91Èȱ¬

91Èȱ¬ Cymru Wales has announced Alun Jones as the new programme director for its Drama Centre, currently under construction in Cardiff Bay.

Jones, who will be taking up his role next month, will be responsible for leading the team delivering the Drama Centre, which will house the 91Èȱ¬ network dramas Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Casualty, and the 91Èȱ¬'s longest running soap Pobol y Cwm.

The Drama Centre will replace two current 91Èȱ¬ Wales drama production sites at Llandaff in Cardiff and in Upper Boat near Pontypridd. Casualty will move from Bristol.

Basic building work is due to be completed in summer 2011. Once fitted out and screen-ready, filming will begin for Casualty and Pobol y Cwm in autumn 2011, with Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures moving from their current Upper Boat studios in 2012.

Alun Jones said: "The drama centre is a unique project in Wales and I am delighted to be joining the team at this stage of a development which, in addition to allowing 91Èȱ¬ Wales to build on the success of its current drama productions, also presents a fantastic opportunity for the wider creative industries in Wales.

"There is an ambitious timetable of work to be completed in the coming year, and I'm confident that it will be achieved through the combination of the outstanding talent within the team and the excellent partnerships that have already been put in place."

91Èȱ¬ Cymru Wales Director Menna Richards said: "I am delighted that someone of Alun's experience is taking over this important project to deliver a fantastic drama centre that will be of significant benefit to the wider creative industries in Wales.