BBC Studios Productions has appointed Juliet Rice as its Bristol-based Creative Director to oversee its South West and Northern Ireland Factual Entertainment business.
The unit makes shows including Antiques Roadshow, Countryfile, DIY SOS and Gardeners’ World.
The news follows the recent appointment of Adeline Ramage Rooney as Creative Director for Factual Entertainment and Events in Scotland, based at BBC Studios Productions’ Glasgow hub.
Rice, who is currently Head of Spun Gold West in Bristol, will report to BBC Studios’ Fact Ent and Events Managing Director Hannah Wyatt and will be tasked with winning new business from a range of broadcasters and platforms as well as cultivating BBC Studios IP.
Based in Bristol, but covering all three bases, she will provide senior editorial support to the production teams, build on the existing strength of the portfolio across the locations, and work with the existing team on the development and production of new ideas.
Rice was a founder member of Spun Gold in 2004 and launched Katie Price and Peter Andre as reality stars as well as making a wide range of popular documentaries for the BBC and Channel 4. In 2006 she joined Twofour as Head of Factual Entertainment where she worked for nine years, during a period of great expansion for the company, making shows such as Heston Blumenthal Big Chef Takes On Little Chef, Choccywoccydoodah and Kitchen Impossible with Michel Roux Jr. Rice returned to Spun Gold in 2015 becoming Head of Spun Gold West in Bristol where she was responsible for a large slate including Garden Rescue and Love Your Garden.
Hannah Wyatt, Managing Director for Fact Ent and Events, BBC Studios Productions says: “I’m thrilled that Juliet, with such a fantastic track record in this genre, is joining this increasingly busy and hugely important base for us in Bristol. She’ll be looking after some of the nation’s most watched and beloved shows as well as nurturing and growing the next generation of ideas.”
Juliet Rice commented: “I couldn’t be more delighted to be joining the brilliant BBC Studios Productions team in Bristol, Wales and Northern Ireland. To be custodian of some of the BBC’s most iconic heritage brands is a complete privilege and I cannot wait to develop a whole new generation of hit shows.”
Rice takes up her new role at BBC Studios in September.
Jon Creamer
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