The BBC has appointed David Brindley as Head of Commissioning for Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment.
Brindely joins from Channel 4, where he has been a commissioning editor in Documentaries for the past three years.
He will run the Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment department, which replaces the previous Formats and Features Department.
Brindley replaces Donna Clark, who has led the formats and features team for the past 18 months.
Brindley’s commissioning work includes The Trial (w/t due to TX 2017); The Tribe; Royal Navy School; The Extraordinary Case of Alex Lewis; The Vote; and Angry, White and Proud. He has also been in charge of returning series such as the latest 999: What’s Your Emergency; 24 Hours in A&E, Educating Cardiff; One Born Every Minute; and The Hotel.
After beginning his career at RDF working across three series of Wife Swap, he won an Emmy for jointly series directing Educating Yorkshire, directed on One Born Every Minute, and produced at Minnow Films and Blast! Films.
BBC controller of factual commissioning Alison Kirkham said: “David is a hugely creative and well-respected commissioner who brings a wealth of experience to our team. I have long admired the programmes he has made and commissioned, and I’m thrilled that he is bringing his expertise and passion to BBC Factual Commissioning.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Donna Clark who has done a fantastic job leading the Formats and Features team over the past eighteen months – with successes ranging from Employable Me through to Full Steam Ahead and, just this week, Arctic Live. She has been absolutely wonderful to work with. I’m sure you will all want to join me in wishing her every success as she takes the decision to return to her first love: programme making.”
Brindley said: “I’ve had the most invigorating, enjoyable and happy three years at Channel 4 and I’m genuinely sorry to be saying goodbye to such a talented team, but I couldn’t turn down this exciting opportunity to join the BBC and run a department focused on making the very best in popular factual programming.”
Clark said: “I’ve had a brilliant time leading the Factual Features and Formats team over the last year and am very proud to have commissioned a wide range of new programmes from Employable Me and Full Steam Ahead to the Big Family Cooking Challenge. Whilst I’ve thoroughly enjoyed commissioning at the BBC my heart lies in production so I’ve decided to return to my first love, programme making, and I wish David every success in his new role.”
Staff Reporter
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