Category: 91Èȱ¬; Factual & Arts TV
Date: 05.07.2006
Printable version
The 91Èȱ¬'s Director of Factual and Learning John Willis is to step down from the
organisation after three years, it was announced today.
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91Èȱ¬ Director-General Mark Thompson said: "John is one of the most respected
creative leaders in British broadcasting.
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"At the 91Èȱ¬, he has presided over
groundbreaking programmes like Planet Earth, The Secret Policeman and the launch
of 91Èȱ¬ jam.
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"As a member of the Executive Direction Group he has been a key figure
in helping shape the direction of the 91Èȱ¬'s Creative Future content strategy.
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"I am grateful to John for the work he has done in strengthening and simplifying
F&L. I fully support the changes he and his colleagues have made there.
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"As we
shape 91Èȱ¬ production to deliver Creative Future we intend to build on the strong
base John has laid.
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"We talked about various roles for John as we begin to implement Creative Future
but he has decided to take the opportunity to retire from the 91Èȱ¬ and pursue
other avenues. We all wish him the very best."
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John Willis said: "My three years here have been book-ended by two of the most
important programmes the 91Èȱ¬ has made in the last 20 years, The Secret
Policeman and Planet Earth, as well as many brilliant programmes in between
including Live 8, Dunkirk and Auschwitz.
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"We have also established F&L as
world class producers of digital content across new platforms and launched a new
era in schools broadcasting with 91Èȱ¬ jam.
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"This marvellous content has been produced despite almost continuous change.
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"Now that the organisation is also planning a 91Èȱ¬-wide restructure, I believe
this is the right time for me to retire from the 91Èȱ¬, although certainly not
from broadcasting.
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"The full benefits of the new F&L structure are becoming clearer and the
division is in good shape for the future.
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"The foundations are very strong and I
know that I have left the division a more coherent and creative place than when
I arrived.
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"For myself, I recently became External Ombudsman for the Guardian
but I fully intend to continue my main career in broadcasting."
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John Willis began his career as a documentary maker at Yorkshire Television
winning awards for ground-breaking programmes like Johnny Go 91Èȱ¬ and Rampton - the Secret Hospital.
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He later edited the innovative documentary strand First
Tuesday.
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As Channel 4's Controller of Factual Programmes he created successful new
strands like Cutting Edge, True Stories and Secret History.
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As Director of
Programmes he oversaw the production of innovative series like Father Ted and
Rory Bremner, and film successes like Four Weddings and a Funeral and
Trainspotting.
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He also guided Channel 4's entry into schools broadcasting and
was Chairman of Channel 4 Learning.
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After Channel 4, John became Chief Executive of United Productions where he
built a fast-growing production division including Hornblower and Oliver Twist.
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When Granada bought United, he was appointed Managing Director of London Weekend
and United Productions.
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In 2001, he won the prestigious Royal Television Society Gold Medal for
Creative Contribution to Television.
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He became Vice President in charge of National Programming at WGBH in Boston,
the biggest station in the public service network in the United States, before
joining the 91Èȱ¬ in April 2003.
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91Èȱ¬ Press Office
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