Five Bolsters Programming Team

LONDON: Two key executive appointments have been made within Five’s programming department, where there’s a new commissioning executive for daytime and soaps and commissioning editor of factual.

Greg Barnett joins as commissioning executive for daytime and soaps, while Matt Bennett is to become commissioning editor for factual. Both join the channel later this month. Barnett will be charged with developing Five’s daytime offering across all platforms and further exploiting the channel’s hit Australian soaps Neighbours and Home & Away. Bennett will be overseeing Five’s long-running factual strands, including Extraordinary People. He will report to the head of factual, Andrew O’Connell.

Barnett joins from TwoFour Broadcast, where he executive produced shows such as Noel’s Christmas Presents and Are You Smarter Than a 10 Year Old? for Sky 1. Bennett joins from Tiger Aspect, where he’s been series producing and directing programs since 2006.

Five’s channel controller, Richard Woolfe, said: “I’m delighted that Greg is joining as our new soap and daytime Tsar. Every day we bring viewers five completely fresh shows—The Wright Stuff, Neighbours, Home & Away, Five News with Natasha Kaplinsky and Live From Studio Five—Greg will be exploiting the great opportunities our daytime schedule presents. He will also be supporting Donna Taberer, our head of entertainment.

Woolfe added: “Matt is hugely talented executive who will be building on our popular established factual brands such as Revealed and Extraordinary People as well as spotting the next big things in the genre and producing shows which take our viewers on amazing journeys. He and Andrew O’Connell will form a formidable team.”

Barnett said: “Five’s a very exciting place to be right now and I am delighted to join Richard and all the team. I am determined to enhance our fantastic daytime lineup. My mission is to build on the success of Five’s Australian soaps and entertainment output so watch this space for some terrific ideas and surprises.” Bennett commented: “Five is a terrific channel to be involved with at the moment with exciting, ambitious plans for the future. I am thrilled to be joining the team."