 |
Press Releases
George Entwistle named Controller, Knowledge Commissioning
|
George Entwistle has been named as the new 91Èȱ¬ Controller of Knowledge
Commissioning.
Ìý
In this role he will be responsible for delivering the
recently launched Knowledge Building strategy across the 91Èȱ¬ on TV and
on the web, from landmark series to documentaries; across specialisms
from arts to history, natural history, business, science and religion;
to consumer journalism and contemporary factual.
Ìý
He will head 91Èȱ¬
Vision's Knowledge and Learning commissioning teams who commission
programmes and multiplatform content from Vision Productions and the
independent sector, which together produce over 1,600 hours of output a
year.
Ìý
Jana Bennett, Director of 91Èȱ¬ Vision, said: "As a programme maker and a
creative leader, George has an impressive track record across a wide
range of genres including current affairs, arts and science.
Ìý
"This gives
him a deep understanding of how to deliver great factual programmes for
all audiences.
Ìý
"He has been an outstanding member of the factual
commissioning team and has also had real success leading the creative
renewal in current affairs and during his time running 91Èȱ¬ Four.
Ìý
"Knowledge building is a cornerstone of the 91Èȱ¬'s future and this is an
opportunity to bring the knowledge story together more powerfully across
all channels, the web and other platforms, building on the foundations
laid by Glenwyn Benson."
Ìý
George Entwistle said: "The 91Èȱ¬'s knowledge output – on TV and every
other platform – is right at the heart of our public purposes.
Ìý
"I am
delighted to be given the opportunity to play my part in taking forward
our new Knowledge Strategy – in partnership with the exceptional talent
across the 91Èȱ¬ and the independent sector – to deliver factual content
our audiences will find outstandingly valuable, compelling and
enriching."
Ìý
George Entwistle's career has embraced a broad range of factual programme-making.
Ìý
In 1999, after ten years in current affairs, he joined the
science department as Deputy Editor of 91Èȱ¬ One's flagship science show
Tomorrow's World.
Ìý
He went from there to become Deputy Editor and, in 2001, Editor of
Newsnight – which won five RTS awards during his editorship.
Ìý
In 2004 he moved to 91Èȱ¬ Arts to become Executive Editor of Topical Arts.
There he launched The Culture Show for 91Èȱ¬ Two.
Ìý
He also spent several
months as Chair of the Knowledge Building workgroup on Mark Thompson's
Creative Future strategy review.
Ìý
In late 2005, he was appointed Head and Commissioning Editor of TV
Current Affairs and joined 91Èȱ¬ Television's factual commissioning team.
Ìý
With Peter Fincham, then Controller of 91Èȱ¬ One, Entwistle engineered the
return of Panorama to a weekday peak time.
Ìý
He commissioned a wide
variety of Current Affairs documentary series for 91Èȱ¬ Two, including The
Conspiracy Files, Blair: The Inside Story, Alastair Campbell's Diaries –
plus the Falklands War drama-doc Sea Of Fire and the forthcoming series
Tropic Of Capricorn with Simon Reeve.
Ìý
In April 2007, he became Acting Controller of 91Èȱ¬ Four and has led a
team which has delivered the channel's most successful ever period for
audience share and reach.
Ìý
George Entwistle's commissions for 91Èȱ¬ Four have
included the season of documentary programming around the recent drama hit Fanny Hill; plus the high-rating Archaeology and Emmylou Harris Nights.
Ìý
Forthcoming commissions for 91Èȱ¬ Four include Andrew Graham-Dixon's three part Art Of Spain and a series looking at children's
illustration in Britain since World War Two.
Ìý
91Èȱ¬ Press Office
Ìý
|
Printable version