91Èȱ¬

The 91Èȱ¬ today announced the second of three independent factual commissioning executive producer appointments under the 91Èȱ¬'s Network Supply strategy. James Hayes is to be the Knowledge Commissioning Executive Producer, Network, Northern Ireland in a role aimed at bolstering commissions in the Nations.

Reporting to Emma Swain, Head of Knowledge Commissioning, and Ailsa Orr, Head of Programmes, 91Èȱ¬ Northern Ireland, James will build relationships with Northern Ireland's independent production companies and talent, help develop ideas with them and, once commissioned by the Knowledge Commissioning Editors, James will executive produce the programmes on behalf of the 91Èȱ¬.

Through James, independent production companies based in Northern Ireland will have more face-to-face time with commissioning and a champion to sell their ideas directly to the Commissioning Editors.

James has more than 20 years' network production experience at the 91Èȱ¬.

Currently Executive Producer of the corporation's flagship history series Timewatch, he has been responsible for in-house, independent and international co-productions and also delivered last year's WW1 Remembrance My Family At War series for 91Èȱ¬ One.

An acclaimed and passionate storyteller, James spent 15 years in the 91Èȱ¬'s Documentaries department and has broad experience across the factual genre from landmark series such as HMS Splendid and Fergal Keane's Forgotten Britain to short-form populist series such as Fraud Squad and the popular factual series X Cars.

He played a lead role in the 91Èȱ¬ Safeguarding Trust training course and is a frequent tutor/panellist at international documentary festivals and conferences.

James will be taking up his new role in the week commencing 11 May 2009.

He says: "I am delighted to be offered this exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to working with the independent producers in Northern Ireland to deliver successful network commissions for the 91Èȱ¬."

Emma Swain, Head of Knowledge Commissioning, says: "James is a great talent and a terrific guy – I am really looking forward to seeing him building the talent and ideas in Northern Ireland and I know he will do an excellent job of ensuring growth for independents in that region."

Ailsa Orr, Head of Programmes, 91Èȱ¬ Northern Ireland says: "To have a commissioning exec focused specifically on helping Northern Ireland's Independent producers achieve more network factual commissions is a crucial step forward.

"We have great indigenous talent here – James's role will ensure they're properly supported and plugged into the network. We're delighted with his appointment and look forward to working with him."

Anne Morrison, 91Èȱ¬'s Controller, Network Production, says: "James's appointment is excellent news for the growth of factual indies in Northern Ireland.

"This new role is a key part of the 91Èȱ¬'s ambitious strategy to help strengthen and develop the indie sector in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland."

On 15 October 2008, in a speech to the Royal Television Society, Jana Bennett, Director of Vision, announced the 91Èȱ¬'s commitment to increasing television network production to 50% from outside London by 2016.

Network production from Northern Ireland is expected to increase in line with its share of the UK population (0.4% to around 3%) by 2016.

The three new Knowledge Commissioning Executive Producer roles will be based in Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast. The role in Scotland is in the process of being appointed.

The 91Èȱ¬ already has some Commissioning Executive Producers based in the Nations and Regions fulfilling a similar role to James for other genres. A Commissioning Executive for Comedy and a Commissioning Executive for Daytime (and early peak) are already based in Manchester.

As part of the Network Supply Strategy, Alan Tyler was recently announced as Executive Editor, Entertainment Commissioning, for Scotland and Northern Ireland, based in Scotland, Nick Shearman was recently announced as Knowledge Commissioning Executive Producer, Network, for Wales, and Jo Street was recently announced as Executive Producer, Daytime, based in Scotland, looking after both in-house and independent daytime commissions in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

91Èȱ¬ Press Office