BBC Studios has appointed Mark Hedgecoe as the Head of Factual Scotland.
Factual Scotland is a new production unit within BBC Studios, centred in Glasgow, creating a range of specialist factual and broader factual content.
BBC Studios’ Religion and Ethics production team will also come under the management of Factual Scotland in a move which has prompted the departure of Aaqil Ahmed, Head of Religion and Ethics.
Ahmed is former BBC Deputy Editor of Documentaries and was Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor for Religion and Head of Multicultural Programming.
Mark Hedgecoe has worked in specialist factual television for over 15 years and has been Acting Head of Arts for BBC Studios for the last year. As an Executive Producer his credits include factual drama The Challenger starring William Hurt, The Gamechangers starring Daniel Radcliffe, Operation Iceberg, What’s The Right Diet For You?, Earth’s Natural Wonders and The Girl Who Talked To Dolphins.
Lisa Opie, Head of BBC Studios Factual says: “Mark is an exceptional programme-maker and an energetic leader who lives and breathes factual content. He will help grow our cross-genre offering in Factual Scotland, encouraging creative collaboration whilst protecting our unique specialisms.”
Mark Linsey, Director of BBC Studios, said: “The BBC has broadcast some outstanding religious and ethics programming under Aaqil and we are grateful to him for the contribution he has made over the last 7 years, both in production and commissioning.”
Factual Scotland is one of six production units in BBC Studios Factual, alongside The Natural History Unit, Popular Factual, Science, Documentaries and Topical and Live.
Subject to regulatory approval, BBC Studios will launch as a wholly-owned subsidiary in 2017 and will be able to compete for work with other UK and international broadcasters, as well as the BBC.
Staff Reporter
Share this story
