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In: Sue Murphy, Head of Factual Entertainment Commissioning, ITV
Sue Murphy has been appointed as Head of Factual Entertainment Commissioning at ITV. Murphy’s previous credits as Optomen Creative Director include Employable Me for BBC2, Bafta-nominated Kevin McCloud’s Escape To The Wild, Ramsay’s Costa Del Nightmares and Gordon Behind Bars, Undercover Doctor and Mary Portas Secret Shopper for Channel 4, Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch […]
Out: Claire Zolkwer, Commissioning Editor, Comedy Entertainment, ITV
Claire Zolkwer is leaving her role as Commissioning Editor for Comedy Entertainment at ITV after a restructure. Source: Broadcast
Out: Katy Thorogood, Commissioning Editor, ITV
Katy Thorogood is to leaving her role as Factual Commissioning Editor at ITV to join Ricochet Productions as Creative Director. Source: Broadcast
In: Andrew O’Connel, Commissioning Editor, Factual, ITV
Andrew O’Connell has been appointed as Commissioning Editor for Factual at ITV, reporting to Richard Klein, Director of Factual. Source: Broadcast
In: Amanda Stavri, Commissioning Editor Entertainment, ITV2 / ITVBe
Amanda Stavri has been appointed as Commissioning Editor for Entertainment at ITV2 and ITVBe from June 2014, reporting to Elaine Bedell, Director of Entertainment and Comedy. Source: Broadcast
In: Clare Ely & Jane Beacon, Commissioning Editor, Daytime, ITV
Clare Ely and Jane Beacon have been appointed as Commissioning Editor for Daytime at ITV, sharing the role between them. Source: Televisual
In: Peter Davey, Commissioning Editor, Entertainment, ITV
Peter Davey has been appointed as Commissioning Editor for Entertainment at ITV. Source: Televisual
In: Richard Williams, Controller of Multiplatform Commissioning and Digital Content, ITV
Richard Williams has been appointed as controller of multiplatform commissioning and digital content at ITV. He was previously head of multiplatform production and production modernisation at the BBC. Source: Broadcast
In: Paul Gill, Head of Interactive Commissioning, ITV
Paul Gill has been appointed as Head of Interactive Commissioning at ITV from February, 2011, reporting to Ann Cook, Controller of Interactive. Source: Broadcast
Meet the Commissioner: Diana Howie, Commissioning Editor, ITV Daytime and Factual
Diana Howie, Commissioner Daytime and Factual, ITV recently outlined her commissioning needs to attendees of an event run by Women in Film and Television. (Photo by Torres CC BY-SA 2.0)
Up: Sarah Lazenby, Commissioning Editor, Entertainment, Channel 4
Sarah Lazenby has been promoted to the role of Commissioning Editor for Entertainment at Channel 4. Sarah will work under Head of Comedy Entertainment Ben Caudell and alongside Commissioning Editor, Entertainment, Syeda Irtizaali. Since joining Channel 4 series Sarah has overseen include Sex Box, Noel Fielding’s Only In Japan, Derren Brown’s Pushed To The Edge, […]
In: Danny Carvalho, Commissioning Editor, Factual Entertainment, Channel 4
Danny Carvalho is to join Channel 4’s Factual Entertainment and Entertainment department as Commissioning Editor for Factual Entertainment. Danny will report to Liam Humphreys, who heads the Factual Entertainment and Entertainment teams at the channel. He replaces Rich Evans who recently left the department. Carvalho’s appointment to Factual Entertainment and Entertainment follows a maternity cover […]
Out: Claire Aguliar, VP Programming, ITVS
Claire Aguilar is leaving her post as Vice President of Programming at Independent Television Service (ITVS), taking up a new role as content consultant. In the new consulting role, Claire will provide high-level, portfolio analysis and content feedback under the direction of Jim Sommers, Senior Vice President of Content and head of ITVS’ Content Strategy Team. […]
Out: Julian Bellamy, Creative Director & Head of Commissioning, Discovery Networks International
Julian Bellamy is leaving his post as Creative Director & Head of Commissioning, Discovery Networks International to join ITV Studios as Managing Director. Source: TBI Vision
Greenlit: Broadmoor, ITV
Broadmoor w/t (2 x 60′) – Observational documentary series that follows the staff and patients of Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital. Channel: ITV Producer: Shiver TX: Autumn 2014 Source: Broadcast
In: Rachel Ashdown, Commissioning Editor Entertainment, BBC
Rachel Ashdown has been appointed to the role of Commissioning Editor, Entertainment at the BBC. Rachel is an experienced Executive Producer specialising in studio entertainment, live events and formatted factual entertainment. Previous credits include exec producing the Whizz Kid Entertainment/ASG Production Titanic: A Commemoration In Music And Film (BBC), Wall Of Fame (Sky1) for CPL […]
In: David Brindley, Commissioning Editor Factual, Channel 4
David Brindley has been appointed as Commissioning Editor, Factual at Channel 4 reporting to Deputy Head of Factual Nick Mirsky. He will be working with Madonna Benjamin and Amy Flanagan to maintain, develop and refresh the big multi-part documentary series such as One Born Every Minute, 24 Hours in A&E and First Dates which are all set to return in […]
In: Alison Sharman, Head of Commissioning, SBS
SBS in Australia has appointed Alison Sharman to the new position of Head of Commissioning. Sharman has over 20 years’ experience as an executive with major public and commercial broadcasters in the UK. Since 2006, Sharman was Director of Factual and Daytime for ITV, leading the transformation of the daytime schedule and restoring ITV’s factual […]
How to Make Your Commissioning Editor Fall in Love with You
It’s tempting to believe that getting your idea commissioned begins and ends with a good idea. YOUR idea. But sadly, that’s not true. What gets your idea commissioned is a relationship. More specifically a relationship with a commissioner. Even more than that, a relationship with the RIGHT of commissioner, that is the one with whom you have good chemistry. So what if you aren’t fortunate enough to have fostered the right relationships? The best way might be to move house and get your kids into the same school as the target of your desires and nobble them at sports day. Failing that, there are some things you can do to make yourself more attractive to a commissioner during that all-important first meeting/reunion (should you be lucky enough to engineer one). (Photo by PV KS CC BY 2.0)
In Development: Mark’s American Vacation, ITV2
Mark’s American Vacation (5 x 60′) – Mark Wright (ex-The Only Way is Essex) heads stateside to see if he can turn his reality TV success in the UK into Hollywood success in the USA. Channel: ITV2 Producer: Lime Pictures TX: Summer 2012 Source: Broadcast
In: Tom Porter, Commissioning Editor, News and Current Affairs, Channel 4
Tom Porter has been appointed as News & Current Affairs Commissioning Editor at Channel4. Porter will report to Head of News & Current Affairs Dorothy Byrne; his appointment completes her commissioning team, following the arrival of Daniel Pearl as Dispatches Commissioning Editor. Porter has overseen 16 Dispatches investigations since 2009 as Executive & Series Producer […]
Greenlit: A Tale of Two Corfus, ITV1
A Tale of Two Corfus (8 x 30′) – Docuseries chronicling the lives of Brits living and working in Corfu, Greece during a busy summer season. Channel: ITV1 Producer: Century Films TX: TBC Source: Broadcast
Greenlit: Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs, ITV1
Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs w/t (6 x 30′) – Paul O’Grady presents a series focused on the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, London Channel: ITV1 Producer: ITV Studios TX: Late 2012 Source: Broadcast
Greenlit: Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son, ITV1
Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son (3 x 60′) -Documentary series that investigates murder cases from the perspectives of the police, a criminal profiler and the impact that such cases have on the families involved. Channel: ITV1 Producer: ITV Studios TX: TBC Source: Broadcast
Greenlit: Animal Kingdom, ITV1
Animal Kingdom (6 x 30′) – Steve Leonard visits the Erindi Game Park in southern Africa to see how endangered species are reintroduced to the wild. Channel: ITV1 Producer: ITV Studios Anglia Factual TX: TBC Source: Broadcast
Greenlit: Safari Vet School, ITV1
Safari Vet School (12 x 30′) – Steve Leonard joins UK vet students who are on a placement to the Amakhala Game Reserve in South Africa, learning how to look after big cats and elephants. Channel: ITV1 Producer: ITV Studios Anglia Factual TX: TBC Source: Broadcast
Greenlit: Perspectives, ITV1
Perspectives (5×60′) – A new contemporary documentary strand commissioned by ITV1, dedicated to authored documentaries. The first run includes: Mugged w/t – Personal testimony interwoven with CCTV footage and police actuality that explores stories behind the crime statistics. (Brian Hill/Century Films) The Fisherman’s Friends w/t – How a group of fisherman who struck gold with […]
Meet the UK Factual Commissioners: Katy Thorogood, Commissioner Daytime and Factual, ITV
Katy Thorogood, Commissioner Daytime and Factual, ITV recently outlined her commissioning needs to attendees of the Broadcast Factual Forum. Click through to find out what she’s looking to commission in the coming months. (Photo by Torres CC BY-SA 2.0)
Meet the UK Factual Commissioner: Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller Popular Factual, ITV
Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller Popular Factual, ITV recently outlined her commissioning needs to attendees of the Broadcast Factual Forum (March 2010). Click through to find out what’s working on ITV, what they’re looking for in Factual, and what they’re willing to pay. (Photo by Torres CC BY-SA 2.0)
In: Elis Owen, Head of Commissioning, BBC Cymru Wales
Elis Owen has been appointed the new head of commissioning at BBC Cymru Wales, responsible for all English-language programming on BBC1 Wales and BBC2 Wales. He was previously National Director of ITV Wales. Source: Broadcast
Greenlit: Coastline Cops, ITV1
Coastline Cops (3×60′) – follows police divers, cliff rescue teams and marine pursuit squads working around the UK coastline. Channel: ITV1 Producer: Streadfast TV TX: Late 2009 Source: Broadcast
In: Kelly Webb Lamb, Head of Factual Entertainment, Channel 4
Kelly Webb Lamb has been appointed as Head of Factual Entertainment at Channel 4, reporting to Liam Humphreys Head of Entertainment. She will oversee Factual Entertainment output across the channel; developing established brands, overseeing ambitious upcoming projects and working closely with Liam in driving forward the strategy of delivering innovative, entertaining shows which offer a […]
Up: Mandy Chang, Head of Arts, ABC TV
Mandy Chang has been appointed to the role of Head of Arts, ABC TV in Australia. Mandy is an award-winning producer who joined the ABC as Commissioning Editor after a hugely successful stint producing and directing documentaries for major UK broadcasters. In her three years at ABC TV, she has overseen the creation of significant […]
Documentary Commissioners: Searching for Gems in the Schedule
Go to one of the major international documentary festivals and you’ll come away feeling that the genre is alive, kicking and having a party. ITV’s Jo Clinton-Davis said at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2015 that the audience was searching for “gems in the schedule”, but of all the commissioner panels, the documentary session seemed to be the one where the commissioners had the most trouble articulating/least enthusiasm describing what it was that they wanted or needed in their schedules; they seemed to be suffering a strange collective ennui.
Factual Entertainment Commissioners: Difficult to Deliver
Ever so often a show comes along that changes the landscape and influences everything that comes in its wake: Big Brother (contributors/contestants/celebrities confined to one location for the duration of a series), Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing With the Stars (celebrities pairing with professionals to learn a skill and compete), One Born Every Minute (fixed-rig shows). The latest show to be spreading its DNA far and wide seems to be Gogglebox. At Sheffield Doc/Fest in 2015 a panel of Factual Entertainment Commissioners discussed their current needs.
Sheffield Doc/Fest: Through a Current Affairs Lens by Charlotte Fisher
The first time Charlotte Fisher went to Sheffield Doc/Fest, in 2011, she was a total novice in the world of documentary making. She was a TV news reporter making a switch to factual programmes and although she’d made current affairs half hours, this was another world. In 2015 she went to the festival as a journalist, going to seminars and watching films; getting an overview of the whole festival. But she was also taking an interest with her other hat on, as a freelance producer at an independent production company.
In: Sarah Lazenby, Entertainment Editor, Channel 4
Sarah Lazenby has been appointed to the post of Entertainment Editor at Channel 4 Sarah joins from CPL where she most recently executive produced the Game of Thrones HBO World Premiere and live entertainment chat show Thronecast for Sky Atlantic. Previous credits as Executive Producer at NERD include entertainment programming in both the UK and […]
In: George Dixon, Channel Controller, RTÉ One
George Dixon has been appointed as Channel Controller, RTÉ One. Reporting to Glen Killane, Managing Director, RTÉ Television, he will be responsible for the creation and implementation of channel strategy on linear and digital platforms. George has been Controller of Channel Management at Channel 4 since 2011, where he provided strategic leadership of the C4 […]
In: Charlotte Reid, Director of Production and Development, Lifestyle and Entertainment, Discovery Networks International
Charlotte Reid has been appointed as Director of Production and Development, Lifestyle and Entertainment, Discovery Networks International. In this newly created role, she will lead lifestyle and entertainment commissioning in Scandinavia and the Netherlands, as well as serve as executive producer on key returning series for DNI and the UK. She will report into Sarah […]
Pitching Tips Straight From the Commissioner’s Mouth
Pitching is such a tricky thing because you rarely get the opportunity to see other people do it, so you just have to take a deep breath and hope for the best. And chances are you won’t walk out of the door with a commission (research by The Research Centre suggests you have something like […]
Greenlit: Developing Factual/Reality TV Ideas From Concept to Pitch – Filmography
Greenlit: Developing Factual/Reality TV Ideas from Concept to Pitch reveals how to get an idea for a documentary or non-fiction/reality television series such as Touching the Void, The Apprentice or Supernanny from concept to commission and explains why having a great idea is not enough. Candid interviews with fifty top industry insiders – including international […]
Meet the Entertainment Commissioner: Mark Sammon, Virgin Media
Mark Sammon, Head of Commissioning at Virgin Media TV, recently outlined his commissioning needs to attendees of the Broadcast Entertainment Forum (as of September 2009). Mark commissions programmes for Virgin 1, Bravo and Living. Mark’s View on Living Living is aimed at young women; its competition is ITV2 and BBC3. Celebrities, dating, weddings and makeovers […]
Wanted: What the UK Digital Channels Want
At the Intelligent Factual Festival last week a number of commissioning execs outlined their channel brands and where they’ve still got gaps. Click through to see what ITV3, ITV4 and Discovery UK want. (Photo by rightee – CC BY 2.0)
Development Insider: Britain’s Got Talent?
Choosing a credible factual presenter is a perennial problem and grows increasingly difficult in an age when everyone wants to have a go. Ask potential talent what their interests or, heaven forbid, ‘passions’ are, and, I assure you, the list will never end, says Bezlshazzar in this latest Development Insider article. But is passion enough? What happened to presenters with real expertise? (photo by das.viereck)
