The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

BBC ITV

BBC drama chief joins ITV as broadcaster's new senior team is revealed

Author

By Gillian West, Social media manager

April 9, 2016 | 3 min read

BBC drama chief Polly Hill has moved to ITV to become its head of drama as new director of television, Kevin Lygo, looks to make his mark.

Hill's appointment comes along side a number of senior management changes which sees Sue Murphy, the former Channel 4 executive responsible for My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, join the broadcaster in the newly created role of head of factual.

Other changes include Siobhan Greene moving from ITV Studios to become head of entertainment and Peter Davey's promotion to head of comedy entertainment. Angela Jain becomes managing director of ITV Studios Entertainment and Rosemary Newell joins from Discovery Networks to take on Jain's former role of head of digital channels and acquisitions.

Lygo, who succeeded Peter Fincham as director of television at ITV, commented: "A channel's programming is only as good as the choices the commissioning teams make, and so it is vital to have the best people possible in these crucial positions.

"I'm delighted to announce that Polly, Sue, Shu, Peter, and Rosemary will be joining immediately to lead the programming team through the next phase of ITV's output.

"Each of them bring a blend of passion and experience to the roles and I'm confident that as a team we can continue to build on the raft of shows that help to make ITV Britain's most popular commercial channel."

Of the move from the BBC, where her hits include The Night Manager, Poldark and Doctor Foster, Hill said: "After 11 years at the BBC I am proud to be leaving it at the top of its game.

"ITV has always played a vital part in the landscape of British drama and shows such as Cracker, Prime Suspect and Band of Fold, had a huge influence on me and the drama I wanted to make.

"I am proud to be joining ITV and will lead the drama department into its next exciting chapter, making the very best popular drama, which will feel original, distinctive and authored. It's a new journey for me and I can't wait to start."

Murphy added that she was "thrilled" to be joining the broadcaster from independent production company Optomen. "I started my career at ITV [Granada] and I am really looking forward to commissioning and creating a new generation of ITV Fact Entertainment formats and programme brands."

BBC ITV

More from BBC

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +