Channel 4’s Director of Programmes, Ian Katz has appointed Phil Harris as Head of Entertainment.
He joins Channel 4 from Thames where he has been Creative Director since 2017. He will take up his role early next year, reporting to Karl Warner, Controller of E4 and will be responsible for the entertainment output and live events across the Channel 4 portfolio and All 4.
Whilst at Thames, he looked after The Greatest Dancer for BBC1; a comedic reboot of classic quiz show Blockbusters for Comedy Central and BAFTA nominated Eating With My Ex, which has been sold in five territories globally.
Harris also developed new commissions including the new topical social media comedy clips show Rob Beckett’s Savage Socials for E4 and a prime-time reboot of Supermarket Sweep for ITV2.
Prior to Thames, Harris produced shows including Saturday Night Takeaway and The Xtra Factor, The Only Way is Essex, Playing it Straight and Celebrity Big Brother. He also devised and Executive Produced E4’s Celebs Go Dating and developed, produced and won an Emmy for Bravo’s real time dating show The Singles Project in the US.
Karl Warner said: “Phil’s an absolutely brilliant creative leader who’s been responsible for some of the best Entertainment shows on TV – we’re very lucky to have him coming to Channel 4.”
Phil Harris said: "Channel 4 was the reason I got into TV and this is a great job with a great team. All we need now is your great entertainment ideas."
In the interim, Channel 4’s Head of On-Screen Talent, Emma Hardy will continue to oversee the entertainment commissioning team, including Tom Beck – Head of Live Events and Commissioning Editor Entertainment, and Commissioning Editors, Steven Handley and Karen Murdoch, until Harris joins in early 2020.
Staff Reporter
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