard about the support the Charity offers people who experience bullying, harassment, or discrimination in our industry – something that’s inexcusably still happening far too often – I felt compelled to lend my voice to their work.