Turner’s Hidalgo hired as BBC kids and education boss

Patricia Hidalgo, currently Senior Vice President, Chief Content and Creative Officer at Turner EMEA and International Kids strategy, has been appointed as the BBC’s new Director, Children’s & Education.

Taking up her new role in September, she will be responsible for developing and implementing creative and editorial strategy for BBC Children’s services across all platforms, with a focus on the “strategic future direction of media consumption and business models.”

Hidalgo will also head up CBeebies and CBBC and will lead the BBC’s Education department. She’ll oversee all the division’s content output including in-house productions, co-productions and acquisitions, reporting to James Purnell, Director BBC Radio & Education.

During her last six years at Turner she was responsible for the production of the multiple award-winning series The Amazing World Of Gumball, as well as the Emile-awarded and Bafta-nominated The Heroic Adventures Of The Valiant Prince Ivandoe. In 2017 Hidalgo was awarded World Screen’s Global Kids Trendsetter award for her outstanding contribution to the kids’ media industry.

Prior to her role at Turner, Hidalgo spent 15 years at Disney where she held a number of senior roles in Spain, Italy and the UK.

She succeeds Alice Webb who has taken up a position outside the BBC. Sophy Jacob, Head of Business, is Interim Director of BBC Children’s & Education until Hidalgo takes up her new role.

James Purnell says: “Patricia has built a hugely successful career in kids’ TV with a track record that speaks for itself. Engaging our audience and staying relevant has never been more important and I have no doubt that Patricia will bring her experience and passion to expertly lead the teams in Children’s and Education through their next chapter.”

Patricia Hidalgo says: “l am really excited to be joining an organisation as forward thinking and respected worldwide as the BBC, and am honoured to be given the great responsibility of leading the Children’s and Education teams in their efforts to engage, entertain and educate young people across the UK.”