Damian Kavanagh Named Controller of CBBC

LONDON: Damian Kavanagh is to take on the role of controller of CBBC later this year, replacing Anne Gilchrist, who, after three years of running the department, is joining the BBC in-house comedy department as creative and business director.

Kavanagh will oversee all programs and multiplatform commissioning for CBBC and the two dedicated blocks on BBC One and BBC Two. Programs due to be shown later over the next year include Beaker’s Back, a second season of Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Simon Nye’s adaptation of Just William. Kavanagh joins from BBC Daytime, where he is currently head of planning and scheduling and an executive producer working on shows such as Escape To The Country, Hospital Heroes and The Unsellables.

Richard Deverell, the controller of BBC Children’s, said: "Damian will bring fantastic vision, creativity and drive to CBBC. He worked with Anne two years ago in establishing the current CBBC positioning and is determined to strengthen and build on this with new ideas. He is wholly dedicated to public service broadcasting and to delighting children with wonderful experiences on the website and the channel."

Kavanagh commented: "I’m delighted to be heading back into BBC Children’s and building on the incredible success CBBC has had to date. It’s a very exciting time to be working in children’s programming."