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Press Releases
Jay Hunt named as new Controller of 91Èȱ¬ One
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Jana Bennett, Director of 91Èȱ¬ Vision, today announced Jay Hunt as the new Controller, 91Èȱ¬ One.
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Jana Bennett said: "I am really pleased to welcome Jay back to the 91Èȱ¬ to take up the reins of the UK's most popular channel and the 91Èȱ¬'s flagship channel.
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"She has impeccable credentials as a commissioner, channel leader and journalist and has a deep commitment to the 91Èȱ¬'s mission to bring the best programmes to the widest audience.
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"I am sure she will be greeted with huge enthusiasm by programme makers inside and outside the 91Èȱ¬, 91Èȱ¬ Vision and the 91Èȱ¬ One team."
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Commenting on her appointment, Jay Hunt said: "Controller of 91Èȱ¬ One has always been my dream job. Ultimately, I could not resist the opportunity to take on such a creatively exciting role. I am thrilled to be part of the channel's future.
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"It has been an incredibly difficult decision to leave my talented team at Five but I could not turn down the best job in television."
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Jay was appointed Director of Programmes at Five in 2007.
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Prior to this she was 91Èȱ¬ Controller Daytime and Early Peak with responsibility for all output on 91Èȱ¬ One and Two during the day, including The One Show.
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She was a member of the senior management team in 91Èȱ¬ Vision determining commissioning and portfolio strategy for TV and multiplatform services.
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As Controller Daytime and Early Peak, she maintained 91Èȱ¬ One's position as the market leader and commissioned breakthrough factual brands like Great British Menu, Extreme Dreams, Heir Hunters and the Royal Television Society award-winning Through Hell And High Water.
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She brought consumer journalism back to Daytime with hit shows like Don't Get Done Get Dom, What's Really In Our Food? and Shopping The Supermarkets which transferred to 91Èȱ¬ One peak.
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She introduced serious documentary with pieces like the Broadcast award-nominated Surviving 2005: My Story and Richard Hammond's Helicopter Heroes.
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In drama and entertainment Jay developed the Afternoon Play strand into The Director's Debut – with big name talent like Sarah Parish and Stephen Tompkinson directing for the first time – and developed successful entertainment for 91Èȱ¬ Two with key brands like Eggheads, Let Me Entertain You, Identity with Donny Osmond and Something For The Weekend which transformed Sunday morning viewing, delivering a younger audience to 91Èȱ¬ Two.
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She was instrumental in transforming 91Èȱ¬ Two's early evening performance, growing brands like Masterchef into hit shows in peak.
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Jay joined the 91Èȱ¬ in 1989 as a researcher on Breakfast News and worked her way up to output editor before joining Newsnight, where she stayed until 1998.
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She then moved to Panorama as a senior producer, becoming Editor of the One O'Clock News and then the Six O'Clock News.
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At the One O'Clock News, she was given a remit to change the programme to fit more comfortably with the stay-at-home audience.
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She changed the programme agenda fundamentally and introduced ground-breaking studio graphics which, though controversial at the time, have now become a feature of news programming across the board.
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She left news for Daytime in 2002, working first as Executive Producer for Daytime in Birmingham before becoming Senior Commissioning Executive for Daytime in 2003 where she worked closely with a range of independents to develop hit brands like Missing, Living In The Sun and Beat The Burglar.
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She will take up her new role sometime next year.
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91Èȱ¬ Press Office
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