The Detectives executive producer Ruth Kelly is to join Twenty Twenty as Director of Programmes.

Kelly joins following three years at Expectation Entertainment where she was responsible for titles including BBC Two mini-series Murder 24/7 and BBC Three’s 25 Siblings and Me.

An executive producer with 18-years experience in factual programming, prior to joining Expectation Entertainment Kelly executive produced titles at Minnow Films including The Detectives for BBC Two, Valley Cops for BBC Three, and SAS: Who Dares Wins for Channel 4. She also executive produced BAFTA-winning Channel 4 TV documentary The Last Chance School and produced Channel 4’s Fighting on the Frontline and Scenes from a Teenage Killing for the BBC.

Beginning the role in July, Kelly will support Twenty Twenty’s ambitions to expand outside of London into the UK regions and will be working from the company’s new Bristol HQ. She will oversee all current productions as well as the new development slate, reporting to Creative Director James O’Reilly.

Twenty Twenty’s recent output includes BBC Two’s All That Glitters: Britain’s Next Jewellery Star which has just been commissioned for a second series. The company recently announced it was partnering with David Beckham’s Studio 99 for a new Disney+ series fronted by the former England and Manchester United star.

Twenty Twenty is establishing its new headquarters in Bristol this autumn. Last year, the company announced that its casting, story editing and post-production teams for award-winning format First Dates would be based out of Bristol, following the show’s move out of London to a new restaurant in Manchester. The company also launched a new training scheme, in partnership with Channel 4, to train up 24 Bristol-based production staff, who are now working on First Dates in areas including casting, research, editing and directing.  The second series of BBC Two’s All That Glitters is also to be made by a regionally based team out of the company’s Bristol office and shot in Birmingham.

Twenty Twenty’s Creative Director James O’Reilly said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted that Ruth is joining us at Twenty Twenty. She’s a fantastic programme-maker and creative with a reputation for producing television of the very highest quality. Her arrival is a huge boost to our ambitions as a company as we start our journey in Bristol together.’

Ruth Kelly said: ‘The opportunity to join Leanne and Jim at this unique moment in time for Twenty Twenty feels like the perfect fit. Their ability to create programmes that combine popularity, purpose, and creative innovation is genuinely exciting – if not a little awe-inspiring. Working alongside Jim in Bristol to build a thriving regional business, with the aim of attracting the top talent in factual programme-making, to rival the best of London is an adventure I am thrilled to be part of. That said, it is with a heavy heart I say goodbye to the extraordinarily talented team at Expectation, and I will remain forever proud of the work Colin{Barr}  and I have created together.’

Twenty Twenty is part of the Warner Bros. International Television Production group.

Jon Creamer

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