91Èȱ¬

Mark Linsey, 91Èȱ¬'s Controller of Entertainment Commissioning, and Donalda MacKinnon, Head of Programmes and Services, 91Èȱ¬ Scotland, today announced that Alan Tyler (currently Head of Comedy and Entertainment, 91Èȱ¬ Scotland) has been appointed to the new role of Executive Editor, Entertainment Commissioning.

The post has been created as part of the Network Supply objective of building up genre-based commissioning resource in the Nations, as announced by Jana Bennett in October 2008.

This new role will report to the Controller of Entertainment Commissioning, Mark Linsey, and to the Heads of Programmes in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Donalda MacKinnon and Ailsa Orr respectively.

Based in Scotland, Alan will be responsible for developing a strategic overview of the independent sector for Entertainment in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

He will manage key relationships with independent production companies in the two nations and will foster close links on their behalf with decision makers within the 91Èȱ¬.

Alan will also act as the 91Èȱ¬'s ambassador, championing the Entertainment strategy in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and implementing it through the development and delivery of original and high-profile commissions.

He will build and develop creative talent in independents in the two nations and will work closely with multiplatform commissioners to realise the full potential of ideas across multiple channels and platforms.

During his three years as Head of Comedy and Entertainment at 91Èȱ¬ Scotland, Alan was responsible for launching the sitcoms The Old Guys starring Roger Lloyd Pack, and Life Of Riley starring Caroline Quentin for 91Èȱ¬ One, How Not To Live Your Life for 91Èȱ¬ Three, and the comedy drama No Holds Bard which lured Ashley Jensen back from LA.

He built an in-house entertainment slate which included shows such as Jet Set 2012, Your Country Needs You and This Time Tomorrow with Tess Daly, as well as executive producing indie productions including The Kids Are Alright and The Eurovision Dance Contest.

He will move to the commissioning role following completion of work on new daytime quiz show, A Question Of Genius, presented by Kirsty Wark, and the sitcom pilot, Me And All The Other Mothers, starring Katherine Parkinson.

Alan said: "I have relished the challenge of the last three years and have been incredibly lucky in working with great people to build the production slate in Scotland. I am thrilled to be joining Mark's commissioning team and, as someone who passionately believes in production talent across the UK, I cannot wait to start working with producers to bring new entertainment formats to the screen."

Mark Linsey said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Alan has agreed to take up this key role in entertainment commissioning. He brings extraordinary energy, enthusiasm and experience to the job and, thanks to his previous role, is the ideal person to forge stronger relationships within the entertainment community in both Scotland and Northern Ireland."

Donalda MacKinnon said: "Alan has played a leading role in developing and delivering successful productions for the network out of 91Èȱ¬ Scotland over the last three years. He is ideally placed to fulfil this exciting new role. His passion and expertise will prove invaluable in developing fruitful relationships with our partners in the independent sector and bringing great content to our audiences."

Ailsa Orr, Head of Programmes, Northern Ireland, said: "Alan's appointment is fantastic news for 91Èȱ¬ Northern Ireland. Alan brings bucketloads of experience, talent and energy to the role, all of which will be brought to bear in helping us to meet our network delivery targets in Entertainment. I'm delighted to welcome him to the post and look forward to working with him in the near future."

The Network Supply strategy recently saw the appointment of Jo Street as Daytime Commissioning Executive based in Scotland.

Three further roles will be announced for Independent Factual commissioning, based in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in the next few weeks.

91Èȱ¬ Press Office