Sky Tells Staff To Go Home Early Amid UK Riots Hitting London As ITV & BBC Send Notes To Employees Signposting Help – Updated

UPDATED 09.21 a.m. PT with ITV & BBC all-staffers

'The Traitors' Producer Studio Lambert Decries "Deeply Affecting" UK Riots In Leaked Email

EXCLUSIVE : Sky staff have been told to leave the company’s Isleworth campus early amid reports that UK riots will be staged in Brentford, West London, while ITV and the BBC have urged employees to stay at home if they are concerned.

Amid increasing unease over disorder on British streets, Deadline hears that Comcast-owned Sky has asked employees to prioritize their safety if they are able to work from home.

It comes amid reports that far-right rioters are planning to target Brentford on Wednesday, with concerns that this could include Syon Lane train station, a commuter hub for Sky employees.

We are told that other big media companies in the area are also signposting support for staff. This includes Warner Bros. Discovery UK, which has a campus in Chiswick, relatively near Sky.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ruth Cadbury, the Labour MP Brentford and Isleworth, condemned any plans to target the community. She said there will be an increased police presence in the area.

“Residents across our borough share my revulsion at the explosion of violent Islamophobic and racist behaviour taking place across the UK over recent days,” Cadbury said. “These riots are randomly attacking businesses, individuals and are targeting mosques and asylum hotels. I can only imagine the impact this is having on many local residents.”

ITV & BBC Tell Staff To Stay At Home If Concerned

The riots, which broke out after the Southport stabbings, have led both ITV and the BBC to send notes to staff, both of which Deadline has seen, offering support and telling workers to stay at home if they feel uncomfortable.

'Hammer: Heroes, Legends And Monsters': Sky Teams With Hammer Films & Deep Fusion Films For Doc Celebrating 90th Anniversary Of Iconic Horror Studio

ITV CEO Carolyn McCall said the events have “had an impact on colleagues across ITV, with many people of colour and Muslim communities being particularly affected.”

“I would like to reiterate that, for those who feel unsafe and want to avoid city centres or travelling, we support working from home if you feel more comfortable to do so during this time,” she added, while also paying tribute to the teams across ITV News.

This was a sentiment shared by BBC Chief People Officer Uzair Qadeer in his message to BBC staff Monday night in the wake of the ongoing violence.

Qadeer said he was “deeply concerned” for staff “fearful and anxious going about their daily routine, leaving their homes and travelling,” and urged them to speak with line managers if they are concerned.

“This is a very worrying and challenging time for many across the UK,” he said. “No one should ever face fear or prejudice, and it is essential that we act with empathy and humanity, taking extra care to support each other in these troubling times.”

The violence has broken out across the UK after the fatal stabbing of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last week.

The unrest was initially fuelled by social media misinformation that the suspected assailant, Cardiff-born Axel Rudakubana, was an asylum seeker. Anger has continued to be whipped up online, not least by X/Twitter owner Elon Musk, who has been critical of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and claimed that Britain is on the brink of civil war. Earlier on Wednesday, Deadline revealed that The Traitors producer Studio Lambert had emailed employees to decry the disorder and offer welfare support.

'Sweetpea': Sky & Starz Unveil Trailer For Cult Novel Adaptation Starring 'Fallout's Ella Purnell