BBC Bolsters Knowledge Commissioning Team

LONDON: Five new appointments have been made to the Knowledge commissioning team at the BBC, along with a new head of religion named for BBC Radio.

Aaqil Ahmed takes on the joint role of head of religion and ethics and commissioning editor for Religion TV. Ahmed is currently the commissioning editor for religion and multicultural at Channel 4. Christine Morgan has been named executive editor and head of Religion Radio. Morgan has been the executive producer for BBC Religion and Ethics (Radio) since 2004 and is responsible for all religious programs on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4.

Mark Bell is to become commissioning editor for arts. Currently the commissioning editor of specialist factual independents, Bell ran Late Review and Newsnight Review at BBC Two before moving into the music and arts department. Charlotte Moore has been named commissioning editor for documentaries, a role which she is currently acting in.

The creative executive producer for BBC London Factual, Kim Shillinglaw, takes on the post of commissioning editor for science and natural history. Shillinglaw is currently overseeing BBC One’s new Science Show (working title), BBC Two’s Incredible Human Journey and Blood and Guts for BBC Four. Harry Lansdown, the former executive producer of factual independents, will now serve as commissioning editor for BBC Three factual features and formats.

The role of commissioning editor for music and events has yet to be filled.

George Entwistle, the controller of BBC Knowledge commissioning, said: "I am delighted to be announcing these new appointments. We now have a really strong team boasting some of the best talent and expertise in the business. Their vision, creative energy and knowledge of program-makers in the BBC and the independent community will enable them to commission the very best factual programs."

Jana Bennett, the director of BBC Vision, added: "The specialist territories for which these jobs commission go to the very heart of the BBC’s public purposes. George Entwistle and Emma Swain have put together a commissioning team with such a high level of expertise and energy that we will be in a great position to deliver lively and distinctive factual content across the BBC’s whole portfolio of television channels and online."