Two Rivers Media has hired Lizi Wootton as its Head of Popular Factual.  Wootton comes to the indie from Channel 4, where she was Acting Head of Channel 4 Features and senior Commissioning Editor, Features. 

Wootton will focus on formats, features and daytime. She joins senior creatives Mick McAvoy, Head of Factual, who leads on documentaries and specialist factual; and Mirella Breda, whose Head of Entertainment role spans both entertainment and factual entertainment.  Lucy Bacon was recently announced as Director of Unscripted Development, heading a development team working across the full range of factual output. 

Alan Clements, CEO of Two Rivers Media, said: “Since our launch in January, we have made significant progress in our aim to build a world-class creative team. Support from our backers – Kew Media, Noble Grossart and the Channel 4 Growth Fund – has enabled us to fast-track our growth and recruit the very best talent.  This is our fourth hire to our senior team, with one more in the pipeline. Lizi is known for creating, producing and delivering high-rating repeatable, returnable brands, including being the force behind some of Channel 4’s biggest features hits.  We couldn’t ask for a better Head of Popular Factual.”

During her five years at Channel 4, Wooton commissioned Channel 4’s highest-rating 8pm origination, Escape to the Chateau, building the series from a short commission into a major TV brand, with the daytime ‘DIY’ spin-off series delivering the highest daytime ratings in a decade.  As well as launching major series like Jamie Oliver’s Superfoods and looking after big brand returners like Great Canal Journeys and Food Unwrapped, her commissions included the ratings winner My Family and the Galapagos, festive schedule stalwart What Britain Bought, and Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages.

Before joining Channel 4 in 2013, Wootton’s production career credits included Secret Eaters for Channel 4 (Endemol, Exec Producer); Mary’s Bottom Line for Channel 4 (Endemol, Series Producer); Don’t Blame the Dog for BBC Three (BBC Natural History Unit, Series Producer); Blood, Sweat and Luxuries for BBC Three (Ricochet, Series Producer); and What Katie Did Next for ITV2 (ITV Studios, Series Producer).

Lizi Wootton, said: “It’s fantastic to be joining such a stand-out indie at this exciting, formative stage.  Two Rivers Media is shaping up to become one of the major players in the market with a wealth of creative leadership. I can’t wait to join the team and build a formidable factual footprint both in the UK and internationally.”

Staff Reporter

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